It’s a rare treat to be able to say that Brooklyn’s White Rabbits performed in Fountain Square. What a better place than to hear the five piece shred through some indie rock bangers.

Arms opened the show and did not disappoint. Although not really a First Friday sponsored event, the show was a highlight to a great First Friday here in the city.

Arms

White Rabbits

Link: http://mountainman.bandcamp.com/

MP3: Mountain Man – “Soft Skin”

It’s Saturday night and you have choices to make. The night is prime for going out on the town. Might as well heat up the night from an already hot day. You could land in some random club being vibrated around by some random dance mix, or you could be in some smoky tavern-like atmosphere, pounding PBR tall boys until your breath makes that transformation.

In this local environment there is not a bad choice. However, something different is pointing its sails to Fountain Square where Radio Radio is hosting Mountain Man.

Mountain Man is not a man at all. It’s three women from the Eastern seaboard state of Vermont. Molly Erin Sarle, Alexandra Sauser-Monnig, Amelia Randall Meath combine vocal forces to create something as haunting as the wind through the forest trees and powerful as nature itself. But it’s more. It’s antique as the dusty armoire you saw buried in the back of the 1800s and as lovely as that summer rose standing tall and proud.

When you hear a song like “Soft Skin,” you get the feeling that you just stumbled across the three skinny dipping in that one mountain stream down yonder. You feel this voyeuristic sensation to their uninhibited storytelling.

Sometimes a cappella and sometimes accented with the notes of an acoustic guitar, their recent album Made The Harbor (Parisan/Bella Union) made ripples through the independent music community earlier this year and gives us a fresh and hypnotic perspective into the vocal experience.

Not quite ambient and not quite folk/bluegrass, the group lies outside of the realms of musical conception and they plan to take you into the underworld this Saturday.

They will be teaming up with Cheyenne Marie Mize. It may not be a hootenany in the traditional sense of celebrations, but it will be like an old time revival of spirits and one unique experience.

Mountain Man – Come All Yee (Live At The Wiltern) from Partisan Records on Vimeo.

Link:
ZapTown review of Cass McCombs’ Wit’s End: http://www.zaptownmag.com/2011/05/cass-mccombs-wits-end-domino
Official Site: http://cassmccombs.com/

Cass McCombs has always been an elusive person in my eyes. I have molded him into a mysterious figure who floats in and out of existence whenever he churns out a new album. Like those of legend, you only get whiff of the exceptional talent he puts to recording with very little thought on the man himself. Who is he? Why does create and what fuels it? An Elvis Costello of the new age, you can imagine my reaction when I heard that McCombs was going to visit Indianapolis as a stop on an extensive U.S. tour July 24, at the White Rabbit Cabaret. It was like seeing a ghost.

While shocked that we have the opportunity to witness the flesh of this superb singer/songwriter, the anticipation and butterflies quickly followed, knowing that we are about to witness something rare and unique. We are about to experience Cass McCombs live.

A man who seems every bit as enigmatic and complicated as he visually presents, his latest album Wit’s End (Domino) is an amazing and beautiful work that deserves to be listened to and experienced in the purist context of music appreciation. And when the music speaks for itself, that is as important as it gets.

I had the opportunity to interview McCombs in 2005, surrounding his debut full length PREfection. After several scheduling roundabouts, I finally had my chance only to find out that he began refusing interviews for personal reasons. Psyched up from this surprisingly amazing debut album, the dream died, and I walked away subtly disappointed. But then I began thinking about it, and now that I look back on the missed opportunity, I’m glad I did not interview Cass McCombs.

Why?

When you look at PREfection, and the glowingly receptive Dropping The Writ on to the current release, you begin to think that it is impossible to make any interview do his career justice. The music says it all and what you make of his music is what you make of McCombs.

And not that I couldn’t have taken other opportunities to establish an interview as I feel sure that there will also be future opportunities. McCombs has plenty of prodding. Look online. There are interviews and articles searchable, but most dated, eventually proclaim the same, branding the guy as a “mystery man.” Maybe he wants it that way. And maybe I have the music giving me the answers I seek.

This July, when I peer out amongst the crowd and McCombs is on stage, I may have to blink twice because I will not believe me eyes that we actually have the chance to see this rare and extremely talented musician perform for our city. But I will be every bit as happy and excited to hear these songs that have become a staple in my music collection being played live.

Every First Friday is unique. Here is an example of the sites from the first First Friday of 2011.

Cultural Cannibals ‘Haiti – Toussaint L’Ouverture’ Shirt Release at the Atheneum ArtSpace

IndySwank at Fountain Square

Britt DeMaris Leiendecker at The Murphy Building, Fountain Square.

People For Urban Progress at The Murphy Building, Fountain Square.

Art Studio at the Murphy Building, Fountain Square.

K. Sabroso at Voir Art de Fletcher, Fountain Sqaure.

Art Display at Voir Art De Fletcher, Fountain Square.

For November’s First Friday in Fountain Square, I headed out to longtime hot spot Radio Radio to photograph one of my very favorite local bands, Tonos Triad. I was pretty stoked. They were having a CD Release show for their latest album Typewriters And Tarantulas. They ran through every song from the new release, as well as their good ‘ol “oldies.”

