|
Bottom of the Hill September 10, 2002 Review by Jake Thomas I started this night out with a monthly tradition - forgetting my ticket to the show. You would think that with the number of times I've done this, it would eventually sink into my thick skull to not forget anymore. Luckily, I wasn’t too far from the house when I remembered, so all was good (unlike the last time that 90 Day Men played, and I showed up just in time for them, but had forgot my ticket, so by the time I got home and got back I would have missed them entirely, and I didn't want to see the other bands they were with, so I just went home and sat around looking sad and forlorn. But that’s neither here nor there at the moment). When eventually got there and walked in the door, Hella was already playing. I couldn't believe how packed it was - I don't ever think I've seen that many people at Bottom of the Hill for the first band. This was my third or fourth time seeing these Sacromentites, and they are yet to disappoint me. In fact, I think they keep getting better every time I see them. Not that the drummer, Zach Hill, could get any better, but they seem less disjointed in their sound and more like an actual band. The guitar could have been turned up a little more though, but I’m not sure if this is due to poor mixing of the from the soundboard, or just the overwhelming presence of Zach. There was more than a few people watching with their jaws hanging open. Can't wait for that new album, which I hear should be crash landing in a record store in the near future. Math Rock Connection #1 - One of my girlfriend's little brother's best friends is the little brother of Zach Hill, the drummer for Hella. So it's almost like I know Les Claypool or something! (Note - Zach worked with Les recently on one of those side projects that Les is always doing. That's why I say this. Har har har.) (Double note - I can't say that I even like Les Claypool's music very much, but I did listen to Frizzle Fry’ and Sailing the Seas of Cheese’ a lot when I first started high school. But mostly because of this one friend of mine, who was crazy about the stuff. I just thought it was ok, but some of it was funny.) Next up was Dilute. I just saw these boys for the first time a couple of weeks ago at the Castle, and I was pretty impressed. Tonight's show kept me entertained as well. One thing that happened that I don't remember from the previous show was the singer's voice - a little too intentionally high pitched in a Tim Kinsella type of way for my tastes, but the crowd appeared to be digging it. Plus, he doesn't sing too often, so you can deal with it even if it isn't for you. The music was really great though, technical goodness all around. I especially liked them announcing that the next song would be their last song halfway through their set; but they weren't lying, the last song was just 25 minutes long. Now I'm a sucker for the epic-long math rock song, so this produced all grins on my face. Finally, Rumah Sakit. I've been enjoying their recordings for a while now, but somehow managed to never see them. I think they only played once since I moved here a couple of years ago, and I just figured I would catch them next time, only there was no next time with the breaking up they went and did. A little bummed out on that fact, I was pleased that they were playing a reunion show, and I wasn't going to miss this one. And they were the sweet, sweet icing on an already delicious cake. A devil's food cake with cream cheese icing, for those keeping score, or wanting to give me baked goods. They started the show with the first song from Pink Floyd's The Wall. What is it with these guys and their Pink Floyd fixation? Not that it's a bad thing, as the Pink are my favorite of all the bands I lump into the classic rock category. After that, they proceeded into their original stuff, and sounded amazingly tight for a group that hasn't played together in a long while. I guess that's a sign of their musicianship, because it sure isn't because their songs are simple. I couldn't really name any of them even though I had heard them, but that's probably true for me of most all instrumental stuff. The crowd seemed much more into it than I might ave expected, with a little more bobbing and wiggling than you usually see at a show like this. Not that there was a ton of it, but like I said, more than I would have thought to see. Math Rock Connection #2 - I was playing tennis in Noe Valley the other day with my girlfriend, and Mitch Cheney, guitarist for both Rumah Sakit and Sweep the Leg Johnny, was hitting tennis balls with some friends in the basketball court that was just on the other side of the fence. They kept hitting their balls into our court, and we had to keep hitting them back to them. They were very polite about the whole matter. I was going to tell the guy I dug both of his bands, but I’m too shy and awkward to pull shit like that off successfully and without looking like a real dumbass. (Note - even when not introducing myself to local rock celebrities, I still manage to seem like a real doofus most of the time.) What a great rock show. It's not often that I am generally excited about all three bands on a bill like I was for this one, and it didn’t disappoint in the least. I would have been happy to go out and see any one of these three groups, but I got them all at once. And hopefully Rumah Sakit will make it a point to have more reunions, and I'll make it a point to keep going to the shows. ©2002 playinginfog.com |