Urban Jacksonville

Fresh off a trip to London to meet with labels and a scorching 8.4 Pitchfork review Black Kids stopped by TSI Friday night to play a show for their favorite city, Jacksonville Florida. As usual the show was high energy and filled with Reggie cussing lovingly at the fans.

After watching the Black Kids develop for well over a year I can say they’ve matured musically. My co-worker Travis is constantly saying “their new songs are so good”, and I have to agree. What was once a painful and awkward (at times) band to watch is now developed into a confident team ready to sign with a major label.

My favorite of Friday’s eight song set was Hurricane Jane (mp3). If they do sign with a label I think this song should be the single (ahem). Although the Internet sweetheart I’m Not Going to Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance with You (mp3) probably will be.

As usual Reggie (vocals+guitar) put on a great show and I loved the way they Ali and Dawn (keys+vocals) set up on a pedestal above the rest of the band. They’re a great focal point during the show because they really get into it make the whole experience fun, fun, fun. I wish Kevin (drums) and Owen (bass) would get into the shows a little and shake their booties. Their combined energy amounts to my grandma sitting in a rocking chair, sipping lemonade. But hey! They are who they are.

Black Kids are sitting in a very envious position right now. Coming off a quite amazing 8.4 Pitchfork review with the added bonus of being awarded the Best New Music designation. This honor is sure to win them a slew of new fans, or at least a few listens from people who troll the site for great new music on a daily basis. Pitchfork, a music review website loved almost as much as it is hated says:

a record with not just a distinctive aesthetic, but also one single-worthy track after another. Dueling keyboards and scrappy lo-fi guitars give rise to Go! Team-style shouted-back cheers, a communal urgency not unlike the Arcade Fire’s, and an uptempo bounce paying homage to Motown 45’s. In short, Black Kids make catchy, tightly executed songs that put a memorable stamp on pop’s classic themes.

On top of this is the even more amazing story of the Black Kids current success. It’s based on the strength of their live shows and a four-song, self-released EP (Wizard of Ahhhs). Not some money-spewing, MTV marketing machine. You might have heard of some other bands who rose to fame via MySpace and self-promotion: Arctic Monkeys and The Arcade Fire.

With blog posts titled Don’t sign to Vice…Hold out for Sub Pop! and Black Kids Are Almost Out-Shadowing Radiohead This Week floating around the Internet, it would be amazing if those kids didn’t let all this go to their head.

I say let it, for a while. You deserve it.

Upcoming Shows
Oct 18, The Annex, New York
Nov 15, Star Bar, Atlanta
Nov 16, Flicker Theatre, Athens

Photos from the show
Black Kids Myspace (download the EP Wizard of Ahhhs for free)
Black Kids Pitchfork Review
More Black Kids articles

I wrote this for the June issue of CREATEjacksonville which should be appearing later this month

To get the entire experience, listen to this live track from the 12×12 show while you read the article. And turn it up!

12×12 isn’t just the name of the show it’s a math equation for how hot it is in here: 144 degrees! There are lots of sweaty armpits and people fanning themselves with flyers collected throughout the night. The Royal Treatment are on the turntables spinning hiphop and dance hall. When I walked in, they were doing shout-outs over the music just like the old days. “Say ho-oo-o-o! Say ho ho.”

Stepping into the Knight Building an hour ago the music was overwhelming, enveloping you, smacking on your ear drums. As I’m writing this now, the music is at a tolerable level. Loud enough to feel it, but not too loud to think. So I started thinking about the show, as some woman crouched over my shoulder to read what I’m writing. Maybe she’s trying to get into the mind of the people who organized the show.

The show isn’t art in the traditional sense, like paintings from an artist hung on a wall. This show is more of an installation, turning the entire Thief in the Knight gallery into a work of art. 12-inch vinyl artwork covers the walls from floor to ceiling. That’s about 15-feet of record art and it’s an impressive site. It makes for in interesting aesthetic, juxtaposed against the multiple layers of spray paint, stickers and posters from past shows.

The show was a little different than it was first described to me. I anticipated original artwork on blank 12-inch vinyl sleeves but when I arrived the majority of the show was records from a DJs record collection. Ian Ranne, owner of Shanty Town Pub in Springfield, contributed a majority of the records. Curtis Mayfield, Mobb Deep, Ghostface, EPMD, Digable Planets, Sir Mix-a-lot and Tribe Called Quest.

Someone told me Ian was using this as an excuse to organize his collection. I guess a 15-foot visualization of your collection will do the trick. Richard Reichstadter did create some original pieces by cutting out scenes from record artwork to form 3-D dioramas. These came out looking very cool.

