The Mercury Rev gig was GREAT.  The night was an unadulterated JOY.  The atmosphere backstage was generous, super friendly, focussed.  Ben Frost had six bass stacks behind him on full pelt, two drummers either side including the great Shahzad Ismaily, shaking Koko with volume so hard that you knew where the nearest steel girder was wherever you were in the building.  Then we came on and did our improvised thing - a live soundtrack to The Red Balloon by Albert Lamorisse:
... as filmed by someone in the audience with forearms of steel.... (that's Grasshopper we see doing his thing - I'm way off on the left with theremin, zither, electronics and pedals)  And then SWANS came on... and just took off.  The music was mesmeric.  Yes, it was unbelievably loud, but it was exquisitely loud, like a vast wave lifting you up and surging through you without breaking.  It actually took my breath away. Unforgettable, beautiful.

Thank you, Grasshopper and Jonathan for asking me along... a special night. X
 
Next Thursday 4th April 2013, I'm joining up with Mercury Rev's Cinematic Silent Sound Tettix Wave Ensemble for a gig at Koko in Camden, North London.  We're being joined by drummer / percussionist Martin Smith of Tuung, so the full name of the band is Mercury Rev's Cinematic Silent Sound Tettix Wave Ensemble Featuring Nick Franglen and Martin Smth, or MRCSSTWEFNFAMS for short. 

This festival evening - Mouth to Mouth - is being curated by Michael Gira of Swans:  Ben FrostXiu Xiu and Grouper in support, then us, and Swans headline the show.  It's a great lineup.  If you've not seen Swans before, they'll blow your fucking socks off, incredible - see below.  Here's an excellent interview with Swans drummer Thor on The Quietus site.  We of MRCSSTWEFNFAMS will be creating a live soundtrack to a film, and it's going to be special and unrepeatable.  Click here for more details and tickets.
Also it's the first time I'll have played at Koko, which is a big deal for me. It was my haunt for my teenage years when it was the Music Machine -  saw The ClashSiouxsie etc there, and was there on the opening night after Steve Strange and Rusty Egan had dolled it up and reopened it as the what-the-fuck-have-they-done-to-it Camden Palace. They kept the old bouncers though, just so the transition wasn't too abrupt.  Maybe they're still there, with their single leather gloves and cheery disposition.

Nico

7/1/2013

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I'm prepping for the Nico show on the 16th, getting sounds together and stuff.  And girding my loins for the nightmare polka we always dance at the airport to get my gear through.  Some people can travel light.  Not me.

Love this song.  Shibuya, 1986.

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