Malcolm Mooney and the Eleventh Planet photos by Seze Devres January 29, 2009 taken at Monkeytown Brooklyn, NY

Bryan and I were invited to Colorado to play and document the Communikey Festival. I had a fabulous time catching up with old friends, visiting a gorgeous part of the country, eating yummy food, and hearing really good music.

Friday night at B-Side
with David Day, Ejival, Spinoza, Nordic Soul

Saturday night after hours Dirtybird Showcase
with Christian Martin and J. Phlip

Saturday Communikids workshop

Sunday in the Park with Communikids

Communikey Festival Site

I just returned back from a weekend of deep listening in Boston. It was amazing to see my old Boston friends and meet some of my favorite musicians. I am thankful to Jon Whitney for putting this festival of strange and wonderful music.

The Brainwaves festival started on Friday sharply at 8pm with JG Thirlwell’s Manorexia project, a symphonic mix of strings and electronic sounds that sway from beautiful to haunting. Manorexia was the highlight of the Friday performances for me. JG Thirwell is a good friend of mine and I love the direction his music is going in these days. Each day Steven Stapleton of Nurse with Wound fame, played some songs in between acts. I was not sure why he did not perform in the festival but it was great to see him hanging around all weekend. I made it my mission to get to know him. I have been listening to the strange surreal music of Nurse with Wound for over 20 years. His is a kind and modest man. I learned that Stapleton is a shepherd living in the countryside of Ireland where he works on his music and art. When I asked him how many records he put out he said he had no idea. He may not know his own discography since 1979 but knows exactly how many sheep, chickens, and goats he has living on his farm.

The highlight for me was meeting Steven Stapleton/Nurse with Wound. Photo by Bryan

On Saturday I was most excited to see The Threshold HouseBoys Choir the new project of Peter Christopherson from Coil. His performance did not disappoint. I was super excited to meet him and shake his hand. Part of me wanted to go on and on about all how much I love his music, but I spared him what he already knows.

Threshold HouseBoys Choir

Little Annie AKA Annie Anxiety’s quirky cabaret performance of standards, was a nice break from all the experimental music. Little Annie has collaborated with Nurse with Wound, Marc Almond, Coil, and dozens of other people. She was like a gothic Edith Piaf on stage. Brainwaves ended on Sunday with a luscious dreamy performance by The Stars of the Lid. I saw them perform at a church in NYC a few months ago. Their Boston show was totally different but just as good.

Stars of the Lid

Lovely Video Projections at Brainwaves

Meat Beat Manifesto played a great set at Brainwaves but the whole time I was wondering of I was a decade too late on seeing them. Their sound might not have aged well but there were plenty of gorgeous video eye candy to keep me entertained.

Meat Beat Manifesto

I just found my ATP photos so I wanted to post them even though the concert was weeks ago.  Sorry better late than never!  Bryan and I mostly go to techno parties and performance so it was a nice breath of fresh air to leave the city, barely know anyone in the crowd, and hear some classic guitar bands from our youth. Plus we convinced my parents to buy tickets and come to the festival too. The All Tomorrow’s Parties festival was great but it did not compare to the first time I saw My Bloody Valentine perform when I was 15, and at the time it was one of the loudest shows I have ever been to. Spectrum’s set was the highlight for me.

All photos by Seze.

My parents at the cafe, they actually were having a great time.

Sunday line up

Spectrum performing an amazing set

Bryan listening in pink light, he is wearing his Neu shirt from high school

My Bloody Valentine

creepy “Flowers in the Attic” painting in the lobby of the country club

Kutshers Country Club in Monticello, New York

Kutshers Country Club in Monticello, New York

Watch the whole concert here.

Last night I was one the lucky few to see a special solo performance by Michael Gira at The Stone, a tiny little venue in the lower east side.  It was just Micahel Gira and a guitar, which in my opinion is the most intimate way to experience someone’s music.  The highlight of the show was when he played Blind, one of my favorite Swans songs ever.  It was a real treat to hear his stripped down version.  If you are unfamiliar with the magical sound of The Swans, Love of Life is a good record to start with.

Blind
written by The Swans on Drainland

Now some of us are weak, and some endure
And some people live their lives, with a violence that’s pure and clean
But I saw a man cry once, down on his knees
In the corner of a darkened cell, and his pain meant nothing to me

But I was younger then, and young men never die
When I walked out in the sun, I was strong, clear minded,
and blind

And please don’t ask me a question, you’ll just be misunderstood
And if you could step inside me, you’d feel what hatred brings
And if you could see with my eyes, you’d see what self-deception means

I was younger once, and I created a lie
And though my body was strong, I was self-deluded, confident,
and blind

Now show some pity, for the weak of will
Because when we’re drinking, we can never be filled
And show some undentanding, for the lonely fool
Because when l’m drinking, l’m out of control

No I was never young, and nothing has transpired
And when I look in the mirror, I feel dead, I feel cold,
I am blind. 

Photos of Michael Gira by Mark Benney

When Reves Mechaniques (2005) by The Hacker came out I think I listened to it everyday for about 6 months and to this day I am still not sick the album.  So I am really excited to finally see him perform tonight with another one of my all time favorites Miss Kittin.

Photo taken from her myspace page

my friend JG Thirlwell photo by Seze Devres
Link to The Stone site

and check this awesome line up: www.brainwavesfest.org

I have been listening to Matmos for years and seeing them live was a wonderful experience.
Photo by Seze

Shot live at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City on Icelandic Independence Day, Sigur Rós @ MoMA is a unique concert film highlighting new material from the band’s latest album, as well as classic Sigur Rós songs. Directed by Alex Simmons.

watch the film here