The concept of musical opposites is an intriguing albeit murky notion. However, I believe I have stumbled upon the archetypal example of a musical opposite after seeing Medeski Martin and Wood last night and Girl Talk earlier this week at the House of Blues. The juxtaposition is irresistible.
MMW: Organic like a wild mushroom in Yosemite National Park.
GT: More artificial than a plastic Twinkie.
MMW: Delayed gratification. I mean, really delayed. I’m talking about please-for-the-love-of-god-resolve-that-dissonant-chord-before-I-have-to-bite-down-on-the-dreadlocks-of-this-heady-person-next-to-me delayed.
GT: Instant gratification. You know exactly what’s coming, and you get it exactly when you want.
MMW: Stand totally still and bask in the atonal abstracts of songs you don’t know the name of.
GT: Dance your ass off and bask in the bubble gum-coated safety of every hit song ever made.
I love ‘em both somehow, but if we’re talking desert island, give me MMW every time.
MMW opened last night’s show with their greatest hit, “Fifteen Minute Ambient Jam in X-minor.” This is their standard opener, a pleasant way of saying, “Hello! We’re getting started now! Finish up your business at the bar or bathroom and we’ll start playing songs in about fifteen minutes.” As the jam went on, the tension was quite palpable, as everyone enjoyed it but deep down inside was begging for drummer Billy Martin to unleash the funky breakbeats he’s capable of. This is MMW deftly working the delayed gratification as only they can do: teasing you and making you beg before finally delivering right when you think you can’t take it anymore. After the intro jam, the first song was something that could only be described as “the funkiest groove ever written in the 7/4 time signature.” Or perhaps it just seemed that way because I had just spent fifteen minutes begging for it. That’s the genius of MMW. The third song was straight ahead funk with keyboardist John Medeski playing the entire song on a melodica that was turbocharged through something akin to an overdrive pedal. Who doesn’t love that? The fourth song featured a steady heavy bass groove from Chris Wood while Medeski played at least eight different keyboards and Martin played at least 20 different percussion pieces and did some nice 8-bar drumbreaks. Good times!
For those of you scoring at home, the time signatures of the four songs in the first set were:
First song: None
Second Song: 7/4
Third song: 4/4
Fourth Song: 6/8
Eat your heart out, Berklee kids.
The second set opened with another MMW smash hit, “Jam > 3-Man Cowbell Jam.” Following that, they traded in the ambience for the funk for the rest of the set, which got the heads bobbing and the faces smiling. MMW fans are a dexterous bunch who will appreciate anything these guys play, but I think most fans would agree that the most fun is when they give us the funky goods without interruption. Seven or eight people even started to dance! Look out! But in all seriousness, if there is one real criticism to give this show, it is that Chris Wood did not touch the upright bass the entire night. Unacceptable. This is the equivalent of going to Phish if Trey Anastasio only sang and didn’t play guitar, or going to a Celtics game and Paul Pierce only played defense. Come on, Chris! The thing is sitting right there; pick it up one time!
Anyhow, as the second set throwdown was nearing its end, they closed with an MMW classic, “Is There Anybody Here That Loves my Jesus,” from the album Shack Man, which I was very pumped to hear live. The beats were thick, straight ahead, and danceable, and yet somehow I don’t think Girl Talk will be sampling any MMW anytime soon.
And I am perfectly fine with that.
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Two songs go in, one comes out. Pick a side.
Columbus Short Would be an excellent match for Sam Cooke (especially if this movie was to include Sam’s Soul Stirrer years). Just as long as in the movie Sam does the singing of course lol. But as far as physical resemblance my boy Columbus Short all the way. View this clip of Cadillac Records were he played lil walter… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmxTbcnW6bY
by Akin Z on Wed Feb 1, 2012 at 12.37 am from the entry: Sam Cooke to get a movie
Oops meant Aloe Blacc not Black. Sorry about the typo. If you doubt that he should play Sam check him out here on you tube singing Loving you is Killing me. The likeness is uncanny - but the voice is quite different.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yJuyaVcL2I&feature=artist
by Tamara L on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 08.30 am from the entry: Sam Cooke to get a movie
I have read the Peter Guralnick book and it is thoroughly researched down to the minutest detail. Amazing.
I would go for Aloe Black because he looks so much like Sam, but for heaven’s sake why are we talking about the quality of the actor’s singing? Sam’s singing has got to be dubbed in. We want the real thing not an impersonator. There is only one Sam Cooke. The actor can act, let Sam do the songs.
by Tamara L on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 08.24 am from the entry: Sam Cooke to get a movie
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by Dirty Ice on Tue Jan 24, 2012 at 11.04 pm from the entry: Yasiin Bey - Fete (Providence, RI; Dec.10, 2011)
John Boutte should play Sam Cooke. Except the point someone made about him dying young, this is true. Boutte may be a bit too old.
by Brendan on Tue Jan 17, 2012 at 06.17 pm from the entry: Sam Cooke to get a movie
La cara de kurt de: NO ME DIJERON NADA :| ajajjajajaja
by asdsad on Tue Jan 17, 2012 at 04.29 am from the entry: Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic Weigh In On Kurt Avatar
Blacks say the word 50+ times a day. Fuck the double standard, stop trying to create controversy.
by Steve C on Fri Jan 13, 2012 at 02.00 pm from the entry: John Mayer is about to get swallowed up in public outrage
sweet review/info. How do I stay on top of such info & similar guidance to funky music?
Hey John,
Glad you liked the review. To start, you should subscribe to receive updates from melophobe, and we’ll keep you in the loop. Click on the “subscribe” button in the orange menu bar to get on our RSS feed or to get email updates.
Where is there a recording of this show??
Loved the review… MMW is something so incredible to see live (it was my very first time, ever). I was amazed this jazz band played like a rock band… and absolutely rocked the place.
I think you were being funny-critic when you said Chris didn’t played the bass “the entire night”. I know he played it for very little… but I even have pics of that!