Music That Puts Everything Together
So D and I went to Indianapolis to the Melody Inn on Saturday, to see Jason Webley, having no idea we were in for a night of musical genius.
First up was none other than Lord of the Yum-Yum, a Chicago-based music teacher gone crazy. To say that his show was interesting is like saying that there's a LiveJournal out there with overwrought faux angst. He claimed his name was Max, short for Maximum Happiness, and he delivered mightily on that, planting a stupid grin on my face right away, and exiting the stage amidst a swirling cloud of euphoria. I know, that's all well and good, but what exactly does he do? You're so damn impatient.
Essentially, he performs classical music - usually in a hip-hop or techno style - with no instruments or electronics whatsoever, except a microphone and a single loop-based sampler. Using this, he layers his own voice, dozens of levels deep, doing all of the sampling on the fly, nothing prerecorded. Throughout this, he improvises constantly, mixing in a capella Led Zeppelin, reenactments of B-grade horror movies, and dancing spastic enough to shoot Ritalin's stock through the roof. On top of it all, he's a super nice guy who spent ten minutes or so sitting and chatting with Denise and I afterwards. If this is not the ultimate evolution of geek rock, it's at least the pinnacle thus far, and was single-handedly worth the drive and price of admission. If you can catch him out and about, do not miss the opportunity. His website has a couple of MP3s, but they are to the live show as a postage stamp is to Van Gogh's Starry Night. I encourage you not to go and listen to them, unless you can do so without forming a preconceived notion about seeing him perform, as making a judgment call based on those impersonal digital samples would be a crime against humanity, and no one wants to see you go down that road, least of all me.
Next on the bill: Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band. Indianapolis local Peyton, who is indeed an ordained Reverend (although I have no idea as to the church, and don't necessarily want to), plays the dobro and guitar as though he were born to, and perhaps he was. A large man with a larger beard, Peyton is also the Big Damn Singer, swapping between growling punk and a deep soulful...I don't know, a yodel, almost. Thoroughly entertaining to watch. His brother Jayme plays the drums, and by contrast looks like the nicest, most clean-cut kid you could ever hope to warn not to go near your daughter. Peyton's wife Breezy wraps up the trio on the washboard, and is also extremely entertaining to watch. All of their songs were full of energy and tight playing, and while I didn't get to talk to Breezy, both of the fellas were extremely nice. Also singlehandedly worth the trip.
And then of course, there was Jason Webley. I already knew that Jason was a genius; I consider him the Leonard Cohen of our generation, except with a slightly better singing voice. Now I know that he's a gifted stage performer as well. Besides performing a brilliant version of Outkast's "Hey Ya", he worked the crowd into a single happy, partying entity seemingly at will. A lot more energetic than you would expect from his largely introspective albums, he seemed right at home in a dive bar, bantering with the crowd, stopping in the middle of songs to tell jokes or anecdotes, and generally having a really good time himself.
As I mentioned before, you can listen to one of his albums free online, and they're only $10 anyway (postage included). He runs the entire operation himself, which surprised me, since most people at least farm out their merchandising; got a little handwritten note of thanks when I ordered some albums. Listen, if you ever do anything for me, please support this guy, as I would love to see him be successful at something he's so talented at and so obviously enjoys doing. Go give him a listen, and if you like him, pick up an album or two, and go see him play next time he's in town.
Also, like the others playing that night, Jason stopped by for a chat with D and I, and I'm supposed to try to find him a good place to play in St. Louis, so if you live in the area and have any suggestions, drop me a line.
There was a fourth band after him, but I didn't especially care for them, and am not going to name them so as to not potentially step on anyone's feelings.
Finally, I just added about 40 phonecam pictures. Go peruse them, won't you?
Currently listening to: "Stockholm Syndrome", Muse
First up was none other than Lord of the Yum-Yum, a Chicago-based music teacher gone crazy. To say that his show was interesting is like saying that there's a LiveJournal out there with overwrought faux angst. He claimed his name was Max, short for Maximum Happiness, and he delivered mightily on that, planting a stupid grin on my face right away, and exiting the stage amidst a swirling cloud of euphoria. I know, that's all well and good, but what exactly does he do? You're so damn impatient.
Essentially, he performs classical music - usually in a hip-hop or techno style - with no instruments or electronics whatsoever, except a microphone and a single loop-based sampler. Using this, he layers his own voice, dozens of levels deep, doing all of the sampling on the fly, nothing prerecorded. Throughout this, he improvises constantly, mixing in a capella Led Zeppelin, reenactments of B-grade horror movies, and dancing spastic enough to shoot Ritalin's stock through the roof. On top of it all, he's a super nice guy who spent ten minutes or so sitting and chatting with Denise and I afterwards. If this is not the ultimate evolution of geek rock, it's at least the pinnacle thus far, and was single-handedly worth the drive and price of admission. If you can catch him out and about, do not miss the opportunity. His website has a couple of MP3s, but they are to the live show as a postage stamp is to Van Gogh's Starry Night. I encourage you not to go and listen to them, unless you can do so without forming a preconceived notion about seeing him perform, as making a judgment call based on those impersonal digital samples would be a crime against humanity, and no one wants to see you go down that road, least of all me.
Next on the bill: Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band. Indianapolis local Peyton, who is indeed an ordained Reverend (although I have no idea as to the church, and don't necessarily want to), plays the dobro and guitar as though he were born to, and perhaps he was. A large man with a larger beard, Peyton is also the Big Damn Singer, swapping between growling punk and a deep soulful...I don't know, a yodel, almost. Thoroughly entertaining to watch. His brother Jayme plays the drums, and by contrast looks like the nicest, most clean-cut kid you could ever hope to warn not to go near your daughter. Peyton's wife Breezy wraps up the trio on the washboard, and is also extremely entertaining to watch. All of their songs were full of energy and tight playing, and while I didn't get to talk to Breezy, both of the fellas were extremely nice. Also singlehandedly worth the trip.
As I mentioned before, you can listen to one of his albums free online, and they're only $10 anyway (postage included). He runs the entire operation himself, which surprised me, since most people at least farm out their merchandising; got a little handwritten note of thanks when I ordered some albums. Listen, if you ever do anything for me, please support this guy, as I would love to see him be successful at something he's so talented at and so obviously enjoys doing. Go give him a listen, and if you like him, pick up an album or two, and go see him play next time he's in town.
Also, like the others playing that night, Jason stopped by for a chat with D and I, and I'm supposed to try to find him a good place to play in St. Louis, so if you live in the area and have any suggestions, drop me a line.
There was a fourth band after him, but I didn't especially care for them, and am not going to name them so as to not potentially step on anyone's feelings.
Finally, I just added about 40 phonecam pictures. Go peruse them, won't you?
Currently listening to: "Stockholm Syndrome", Muse
1 Comments:
What are you talking about? Is it messed up for anyone else?
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