Radio Radio is normally undeniably a “Bring Your Favorite Black Shirt” type of establishment. Slick Idiot and their brand of electronic rock debauchery brought a different type of clientele and their prominent spectrums of independent fashion sense with them on Friday’s musky evening. Ranging from; Guy in studded leather jacket with insanely tall Mohawk, three people who desperately wished to be Trent Reznor in “Closer” with bug eye goggles on in an already dark bar, man in a nice button down shirt with camouflage shorts (Ok, not overly weird but just…awkward), and an overweight heavily bearded man who thought it was a good idea to wear a wrinkly skirt, wobbly tunic and a sling back purse pressing between man cleavage.

I had to recheck the sign on the door and even checked the status online of start time. Doors open at 8 PM, show starts at 9 PM but here I am at 10:30 PM wondering what the hell is going on. We had a DJ keeping us in the head bobbing mood with remixed renditions of Rammstein, Front Line Assembly, Ministry, Nine Inch Nails, VNV Nation, etc. Even by 10 PM, the freaky faithful were looking around annoyed. Finally, at 10:40 PM, Slick Idiot approaches the stage. Nobody ran to the front of the stage in a hurry because even they thought, “Seriously? This is finally happening!?”

I was a huge fan of vocalist En Esch and guitarist Günter Schulz’ (founding members of Slick Idiot) former industrial band KMFDM as a teenager. I only heard Slick Idiot’s first album DickNity so this concept was far from new to me. Over the years, after discovering new influences and bands, I forgot about my love affair for these bands and industrial music.

I couldn’t help but relive that teenage excitement after seeing my former idols take the stage. Singer En Esch introduced the band to Radio Radio with his deep German accent. Slick Idiot wastes no more time and barrages in the nimble electronic beats of “Hallelujah” (Devil’s Got a Hold of Me) and followed just as quickly into the band’s treble filled title track “Idiot.” En Esch surprisingly sounds exactly like he did in KMFDM with his brute decipherable growls. Günter Schulz’ style is still just as solid. Shultz has always been power riff happy but was never overly complicated; simple yet effective. Electronic mischief is ignored on “I.I.W.I.I.” (It Is What It Is), a song off the new album Sucksess, to achieve a monster sound with Shultz taking center stage in his octave intertwining charge throughout the song. The crowd was surprisingly tame. Not like I expected fist hurling mosh pits from the unique bunch, but I was just surprised they were content with simply head banging.

The translucent techno rock vibe was fleetly ignored once special guest singer Mona Mur was introduced. I didn’t know who she was at the time and her association with Slick Idiot. After some research, Mur and En Esch have a side project together, resulting in the cooperative album 120 Tage: The Fine Art of Beauty and Violence. The name of the album is fitting, especially to the methodical cabaret madness of “Visions & Lies.” Mona Mur had a down beaten afflicted voice that gave a gloomy gloss to their music. As it was different, I wasn’t confident it was appreciated as it was an adjacent and sudden turn from Slick Idiot in mood and spirit.

“Xcess” reclaimed the audience from the ashes with its frantic beats and jumpy ambience and “I Feel Fine” provided an energetic assist. The crowd took a collective internal grown when Mona Mur hopped back on stage. En Esch jumped on dueling guitar with Shultz on the side project’s calculatingly serious “The Thin Red Line.” Mur and En Esch also performed “Candycane” which equally contributed to the mood suicide. Even Günter looked bored of the languish pace, as this is contradicting of him normally blazingly supplying note after note. As each song complimented Mona’s voice, I don’t think it complimented Slick Idiot and its fans.

Everyone looked at each other in amazement when they heard the kinetic chime introduction of KMFDM’s “Leid and Elend” off the 1997 album Symbols. If that wasn’t enough, they quickly advanced to another KMFDM retro hit “A Drug Against War.” Finally, Günter and En Esch embrace their past and give the crowd what they secretly wanted. As there looks to never be an original member KMFDM reunion, this is as close as it will get. Everyone was pumped, singing along to the songs and ricocheting off each other in elation. It didn’t faze anyone when they went back to the Slick Idiot “Make Me Believe” as it was bouncy thrash that is the transcendent core of these bands. Slick Idiot did a mock disappearance to garner approval from the fans for the expected encore. They did not disappoint with the mammoth KMFDM “Godlike” that sent everyone in a jubilated frenzy.

It was either an enormous hit or a depressingly miss set from Slick Idiot. When they stuck with their original and cover material, En Esch, Shultz and company were unstoppable. It really brought me back to another time, a time I missed more than I could have ever imagined. The show at Radio Radio was a definite success considering the circumstances. I’m listening to Slick Idiot’s new album Sucksess as I wrote this. Isn’t that proof enough?

