Bad Dudes, Bad Video, and more.

On Friday November 2nd, I went to Scolari's Office to see The Viewmasters, Bad Dudes, and Planets. I was also subjected to "Naughty Bodies Be Good Vol 1," a video by a very lovely and talented woman named Sarah. I must be quite honest in saying that I don't get it, but that's a whole different subject.

First up was Planets, an instrumental two-piece very much in the vein of Hella, The Advantage, Lighting Bolt, Bad Dudes... It's Reno's version of your very mathy two-piece complete with unbelievable time changes, breakneck speed, and ridiculously complex melodies and rhythms. They came out in white spandex full body suits, with eye holes cut into them. They use all white speaker cabinets and white drums to match. The bass was clear plastic, and they projected what seemed like stock science video of microscopic life and astrology onto themselves and the white sheet draped behind them and across the stage. The amazing thing about Planets is that the bassist was really sort of playing two instruments at once. He was thumping basslines out with his thumb on the top two strings, and fingerpicking all the melody with his other fingers on his strumming hand on the other strings. I'm not sure if his bottom two strings were guitar strings, or just tuned up higher. With the hand that was on the neck, he would hop back and forth holding down notes on the top and bottom strings and hammering out notes while play the bass parts. There was just a lot of noise coming from that man. The only other time I've seen anything like this was when I saw Brooklyn three piece, Vaz, play as a two piece. Vaz is an amazing AmRep style two piece that was described by a friend of mine at the show (a couple of years ago at the Che) as "Joy Division atmosphere with Sonic Youth texture and Amphetamine Reptile power." There was only the guitarist and drummer, but we distinctly heard guitar melody on top of a bassline. We went up and asked the guitarist Paul Erickson, former member of Hammerhead who is also known as Apollo Liftoff, after the show how he was doing it. To make up for there only being one guitarist to play both parts, his bottom two guitar strings were actually bass strings on which he played the low end rhythm. Pretty fucking awesome. They are still together and just put a third album called "The Lie That Matches The Furniture," that comes out next Thursday on Narnack Records. It's on my wishlist.

I was also pretty astonished to find that the Planets bassist wore a full out Amish style beard underneath his storm trooper underwear. I hope the material breathes. I took a picture with my phone. I know, I know, I need to get a new digital camera. It's on the agenda. The agenda is long.

Next they showed Naughty Bodies be Good, immediately followed by a live performance by some of the naughty bodied dancers featured in the video. I won't say anthing about all that, but I will repost what I read in a blog by someone else who will remain nameless:

"friday night, i was subjected to a ridiculous display of vanity. basically, a group of scenester/hipster girls made a movie... no, no, no. i wouldn't call that monstrosity a movie. i'd call it: "look at how fashionable and fuckable we are." it was painful and pointless to watch. there was no plot, no comedy, no mis-en-scene, nothing. it was even harder to sip my saphire and tonic while watching said group of girls scream and giggle and laugh at every little thing happening on screen. you had fun making it. cool, whatever. watch this in your living room; don't subject innocent drunks to this nonsensery, this skull fuckery. i like good music, good conversation, and good company with my drinks, not that ridiculousness."

No comment.

When that was all done Bad Dudes took the stage. They are a six-piece instrumental band with members of Upsilon Acrux. Their music has been referred to as Nintendo Rock or Nintendo-core. They sound like The Advantage, but write original music. Lots of really fast melodic runs and single notes as opposed to strummed chords. They used to have a vocalist, and boy are they fun to watch. The drummer is pretty amazing with the double kick pedal.

After that, it was so crowded in there, I decided to walk down the street to the Bar Pink Elephant, where I enjoyed more $2 dollar tecates than planned, and totally missed The Viewmasters set. I walked in as they finished their last song. Sorry T-Bone.