I had lunch with Richard next door at Chew the day of the show and we talked about the 12×12 show a bit. Richard, who helps organize all Thief in the Knight shows, called the 12×12 show a group show and alluded to the fact that he hoped to have more group shows in the future.

When he said that I remarked that all the shows had been group shows. “Multiple artists, multiple pieces, a group.” Richard said that was true, but what he meant by group show was artists collaborating in a group to create a collective piece of art. Not individual works of art from individual artists.

All-in-all it was another great show from my point of view. When I go to art walk I like to hangout at the Knight Building. It feels comfortable, like home to me. I see friends, I listen to good music and just take in the whole scene. On some level, it’s a very satisfying and encouraging experience to witness an event like this in Jacksonville and to be there taking part.

I watch people roll in through the front door, back to the beer line. Talking close, head to head, then back outside. By the end of the night I’ve retired to the sidewalk and the beer line stretches from the back of the gallery almost to the front door. I’m glad I’m leaving soon so I don’t have to wait in the beer line again. But I’ll be back next month.

Check out the photoset from the 12×12 show

Photos and text by Adrienne Moore

Mothers weren’t the only ones remembered Sunday night.

The Glow studio hosted a concert to raise money for the Jacksonville Humane Society that was recently destroyed by fire.

Acts included Chase Capo, The Kettles, Anastasia with Jonathan Plant, Jessica Pounds and Shawn Lightfoot.

The show raised 165 dollars as well as encouraging words from the performers. “Even if we don’t raise a lot of money, it’s about the donation of soul,” Musician Chase Capo said. Capo opened by sharing a few meaningful words with the audience regarding suffering and loss, which added to the intimacy of the show.

Every donation signifies a commitment to animal welfare, according to the Jacksonville Humane Society Web site. For more information on donating to the Jacksonville Humane Society visit jaxhumane.org. For more information on upcoming benefit shows at The Glow look for fliers posted in and around Riverside.

photos and text by Adrienne Moore

Engrish still sounds like English and MONO, live, still sounds like MONO.

MONO, a four-piece instrumental rock band from Japan, played to a solid crowd last night at TSI following Sounds Trains Make, Grails and Worlds End Girlfriend. The result was a cinematic production of layered guitar melodies and varied rhythms suggestive of Texas post-rock band Explosions in the Sky.

At midnight, MONO took the stage and bassist Tamaki, lone female, commanded the attention of the audience despite a petite stature and monochromatic black attire. Guitarists Taka Goto and Yoda stood on either side of Tamaki and drummer Yasunori Takada played in back. The band kept a low profile on stage focusing on instruments and pedals and creating a mature appearance.

The music was characterized by long crescendos followed by powerful climaxes that became painfully loud, as indicated throughout the audience by fingers in ears. MONO produced a sound not unlike what is found in their albums, only more intense and dramatic because of their physical involvement in the music.

The reaction of the show-goers was varied throughout the set; some people swayed and some thrashed about, particularly as the volume grew. In between songs, a voice shouted, “Turn it up!” from the back of the crowd, which seemed inappropriate after seven minutes of strict concentration. By the end of the night, I was acutely involved in the sound and production on stage. I left unable to hear, but the affect was worth it.

MONO is more than halfway through their U.S. tour and will be playing in Birmingham, Ala. tonight. I have a feeling their final performance at the Bowery Ballroom on May 17 will be one of their best.

The Flames Beyond the Cold Mountain (mp3)
Official Mono website
Mono Myspace

tags: jacksonville, mono, tsi

Two friends and I went to Shanty Town Pub in Springfield Saturday night. After my night there I consider it to be the best new bars in Jacksonville. Why? Beer selection, Ian and Marianne, Double Dragon, Ambiance/Decor, Metal Monday’s and Art.

Beer Selection
Shanty Town has a wide variety of beers to choose from. There are 8 beers on tap including Guiness, Stella, Woodchuck, Strongbow, Spatan Dark, Tucher, Yuengling, and Abita Purple Haze. Pints are $4 and you can upgrade to a $6 beer too, 22oz I think. Shanty Town could have entered the game lazy with your standard fare of Bud, Bud Light, Miller Lite, etc, but they came heavy offering over 50 bottled beers including Chimay and La Fin DuMonde and Ephemere.

