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Porch / The Mae-Shi/ Lower 48 / Replicator Toxic Beach August 23, 2003 Review by Jake Thomas This was the second annual noise rock picnic, as organized by erstwhile local man-on-the-scene, noise rock list moderator, and Replicator’s singer/guitarist Conan Neutron. A ton more people were here this go around than last time – not sure if that’s due to word of mouth, the caliber of bands, or more people are just digging rock music nowadays. Anyways, I got there in time to see the following acts… Porch – As I walked up, Porch was playing their set. I like what I heard, but would be hard pressed to pin point what exactly they sound like. Noisy, a little mathy, just generally rockin’…apparently one of the members used to be in Primus; I’m not sure if this fact brings people to their shows or scares them away, but let me state for the record that they sound absolutely nothing like Primus – no wankery, no silliness, just rock. The Mae-Shi – these lads are from Los Angeles; I had never heard of them before but had heard a lot about them via Conan. He compared them to XBXRX, Les Savy Fav, Ex Models; I would have to say that of these choices, they sound most like the Ex-Models, or possibly more like The Seconds. Honestly they don’t sound a terrible amount like any of those bands, but they do occupy the same space in the time-music continuum. Loads of energy and dancing, squawky gadgets that the singer would tweak with while the band played to add that extra layer of sound, and both their songs and their set was short, sweet, and to the point. I had intended to get a copy of their CD, but got side tracked doing god knows what else and forgot. Next time they roll through, I’ll fix that mistake. Lower 48 – I’ve seen a lot of these lads lately, but pure and simple, they rock. The might possibly be my favorite local ‘heavier’ band (as in, not poppy stuff like Rogue Wave or Thee More Shallows or someone like that). Again, not a terribly long set, but a good one. Other than playing their songs, which I obviously liked, they broke into a rendition of Michael Jackson’s ‘Billie Jean’ in the middle of one of their songs that really got the crowd dancing around. I’m quite looking forward to their forth-coming album as well as their split with Replicator, should be a good listen. Replicator – What more can I say about these guys? I’ve seen them a lot over the last year, and I always enjoy their show. They played a lot of songs that I know, some of which I believe will be on that split with Lower 48 that I mentioned above. Conan was well out of control, and on at least one occasion he was laying on his back in the dirt and mud after having piled into a bunch of folks. Their new songs sound great, and I’m curious to hear studio versions of them. I know they are currently working on their new album, and hopefully they will finish it soon for the buying public (in other words, finish the damn thing so I can get it). --- Read our previous Lower 48 reviews: June 12, 2003 @ 40th Street Warehouse January 3, 2003 @ Edinburgh Castle Read our previous Replicator reviews: March 1, 2003 @ 40th St Warehouse February 26, 2003 @ Great American Music Hall January 3, 2003 @ Edinburgh Castle May 30, 2001 @ Bottom of the Hill ©2003 playinginfog.com |