6.2.03, The Spitz, London
Mountain Goats, Jack Hayter, Broken Family Band
Call me self-obsessed, naive and ignorant, but I had long assumed that I was the only Mountain Goats fan in England. Yet the venue is almost completely full before 9pm. Last time I saw the Broken Family Band they were performing for a rapt crowd at the Arts Cafe. The Spitz audience is considerably bigger but the energy is lacking. Their lead singer, a spitting image of the short one out of PJ and Duncan, isn’t gnarling, rasping, spitting like he did at the Arts Cafe. Audience members click their fingers and tap their shoes; the BFB’s music is certainly pleasant sounding, but it isn’t the raucous barroom brawl show I’d hoped for. Jack Hayter sings very English sounding folk songs; name checking London landmarks, and speculating about the prospects of living in a dolls house. There is a certain charm to his on-stage antics, and his simple songs, but I can’t see myself purchasing his records yet. Admittedly I was a little too excited about the imminent arrival of John Darnielle to properly consider the merits of Hayter’s performance.
I had no idea of what John Darnielle looked like, and I was really curious to match a face to one of the most distinctive voices in my CD collection. I had spent the previous few days reacquainting myself with "Bitter Melon Farm", "Sweden" and "The Coroner’s Gambit", and had managed to slip his new album onto the stereo at Borders whilst nobody was looking. The first few songs he played were solo, after which he was joined by a bassist, and three songs also featured the drummer from The Wisdom of Harry.
I suppose I had envisaged an elongated face with a quivering jaw. He would look literate and geeky. He would be nervous performing in front of a crowd. Tonight Darnielle looks exceptionally ordinary. His face is marginally on the long side but his jaw doesn’t quiver. He doesn’t look overly nerdy but he clearly isn’t a dude. He looks like an engineering student and he looks American.
The crowd, far from having no idea who he is, shout out requests throughout the show. Not bad for an artist whose recordings, the new album being the exception, have barely been distributed in the UK. The bulk of his set appears to be from "Tallahassee". He usefully informs the audience about the habits of the Alpha family, the subjects of many of these songs. Whilst watching Darnielle I wonder what makes his records so good, and I reach these conclusions:
1) Funny, beautiful, well observed lyrics. An endless stream of wonderful metaphors.
2) His desperate, shaking vocal. He sounds best when he is belting out the words, rather than just singing them.
Although I loved watching this gig, I did feel that some moments were better than others. "The Best Death Metal Band in Denton, Texas" was superb, thanks to the lyrics. "See America Right" was also brilliant. And everything else was very good, but I did prefer the songs in which his bassist was present.
This afternoon I caught Interpol playing a free gig at the Virgin Megastore. They only lasted five or six songs, but thanks to a surprisingly impressive instore sound system, managed to delight the crowd of die-hard fans and random Sunday shoppers. Would it be unfair to suggest that they sound not unlike Morrissey fronting the Strokes? Yes, wildly unfair. I like Interpol’s style. Suits, ties, floppy hairdos and manic depressive faces.
Its going to be a great week for gigs!
Monday – My Morning Jacket
Tuesday – The Basement, The Sleepy Jackson, Kings of Leon
Wednesday – Rosie Thomas, Iron and Wine, James Mercer (Shins)
I’ll report back here when the fun is over.
Other half news tidbits
- Mates of State to tour England in July
- Bjork new album, Lake Experience, to be released this summer.
- Acid Mothers Collective to tour UK in the Spring.
- The Microphones to tour with Scout Niblett. Hopefully with me to DJ at London show.
- Mogwai to tour UK ‘small venues’ – gigs to be announced on official site Feb 17th
- Grandaddy new album due to be called "Sumday", possibly released before June
- Radiohead rumoured to be headlining Glastonbury! Bjork? Prince? SFA?
- Yo La Tengo new album also on the way. Expect pop songs and protest songs.
- Forthcoming album from Smog is called "Supper", don’t know release date yet.
- Iron and Wine debut "The Creek Drank the Cradle" released Monday. It is very good.
- Joy Zipper’s "American Whip" release delayed. Still fishing for advice on this one.
And, finally, this weeks purchases:
Boxharp – The Tailored Soldier (M.C Taylor of the Court and Spark!!)
Chris Brokaw – Red Cities
Andrew Bird’s Bowl of Fire – The Swimming Hour
Sub Pop – The Eagle is the favourite Bird
Sigur Ros – ( )
Bonnie "Prince" Billy – Master and Everyone
and donated by a kind work colleague, the aforementioned Iron and Wine album.
Fuck, I'm missing Mixing It on Radio 3!
posted by Matthew at 3:26 PM
