It is a genuine privilege to hear Blonde Redhead live. Blonde Redhead is Kazu Makino, Simone Pace (drums), and Amedeo Pace (guitar). Blonde Redhead played for about 90-minutes, including a 3-song encore.
Makino sings; her voice is high and reed-like, her words are undecipherable. Blonde Redhead creates tension by repetition. Melodic riffs and pounding drums support Makino’s eerie wailing. Besides supporting Makino, Amedeo’s guitar often mirrors Makino’s voice. His riffs match her tone, creating a driving and explosive momentum that produces chills. It’s been said before, but Blonde Redhead is noisy like Sonic Youth was noisy. However at this point, the noise is their own.
Makino and the Pace brothers played together like they knew each other’s every thought. They truly played as a band. Blonde Redhead’s togetherness came through not only in their sound, but in the overall concert experience. Many times throughout the night they made eye-contact, and executed a seamless transition.
Apart from the sounds, Blonde Redhead is visually stimulating. Makino is fashionable and captivating. Once on stage she’s lost in her creation. Makino’s movements invoke a robotic “go-go girl.” The Pace brother’s are equally fashionable: they shine in silver and gold necklaces, tight button down shirts with sleeves incapable of reaching their wrists, jeans with flashy buttons, and tufts of curly gray hair.
Blonde Redhead seems to be constantly touring. Their shows are polished and effective and they are only getting better.
School of Seven Bells
Two computers, two brunettes, and no drummer: School of Seven Bells failed to be distinct, failed to make an impression. School of Seven Bells is Alejandra and Claudia Deheza, Benjamin Curtis, and James Elliott. They played roughly 6-songs in 40-minutes. Alejandra and Claudia sing front-center, Benjamin and James take up the sides playing guitar and bass.
When Seven Bells is at their best, computers blast tribal beats and brunettes harmonize. When they are less than their best, the brunettes look shy and withdrawn, and the boys appear to check their email on computers producing cheap synthesized drum beats.
Seven Bells is a work in progress. They have enough to grow, but they need to grow. To become a headline band, they need to develop diversity in their set-list. Too many of their songs involved the Deheza’s hitting the same notes. They need to communicate with the audience. Several times I wondered whether they enjoyed being on stage. As Kazu Makino of Blonde Redhead said, “we share the practice space, but sometimes they don’t pay rent.”
Ugh. Paste’s profile of Free Energy made me kind of hate them. So does your review. It’s this unctuous defense of good-time rock-and-roll ("we’re just here to party, and we’re awesome!") that seems more self-serving than fun-loving.
by beth on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 09.41 pm from the entry: Foreign Born + Free Energy - The Knitting Factory (Brooklyn, NY; Mar. 12, 2010)
that inescapable feeling you are referring to, is that like when you hear something and you could have sworn you heard it before because of the nostalgic catchy quality? or is is like when you’ve heard a band exactly like said band?
great post by the way!
by paul on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 03.15 pm from the entry: The Novel Ideas - "The Sky Is A Field" - Borrow It
Whoa! I had no idea she was enegaged. You would never know with the way she behaves! Wow!
by art on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 09.48 am from the entry: Nikki Darlin and John McCauley: 1+1=1
This comment stream is so meta. Great review Kelly.
by chris on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 07.50 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
no prob. The whole album is excellent, combining some of the harder sonics of Los Angeles with the meat of his debut and obviously difficult to summarize in only 50 words… 
I’d say it’s on par with the debut, but better than Los Angeles.
by kelly on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 06.23 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
By the way, I really liked the mp3 posted. Thanks.
by Joshua H on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 06.17 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
WHO WROTE THIS...PUKE ! “WHO WROTE THIS...PUKE ! “Picture yourself coasting your bike past space funk palm trees, homeless harpists, vintage video arcades, electronic drum circles, and 60s psychedelic singers who’re waiting for the bus. Cosmogramma is kinda like that if someone suddenly tripped you just as you’re starting to enjoy the ride. But in a good way.””
by Joshua H on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 06.17 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