Ian, Marianne and Staff
Ian Ranne and Marianne Purcell are the owners of Shanty Town. I have known Marianne for a few years and I recently met Ian. They both have really good attitudes and it rubs off on the staff. The bartenders were friendly and helpful. Plenty of times I have bellied up to a bar only to run into some jerky bartender who doesn’t give two craps about me. Customer service is very important to me, and I would give Shanty Town an excellent grade on service.

Double Dragon
Yes, the classic two-person arcade fighter is in full effect at Shanty Town. Tasty punch, jump and kick action, all for only 25 cents per credit. Shanty town also sports 3 TVs, a jukebox and turntables. Watch out for that hooker with the whip!

Ambiance and Decor
Inside, the pub is cozy and at first glance appears a bit claustrophobic. I assure you the space fits just right. Once you nuzzle up to the bar with a cold beer, you’ll feel right at home. Lets talk about music. I mentioned the jukebox earlier and I’m not a big fan of loud ass music in bars. I hate shouting my conversations all night. No worries with the Shanty Town jukebox. It seems to be set at the optimal volume for conversation and rocking.

This may sound weird, but I put a lot of stock in bathrooms. Businesses who go the extra mile to consider the bathroom as part of the overall experience are winners in my book. Shanty Town goes the extra mile by plastering the bathroom walls with pages from Vice Magazine’s Vice Dos and Don’ts: 10 Years of VICE Magazine’s Street Fashion Critiques. It makes for some interesting view ing while you “only putting urine in the toilet”. There is one bad thing about the ambiance and it smells like cigarette smoke. Smoking is allowed inside, and this could be a deal breaker for some, but there is always outside.

Metal Mondays
Metal Mondays pays homage to a Springfield neighborhood tradition, quarts of malt liquor. $3 quarts of malt liquor and heavy metal, what more can you ask for? Some may find this appalling, but the idea is quite nostalgic to me. I used to consume large amounts of all malt liquor brands back in the day. There is a certain playful, unpretentious feeling that selling quarts conveys. What other bar can say they pay tribute to the official drink of Springfield?

Art Work
The final thing I want to touch on is the street art aspect of the outdoor area. There are murals covering almost every inch of the outside walls. Some not very elaborate but others are simply beautiful, applied with high levels of skill and care. Then there is the new mural outside which I wrote about yesterday. A 10-foot tall baboon on the outside of the pub welcomes you when you arrive.

Shanty Town Pub has a youthful, hip vibe. Could it be Springfield’s Fuel, sans coffee?. It’s a great addition to Springfield and is indeed the best new bar in the city. Judge for yourself and let me know what you think. Shanty Town Pub is open 7 days a week from 3:30pm till closing time (?) Happy hour is 5-7 pm with $1 Yeunglings everyday. It’s located at 6th and Main in Springfield, just turn West at 6th from Main and look for the baboon!

tags: jacksonville, springfield, shanty town pub

Photo credit: Glynnish (not at Jackrabbits)

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists with Vague Angels, live at Jack Rabbits, November 22nd, 2006 - by Lola Lariscy

I first found out a few months ago that Ted Leo was coming to Jack Rabbits. I jumped up and down. I squealed. I wondered if it was too early to buy tickets. I told everyone I knew, despite no one I know liking the same music I do. I quietly thanked the powers that be that the day after would be a holiday because I knew it would be an intense show and I wouldn’t want to get up so early the next morning.

I would’ve gone anyway, regardless of what I had to do the next day. It would’ve been worth it, too. It was worth the $13 at the door (it would’ve been worth more). It was worth the cigarette smoke all around, it was worth navigating the uneven floor of Jack Rabbits.

While I left a greater fan of Ted Leo and the Pharmacists than I began, I’m sorry to say I didn’t leave a fan of the opening act, Vague Angels. I wanted to, Ted Leo really seemed to like them; he talked them up quite a bit during his show. I just found them musically to be out of sync (during one song I swear the drummer was playing a different song. I was thinking maybe he got the wrong playlist? Maybe it’s like in school when you get a standardized test and the person next to you gets a different test so you can’t cheat?).

I also felt like I was being suffocated by the monotony of the singer’s voice. It seemed like an aesthetic choice on the singer’s part, like he was consciously trying to channel Lou Reed. It was an aesthetic choice that didn’t grab me, though. While Lou Reed is monotonous, he also infuses his songs with a lot of charm to make up for what he lacks in vocal delivery. Plus Reed is an original. Vague Angels seemed to be led by an emo-haired boy dirging over several layers of slow-core disharmony. The music did pick up from slow-core to mid-core; I found the later songs in the set (they only played 5 or 6) to be more favorable, but I just couldn’t get past his delivery.

