Skybox

UPDATE: Myspace link fixed.

So my brother, who is arguably the finest human being on earth after my mother, just left town with his new band, Skybox. (Dad, you're in the top 10. Gandhi is #15, so you should still be flattered.) Skybox is a young indie rock band, and the songs on their myspace page suggested some interesting and solid music, but not earth-shattering.

My brother rolled in at 2am on Thursday with their drummer, Mike, who is a stand-up guy, and as it turns out, a kick-ass drummer. Later that day, I met their bandmates, who were also great guys. Christian, the guitarist/keyboardist, is a live wire. Imagine Matthew McConaughey wanting to keep his shirt on at all times, and being an incredible musician.

When they started their Thursday show at Galapagos, I had the joy of watching a band for the first time that I had no knowledge of. I wasn't rooting for them -- I know my brother rocks the bass and is a music pro. I figured he picked a good project, so I sat back and watched them.

By doing so, I was reminded that learning a band by seeing them live in an intimate venue is still the best way to hear new music. Singer/guitarist/principal songwriter Tim sometimes sings in a whimsical falsetto that I've heard in other bands, and tend not to like. But as the first few songs went by, I could tell how much work he'd put into crafting these songs -- there were incredible vocal harmonies, dynamics and song structures.

By song and beer 5, I was ridiculously hooked. This band knew exactly what they were doing, but in the audience, there was no idea what was coming next. I think I missed a couple songs as I was feverishly text-messaging friends to urge them to come out to Friday night's show at the Knitting Factory. But I was absolutely floored.

I've stopped seeing a lot of live bands because in New York, a lot of bands get by with terrific marketing haircuts and fanbases, and more because I'm sick and tired of going to venues where people aren't there to see shows -- they're there to hang, be seen, catch up with friends, sit on the floor, wear enormous backpacks and pretty much do anything but direct their attention to the band onstage.

There's no question I enjoyed Skybox so much because my brother was in the band. But I also got to hang with everyone in the band before they hit the stage. It made a *huge* difference. If I walked into a club and saw Skybox playing, I'd be impressed but reticent, because I'd be detached, and because some of the things they do I've seen other bands do. But getting to meet them before they hit the stage, seeing they were earnest, down-to-earth funny guys telegraphed how much of their stage presence was an act, and how much was their personality. And honestly, it was all personality. For example, Christian was a ham onstage, but he's a ham offstage. He kicks all kinds of ass--maple, strawberry, boysenberry ass. These guys were all legitimately psyched to be playing their songs for people, and got along so well.

Friday night's show at the Knitting Factory was even better than the Thursday night show. Same set, I'm guessing. There was a decent crowd, and pretty much all of them were there to see another band on the 5-band bill. And after they played their first song, I knew they were on. And I had the distinct pleasure of watching a band I now love win over a crowd. It's a truly amazing feeling to watch a band who you know is good play to strangers and convert them. After every song the crowd got more and more excited. After the 3rd song, someone yelled out "You guys are called Skybox?", registering them for the immediate future, where they jumped in a long line at the merch table.

This post is kinda about how good my brother's new band is, but it's really about the excitement I felt going to a live show from a band I didn't know whose performance and energy was so vital, and how meeting them beforehand triggered my excitement for these two shows. When you know the band you're about to see is really talented, loose, and happy to be playing, all is good.

Dan, if you read this, stay in this band. You guys are awesome.

A Meme

UPDATED (7/07/08): Look at the bottom of this post for a couple downloads.

A new post about a band I love is coming up soon, based on the overwhelming response to the Walt Mink post. In the meantime, I'm curious what the people who stop by here are listening to. If you could oblige, name a few bands you're currently listening to, and a few great songs by each that have inspired said listening. If you got a blog, put 'em there, so maybe your commenters will chime in too. Here's my list:

ROLLING STONES (even before Jackson's post), I've been slowly filling in the gaps of my Stones knowledge. As a Beatles kid, I never really loved the Stones growing up, and predictably found Led Zeppelin more exciting. Which is odd, because the main reason I was never a Stones fan is that I dislike the blues. Actively. Certain singers will hit me right, but blues guitar in particular bores me.

But I liked the Stones enough as a kid to get Hot Rocks on cassette and hear the same songs on the radio. The mistake I made was that I assumed that the Stones' best material was on their greatest hits. I was wrong.

You can spend a year or two with a Rolling Stones album before tackling the next one, like the way they were released. That's kind of the way I've been tackling them - 10 years ago, 'Let It Bleed'. 7 years ago it was 'Satanic Majesties'. 5 years ago, 'Beggars Banquet'. Then 'Aftermath', then 'Exile', then 'Sticky Fingers', then 'Exile' again. There's really no rush. Although if Keith died, I'd probably listen to the entire catalog very very quickly. But he's not going anytime soon, is he?

