Tonstartssbandht, Run DMT, M. Pyres in concert [Curiosities #70]

Tonstartssbandht – “Black Country” MP3/download

I finally have the chance — sort of; not really; in fact not at all — to write a little about the pair of Tonstartssbandht concerts I attended earlier this summer.

The first was in Fort Collins with M. Pyres and Run DMT, the second in Orlando, Fla., with Run DMT and several bands I can’t remember the names of (little help here people?) and didn’t mind at all. But I need to stay focused here because there’s a lot to go over and mere seconds to express it in …

The Fort Collins show was weird. I was late, and as I ran down the street to the venue — FC stronghold ArtLab — I could hear “Black Country” (MP3 provided above) and it sounded identical to the An When CD (and CASSETTE, which I am … ahem … never mind, just e-mail me via this just-conceived, shoddy website if you want a copy) I’ve been enjoying with such rabid interest over the last year or so.

The similarity to the recorded version of “Black Country” was partly due to live loops but hey, it sounded good, and T-bandht are not a canned act in any sense of the word. My favorite moment of the abbreviated show was a long, drawn-out blues jam that could have been Black Sabbath on a rainy day or Hawkwind on a calm one.

I did not realize Edwin White and Andy White — yes, brothers, and YES, using their last name twice is redundant but I have a color-coding scheme I’m trying to keep here, alRIGHT? — were capable of such unabashed booziness … then again, I should have known, as they’ve displayed remarkable flexibility and creativity on their pair of full-length releases and assorted other tapes, 7-inches and CDs (of which, I believe, I now possess all).

M. Pyres were next and they flirted with a lot of different textures while sticking with a nice two-piece, drums-and-guitar template. As usual with this sort of rock act, I found their best moments came courtesy of their more complex instrumental moments; the vocals, which were rarely employed anyway, only got in the way of the interplay — which is a funny concept when you consider M. Pyres have one guitarist — reminiscent of Drive Like Jehu and a sprawl of other acts I can’t even get into right now (Jesus Lizard, Race Car Riot, Deep Wound, CRAP, I HAVE TO FINISH THIS POST AND GO TO BED).

I hate to shortchange the duo with such a short review, but I really do have to take my Ambien and get the EFF to some serious, Stipe-free R.E.M. here.

Run DMT was next, and it’s a nice solo project that, sure, might fit the “chillwave” tag loosely and, sure, might not the the sort of music I normally get into and, sure, might be … inSANE, but I can’t help but give them a nod as well because they rounded out perhaps one of the most unusual indie-rock bills I’ve ever been privy to (keep in mind I don’t get out as much these days y’all).

I don’t even reMEMber much, tell-truth … I just have this vision of this so-young-he’s-invincible duder up there, making loops on the fly and picking up his guitar occasionally a la — from what I’ve heard — Ducktails and Blues Control. It was a lot of fun though; again, I can’t remember a damn thing mainly because I’d never heard a DMT jam-mon’ before, so, you know, just understand it was interesting stuff.

Next stop: Orlando. One of the opening bands features a huge, ogre of a drummer with a skin shirt and a dirty, nasty disposition, his wrathful sneer encompassing half of a band that takes the bass abuse of Twin Stumps and chops it into bite-sized bits. Maybe not a … Good band, but a fun band and a band I’d probably check out in more detail IF I KNEW THEIR FRICKIN’ NAME. As it stands I got nothin’ but a vague description and tinnitus.

Tonstartssbandht were great, again, playing in their hometown in front of their People (I also met their parents, one of whom is on the delightful cover of An When) and getting down. The difference, this time, was the presence of a bassist (dude from Run DMT sat in), and it was a fantastic match. I’m not itching for the duo to add another player or anything, but it did thicken the soup as it steamed up the sweaty Florida air.

I was sick and still drove an hour or so to see the show on 3 hours of sleep. That’s what obsessive fandom will do to you I guess. But I think these guys are special; that’s as raw as I can put it.

Run DMT made my night too. I ducked out early to get back to my hotel, but not before having an enlightening conversation in which he detailed train-jumping, traveling around the country and being an artist-first, music-second personality.

He also, in reference to my wife and daughter — who, for once, both could attend the show in Fort Collins with me, albeit on a limited basis — said something that struck me as odd until it sunk in: “That’s what I want.”

And I thought to myself, redundantly perhaps, “Hey, that’s what I want, too; and I have it!” Kind of puts things in perspective, talking to young people that have few years behind them but a strange Presence — perhaps even wiseness — to them.

That’s the feeling I get from the Whites Edwin and Andy, too; I feel that they’re going to be successful one way or another.

And that is all; I must unplug now.