Truer Sources of Sound » The Oh Sees

Review: The Oh Sees and Jay Reatard at the Echo

Capt. AKAK — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:18:26 +0000

Last Friday twelve people from the TSS crew ventured to the cozy confines of the Echo for a night of psychedelia and post-modern punk rock. Amelia, Zac, Joe and Chris are experienced veterans to the LA music scene but it was their first time to come out with us which was a pleasure to witness.
The night started off somewhat hectic due to long lines for the unfortunate people who did not purchase tickets beforehand but thankfully everyone got in in the end. The music kicked off with band called the Earthman and the Strangers. I did not personally get a chance to see them but James informed me that he was much impressed with them.

Next up on the bill with The Oh Sees from San Fransisco, my reason for being in attendance. The four piece being lead by John Dwyer looked haggard from what appeared to be either an overdose of drugs or perhaps a long road trip, most likely a combination of the two. Their music kicked off with instant intensity and held this through the somewhat abbreviated set of nearly an hr. John informed us midway through the set that had in fact slept the night before in the fetal position with his van. This restless sleep did not appear to have any effect on his guitar playing ability because he ripped his twelve string guitar for most of the night. Their music is simplistic in many respects due to the repetition of chords and drum sequences, yet very appealing in its ability to draw in a musical dreamscape. The lyrics can be described as what you might sing in your car to a song in which you know none of the lyrics but want to sing nonetheless. I actually believe that this might not be far off from how the lyrics are derived from the mind of John Dwyer, they are not so much words as they are grunts, hums, and shouts. The band’s main centerpiece is John who is not shy about being a perceived deviant, seeing as he spits (or drools) into the air or swallow the microphone within his mouth. In fact, according to the drummer (whom I spoke with at length after the set) John is banned from playing at Spaceland due to getting naked during a set with one of his side-project’s performed there two years ago. Interesting, to say the least.

Next up was the headliners, Jay Reatard. The band is a three piece with the bass player and lead singer being a classic throwback to a hair band from the 80′s in appearance but sounding more like Bad Brains from the late 70s (hence Bloodclot’s obsession). Their music is hard for me to speak intelligently to because of my lack of knowledge within the hardcore/punk realm, but the song structure is definitely short and to the point with most songs lasting only a minute and a half. This fast moving pace was enjoyed much by most of the attendance who had formed a mosh pit at the front of stage. Many of the front row photographer had to retreat the side rails (myself included). The set closed with the matching curly long haired musicians jumping on top of the mosh pit in epic fashion.

All and all it was a great night for just under $20 dollars.

Enjoy the videos. Courtesy of the Capt.

On Tour: Jay Reatard and The Oh Sees at the Echo

Capt. AKAK — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 17:08:14 +0000

Jay Reatard and The Oh Sees are teaming up for a pretty decent line-up at the echo. It is on a Friday night and I know you have nothing better to do in the greater OC/LA area….

To be honest, I am not that familiar with the Jay fella but Bloodclot and others rave about him (Bloodclot’s Video Pick of Jay Reatard). I have his singles album on the ipod but have not checked it out yet.
The Oh Sees on the other hand, I am quite familiar and a big fan (I placed them on my top esoteric tracks list). The Oh Sees are a San Fransisco based psychedelic/noise/garage rock band (a la Wooden Shjips except not as repetitive). Some of their albums are a bit too experimental/minimalistic for my palette; quite a feat really. Their most recent album (about a year old now) “The Master’s Bedroom Is Worth Spending a Night In” is not only an album with a great title but is one of the few records which does not warrant skipping a track during a drive on the freeway. Some of you might remember seeing The Oh Sees open for The Dodos about a year and a half ago at a coffee shop at USC and SilverLake Lounge; the lead singer, John Dwyer, is pretty entertaining, ripping on his own simplistic guitar cords, etc.

I have six tickets at about $17 dollars a piece. I am thinking Masa beforehand for a Friday Night feast.

Capt AKAK
JP
Ebee
Justin Shabbaz
mroyed
marlyn

Top Ten Esoteric Tracks – Capt AKAK’s take

Capt. AKAK — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 21:17:48 +0000

As many of you probably read two weeks ago, George Pants gave the cyber world an exclusive insight into the underpinnings that have sculpted his musical palette. Next, he asked each of us to dive within our own playlists to discover those secret gems which lay hidden beneath the surface of common day music sites. Here is an abridged version of my response to his call to arms as well as the disc download he requested:

Download : Capt AKAK’s Top Ten Esoteric Tracks

10. The Ohsees – Quadrospazzed
Found out about this band when they opened for Dodos on one of their first tours.

9. Isotope 217 – Beneath the Undertow
Jazz song for my life as a character in a David Mamet movie or the real song that should have been playing for the Beastie Boys Sabotage video.

8. James Chance – Almost Black Part 1
Just cant help myself with this one.

7. Daniel Higgs – Living in the Kingdom of Death
The first time I heard this song it was 1 am, I needed to sleep but started copying the song to my itunes library. I had the option on autoplay once it is copying. So it started playing without me telling it. I was sent into a trance. I sat staring at my screen for an hr within surfing the internet. I just listened and looked at the screen.

6. Fire on Fire – Grin
I am just mad I missed them playing at the knitting factory 5 wednesdays ago.

5. Gastr Del Sol – Dictionary of Handwriting
John McEntire on drums to this song speaks to that 12 year old girl you spoke of GP. This song just fucking rocks.

4. James Blackshaw – The Cloud of Unknowing
One minute into the song I always want to float into space, too bad about gravity.

3. Shrimp Boat – Collecting Me
This one is perfect (well near perfect or I would have it number one)

2. Seth Olinsky – Dirt Road Cloud of Light
Tantric. His lyrical style and tone speaks to my core. “You hold on til its safe”

1. Michael Gira – Blind
Buy this song off some site if you dont have it. It is my life. It is my darkness. It is my truth. It is my hope. It is my never again. Basically take the first four chapters of the Big Book and replace it with the lyrics to this song.

For my full response: Comments Section for George Pant’s Post<