2000 Man. From Bottle Rocket, and Satanic Majesties. Kinda goofy lyric-wise, but like with many Stones songs, the conviction is in the guitar playing and the drumming. I'm also a huge fan of sticking a song inside another song, like it's a Tauntaun.

Can't You Hear Me Knocking. Mick Jagger is one of the best performers I've ever seen live, and the best frontman by far. With that, and the David Bowie sex, must come a supersized ego. So it amazes me that he fades into the band so well on record, and becomes another instrument, not its figurehead (like on Sympathy, which I like but never need to hear again). That's just one of the amazing things about this song. Another being the 'fuck Carlos Santana, I can do this shit lying down' 2nd half. And then Charlie Watts doesn't know where to end. I love that shit.

Let It Loose. A deep cut on Exile. Just beautiful. This is one of those songs that should be heard, and not talked about.

Dead Flowers. I love songs built around acoustic guitar and drums, I realize. If I had the jaw, I'd suck that shit all day long. This is the happiest jilted lover song ever.

Turd on the Run. It just came up on shuffle. Nice.

POLVO

As Misanthrope mentioned, I just went to see Polvo, the noisy math-rock geniuses, with Misanthrope and Barack Obama, Misanthrope's fuck-buddy. One of the best 10 shows I've ever been to.

Polvo's music is 'difficult'--imagine if Sonic Youth let Lee Ranaldo write most of their songs--but after meeting (and hugging) the band members I realized it's not some high-minded art thing. This is just how they see and hear the universe around them.

I don't love every song by them, not by a long shot. There's some filler on their records. But as somebody who has a knack for figuring out songs on guitar, the Polvo show was like a magic show. Alternate tunings abide, to be fair, but the guitar interplay in that band humbles me and dazzles me.

About the hugging: along with Misanthrope & Barack, our friend John Thomas was in tow. He went to high school with the guitarist and the bassist, and introduced me to
the band. After the show, when I realized my ass had been music-kickpunched and I loved this band, I used his good name to negotiate hugs from the band. The bassist was the creepiest -- he was 2nd of the 4. I ran into him in the bathroom, there was no one else there. He was finishing up, I was entering. I mentioned I had a bet with my friend John (false) that I couldn't hug every member of Polvo tonight. He obliged my request.

The weird thing is that I was telling him this while I was approaching the urinal, and finished my request as I had started the process. But this man waited for me to finish peeing, wash my hands, dry them, and hug him. He is truly the greatest man working in rock and roll today.

Songs:

Thermal Treasure. The first song on my favorite album of theirs (Today's Active Lifestyle), and I've heard it 50 times, but it took 49 listens to understand everything happening in it. And it's been stuck in my head for the last three weeks.

Snowstorm in Iowa. Didn't hear it at the show, but it makes me think of John van Atta, and how he should've been at this show.

Fractured (Like Chandeliers). Years ago, the Misanthrope turned me on to Polvo, and this song in particular. I haven't been listening to it lately but it's the best Polvo song ever. When they played it, every mid-30s male in the audience turned into a 13-year old girl.

THE CURE

At the recent Via Skyway show, where I filled in on bass, we covered the early Cure single 'A Forest'. Great song, but it came out of a 3am text-message conversation with George, where I suggested we play 'Push', the guitar-hero song that wraps up Side 1 of 1985's "Head on the Door." I sang the Cure cover.

After the show, the bartender bought me a shot for singing the Cure song, which prompted me to ask him: who's better? The Cure or the Smiths?

(This is a huge sticking point for me. I love the Cure. I allow the Smiths, but I want to put Morrissey's face through a stain-glass window.)

The bartender said 'The Cure'. If only he were a woman! I bought him a shot for answering correctly. He paid for it.

I don't know why people knock The Cure. Robert Smith is one of the best guitarists to ever front a band, and they've evolved the same way that REM or The Stones have. Like with those bands, their last 5 albums couldn't grow grass, but in their heyday they were truly unique.

Songs:

Push: My favorite Cure song ever. If you haven't heard it, you have no idea how good it is. The most underrated guitar hook of the 1980s.

Six Different Ways: A throwaway pop song on 'Head on the Door'. But it's such a thrill to hear a good band at the height of their powers throw away a song.

10.15 Saturday Night: Back when the Cure were a 3-piece, they made a song that should teach every band about dynamics. My 2nd favorite Cure song ever.

Exploding Boy: A B-side to 'In Between Days'. An incredible, incredible song.

UPDATE:

Polvo - THERMAL TREASURE
Cure - THE EXPLODING BOY