I can’t remember if the songs on their Vague Angels Myspace page are the same songs they played, but I will say that the musicianship is much tighter in the recorded songs than in the live set (which could be due to technical issues). His voice is a little punchier in the song “I Did Not Find You…” on Myspace, but this is not indicative of his singing during the concert. It’s really just a matter of taste; other people will feel that his vocals fit the songs perfectly. A review quoted on their label’s website cites their music as “harmoniously rich”, but they also note that it’s “droning”, which I think is what turned me off to it. Of course since I just found out that the singer, Chris Leo, is Ted Leo’s brother, I’m trying really hard to be more positive. I might like his writing.

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists put on the show I knew they would. Their show started fast, stayed fast and didn’t falter. Leo completely engaged the audience; even when he was tuning he was still talking to us. The audience responded back too, which after seeing dozens of shows in Jacksonville, I know isn’t a given. Leo was quick to respond to our “suggestions” (one of which was a request for the B-52’s song “Rock Lobster”).

Later, he was talking for a minute between songs and a concerned concert-goer yelled out “Less talkin’ and more rockin’”. (Yes, we’re representing the best of Jax at every step). It seemed like the guy probably just wanted a little attention, and he got it. Leo stopped in his tracks and jokingly informed the concerned concert-goer that he can (paraphrasing) go out the fucking door, or something like that. It made me laugh, and it showed that Leo has a good sense of humor. That wasn’t his only interaction with the audience: at one point he invited a girl from the front row to get up and play the guitar. I’m not sure how the exchange started–she was in the front row and I couldn’t hear what she’d said to get Leo’s attention. She had this wonderfully blase attitude, though; the guitar was strung over her and it was almost as big as she was (she was a very petite woman). She was calmly puffing on her cigarette while she tried to figure out the chords. She played a bit of one of Leo’s songs, but couldn’t remember the whole thing so he took the guitar back after a minute or so. Personalizing the show like that helped make the night memorable for us and I hope for the band also. I swear I caught Ted Leo smiling at a girl in front of me who was tearing up the dance floor. I’d been talking to her before the show and I’d had no idea how much a fan she was: she’d been so calm and demure. As soon as Ted Leo let into his guitar, though, she was throwing up her arms in the air, bouncing around and singing every one of the lyrics. I only know about half the lyrics. I was totally shown up!

If you’re inclined to dance at all, then you couldn’t help but dance the entire time. I danced to every song (even towards the end of the show when I couldn’t feel my feet anymore). I couldn’t be as carefree as I wanted to, though, because of that pesky uneven floor. I seemed to be on a continental divide. My right foot was about two inches higher than my left foot. I could’ve changed places, but man, I was right in front of Ted Leo. I wasn’t going anywhere. So, I tread the divide between the two floor levels, and I was mindful that I didn’t fall off the shelf. In the front row, directly in front of Leo were two guys who seemed to be into the music, but they weren’t looking at the stage at all; they were taking pictures of each other the whole time. I got the sense that they were just really excited to have cameras and be able to take pictures of themselves. Maybe they wanted to document their own, personal experiences of the show. It was strange, but again it was one of those things that made the show unique. Maybe when Ted Leo remembers Jacksonville he’ll remember the “less talkin’” guy, the girl who played the guitar, the girl who sashayed around with her arms in the air and the two guys who were at their own show.

I’ll remember those things, but I’ll also remember that the Pharmacists played great and played almost every song I knew. They started the set with the powerhouse “Where Have All The Rude Boys Gone”. Definitely one of my favorites; I was extremely excited when he dedicated it to Jacksonville. I got the sense he did that because it’s such an energetic song and we were such an energetic audience. I don’t think he was trying to imply that the rude boys have gone to Jacksonville. I know he had a good impression of Jacksonville, though, because he said after playing in huge arenas with Death Cab For Cutie, he and his band walked in to Jack Rabbits, looked around and said “Fuck Yeah”. I understood what he meant: Jack Rabbits is small, smoky, uneven and the bathrooms may not always work, but it’s part of my extended home. As Ted Leo said, he knows where he’s appreciated. They played a few new songs, and despite never hearing the new songs before, I never wanted to sit down.

They’re the kind of band that I’m genuinely grateful I know about. They’re labeled a punk band in a lot of reviews, and while they have that blistering energy, the songs have the most intricate (and often extraordinary) melodies of any punk band I’ve heard. Leo’s voice is just gorgeous. Their base is firmly in rock, though; Leo’s guitar sounds like a banshee when he’s playing and several times he was so enraptured in the guitar part that he turned towards the back of the stage and got lost in his own guitarist-ness. I can’t blame him; he’s an excellent player and I found myself getting lost in the sound, also.

