gregrmurphy
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Well, this new MOG playlist format seems a tad unwieldy, and many songs I looked up weren't "addable," but I've added one anyway with some of the songs I'm looking back fondly upon 2007 with... as... regarding... oh you get it. Hope it works.
The stage was set with one of the guitarists coming out, playing a loud bass riff a few times, then standing still while the loop he'd just created continued to play. Then it is on to knob-twisting and button-pushing and soon the loop has morphed into a different element entirely. Enter the rest of the band and away we go.
There's lots to like here, but you have to mention the drummer (John Stanier, ex-Helmet) - he's the band's "front man," at least in physical presence, and he quickly inspires lots of silly ideas like "he's a drum machine!" or "it's a human beatbox!" But he really does lay down an essential structure to all the blips and scrogs going by.
That and they actually seem to be having fun. Their sound is out-there and "avant garde" enough that it could almost seem like academic exercises in the wrong hands, but they don't forget the human touch in the midst of all the tech toys. They may be scientists, but at least they are mad scientists!
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Stanier is definitely the engine of this band, but the rest of the bands components each share a unique responsibility in creating texture over the military stylings of the drum beats. To me it's a wonderful mixture of organic and electronic music. One must only look at their album art to understand what they are trying to do here...and I think it's awesome.
Not sure how much of a serious "last show" this really was, but indie rock vets The Wrens played Emo's in Austin on July 21 and referred to it as their "graduation" at the end of 4 years of touring off of "The Meadowlands." They seemed to be having too much fun to convince me they actually plan to stop playing, but I figured I better catch it just in case. Bassist/singer Kevin Whelan must be one of the most enthusiastic rockers in the biz, and helps the band take their solid songs to a truly epic level live. They're sort of one of those groups that don't seem to be doing anything that unusual or fancy, but still generate an amazing power in the process.
So if that was really it, I'm glad I was there. But I'd be more glad if that's not really it.
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I guess they really did get 4 years of touring out of that record. That requires some unflagging enthusiasm! The show I saw in maybe 2004 was really good, too. So what now, back to miserable day jobs for another 8 years to barrel up enough creative energy for writing another record?
no! ths cannot be the end of the wrens! I'm glad, if it is, that i got to see at least one of the shows during the 4 years, but i need so much more! The Meadowlands will liveon forever, love that shit!
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sweet, it works! hurrah!