Being an avid rock fan in Indianapolis, having seen plenty of live shows in the region; it may come as a surprise to some that I have never made my way to Radio Radio. Located in the heart of Fountain Square, it is a breath of fresh air in the tentative indie alteration community. Don’t be intimidated by the location on a map, Radio Radio along with Fountain Square will be, if not already, steady fixtures on the Indianapolis beaten path. One could say what Broad Ripple once was, before the death of the rock club and the invasion of the dance club. Radio Radio has a very swanky lounge lizard vibe. The area is kept dark with nothing but illuminated red domes and the beaming light between liquor bottles at the bar to cascade the patrons.

That is, of course, until the bands play at the south end. First band of the night’s double header is Rotovox. They seemed like a no-frills bunch and the crowd seemed indifferent when they introduced themselves. It wasn’t until they rolled in the riff laden chant “So Into You” that ears perked up, eyes towards the stage. Vocalist/Guitarist Aaron Anderson has a unique vocal style. My best description would be a melodic Pepper Kennan of Corrosion of Conformity. As if CoC and Systematic were mixed in a potent cocktail, Rotovox is grungy stoner rock goodness. Bassist Mike Glassburn wallops his way through the gritty “Runaway” while guitarist Keith Flick frolics through the thick sludge of “Disconnected.”  The audience seemed more than intrigued now. Rotovox unfortunately lost this thunder on brooding tracks “Not Breathing” and “Feel.” As the songs were well crafted and enjoyable in a different setting, they were just more sulking than emotionally preferred. Momentum was regained in the swift yet riffy “Already Low” with drummer Heath Moreland bashing the addictive dirty beat of the chorus in our skulls. I won’t go so far and say Rotovox are original with fellow rockers Devil to Pay and Cocaine Wolves also serving similar rhythms in the Indianapolis area, but I could care less. Rotovox was an interesting take on the locally thriving genre.

Singer of Blue Luster, John David Brake, had a demanding presence, even if in eyeliner and a campy leather vest, as he stood idly by while Rotovox wrapped up their set. When Blue Luster took the stage and throttled into “New Attitude” with Brake’s throaty howls and “Blindsided” with guitarists Patrick E. O’Connor and Brandon Moss’ dueling squealing solos, I noticed this band was hungry. Some would consider it confidence but others may mistake it as egotistical. I’m still on the fence with my opinion but it was a definite 180 degree turn from the timid Rotovox. They craved Radio Radio’s attention with its brand of nostalgic 80’s hard rock and its obvious influential impact on their music. Inspiration was almost apparent on certain songs. “Time Away” is no doubt Van Halen. “Fear of Flight” could be considered Def Leppard if you just closed your eyes. “Curse of the Czars” is Motley Crue without Tommy Lee. Though they tried to transplant a modern rock vibe into their material, it just came out like Godsmack with feathered hair.

Apparently, Blue Luster are closet nerds or find odd examples for material. One song, the fist pumping refrain “One of Us” is inspired by John Carpenter’s “The Thing.” Based on the true story book/movie Exorcism of Emily Rose is the thundering standout “Anneliese.” Brake was able to display his true singing potential with his swaying chorus of this noteworthy song. He continued down this path with the welcoming curve ball, the Queens of the Stone Age cover “Make It Wit Chu.”  Though they were no Josh Homme or QotSA, it was just nice to see Brake and Blue Luster show some heart in their performance rather than be continuously over the top. It almost served as an intermission. I had to admit though, as thoroughly drained I was by driving down memory lane, they played one amazing cover of Iron Maiden’s “The Trooper.”

It was more than likely their intention but Blue Luster were high octane and unrelenting as their set paced on. “Take it Hot” was the last song of the night which was my least favorite. Lyric-wise, it sounded quite hokey and almost like some Steel Panther eye rolling antics. Blue Luster definitely had some followers in the midst of the masses that came out specifically for them. Which only goes to show, there is an accepting audience out there, craving their overindulgent version of rock. Go to www.blueluster.net, no false impressions as they are exactly as advertised. Eh, or maybe it was just me not ready for the nostalgic assault.

Featured Musicians and Artists are as follows:

Featured Musicians:

HELADO NEGRO – http://asthmatickitty.com/helado-negro
JULIANNA BARWICK – http://www.juliannabarwick.com/
EPSTEIN – http://cargocollective.com/robertocarloslange
KID PRIMITIVE FAMILY – http://www.myspace.com/kidprimitive
BERRY – http://www.myspace.com/berry
ABNER TRIO – http://www.myspace.com/abnertrio
JOOKABOX – http://www.myspace.com/jookabox

Featured Artists:

JONATHAN DUECK – http://www.intransitcentre.info
RYAN IRVIN – http://saiddesign.com
JOHN BERRY – http://johngberry.com
DM STITH – http://dmstith.com

Mixtape (free download) and more info for the event can be found here: http://asthmatickitty.com/decaysustain/

Sponsors:
http://method-ad.com/
http://www.asthmatickitty.com
http://www.joyfulnoiserecordings.com
http://www.transpanthergroup.com
http://www.bigcar.org
http://www.mtcomfort.blogspot.com
http://www.myspace.com/indievolumes

Blue Luster performed at Radio Radio last night for “A Night of Rock n Roll Decadence.” The venue was packed and the band put on a great show! Here is a photo recap. You can visit the band’s webpage here.