While some music just can’t transfer live (which may have interfered with my appreciation of the opening band), the Pharmacists’ songs were heightened in a live environment. Their music is made to be played live. I always suspected that they would put on an exceptional, eventful show, and I was right. They definitely know how to be musicians and performers. They’ve also always been great about having music available for download on their website and Myspace (how do you think someone as poor as I am heard of them?)

Ted Leo - Where Have All the Rude Boys Gone?
Ted Leo - Some Beginners Mind

tags: jacksonville, ted leo and the pharmacists, vauge angels, jackrabbits, san marco

Today I have a featured article from Lola Lariscy of Cerulean’s Love of Music. From time to time Lola will be writing about music for Urban Jacksonville. Her first article is about a local band named Baker Act.

No, They Have Nothing To Do With Baking
But Somehow Beer and Shout Detergent Figure In

When my friend Cheryl at work (usually referred to as “Cheryl” by her close friends) let me hear the fabulous demo by a local band called Baker Act, my first question was to ask her if they had a website. They don’t (yet), but they have a Myspace, which means I can hear the songs again and learn more about the band. For instance, I’ve learned that they formed in mid-2005, they’ve had a few line-up changes, and their main influence is beer (ahhh…I knew I felt a deep connection…)

Copies of their demo are available when they play live (or by mail–just message the band for information), but you can hear it on their Myspace. Their type of music isn’t easily labeled–“Ignorance Is Bliss” and “Psycho Chick” are closer to punk rock (with the emphasis on rock) than the other two. This rock is more Sleater Kinney and The Donnas than your average modern rock.

When it’s not rock, though, it leans toward the atmospheric, slow build-up of Siouxsie Sioux or Concrete Blonde. “The Story of Faye” builds gradually, as if the guitar is climbing out of a bank of heavy fog (or the place where it passed out drunk from too much Red Stripe). Like ye olde Bauhaus, (and some Cure songs, too) the guitar/bass intro is deliberately slow and methodical, creating tension until the vocals pick up the dynamic. The song then explodes with all the force and urgency expected from a song about being put in a mental institution.

“Institution Girl” also starts off slow, gothic and introspective, but lyrically and musically, it’s a little less despairing than the other similarly-themed song. It speaks to the subject, instead of from the subject’s perspective; therefore the anger, though still there, isn’t the focus. This is more a love letter to the girl in the institution, rather than a rally cry against the institution.

Baker Act will undoubtedly be better known for their two songs “Psycho Chick” and “Ignorance Is Bliss”. All of the songs are equally good, but these two are more “in your face” and consistently loud, as opposed to the other more subtle, layered tracks. These two are more likely to be remembered by drunk frats the next day.

“Psycho Chick” most definitely has the funniest lyrics (“I’ll be your stain, so shout me out!” and “I’m moody as hell, but I’m not in jail”). I asked the singer and songwriter Danielle where the “shout me out” lyric came from and she said it was inspired by a cleanliness-obsessed former girlfriend who always had shout wipes with her. Heh–must be the ultimate shout-out for the ex, then (pauses for awkward, forced laughter). “Ignorance Is Bliss” is the most straight-up rock song. It definitely has the American Punk feel of 70’s New York and CBGBs, with a bit of early Hole (before the massive bank accounts and rights disputes overshadowed Courtney Love’s music)

Danielle and Marz (the drummer) are the only two original members. Elizabeth came on as bass player after a few misses with other bassists. Finding the guitarist became easier after they found out that Elizabeth’s brother Rudy played. They waited for his tenure with the military to end, and they had a complete band.

I asked Danielle why “scarf magician” was listed underneath her picture on the band’s page. Sadly she doesn’t do magic tricks with scarves or make origami scarf creatures. She likes to play with scarves on stage and that’s how she got the nickname. I guess it’s better than playing with fire or knives on stage…I mean, I’m sure she’d be good with them, but I’d be a little hesitant to be in that front row if she did. Each member has a personal Myspace account, accessible from Baker Act’s page. I now know that Elizabeth really likes horror movies and The Muppets and that Rudy trained to be a nurse.

Baker Act (fittingly, a term referring to being involuntarily institutionalized) plays regularly in Jacksonville and other cities in Florida. November 17th they’ll be in St. Pete, and on Dec 1st they’re playing The Pit here in Jax. They’ve recently played shows at The French Quarter and Fuel Coffeehouse.

tags: jacksonville, baker act