July 10th, 2008: Chocolat Billy / Lispector / Le Ton Mité

@la java

New venue, bad day for such a first. Meaning I didn’t like the place, but my sour mood was probably responsible for that impression. Anyway, there was no way in hell I would have missed my beloved Chocolat Billy, my favorite members of that Bordeaux scene related to the Potagers Natures label. That band features members of Api Uiz, Erez Martinic and Radikal Satan and all these acts are very well worth checking out. Combined with having Dokidoki making it happen, I knew I would be there.

Anyway, for his opening set Le ton mité had brought reinforcements, one or more probably a couple of guys — I’m still too short to tell for sure. Decent set, but I’m still not into his stuff — just too nice sounding for me. But as far as it goes, there’s not much to say against his DIY poppish thing. It almost gets annoying, as he seems to be a very nice guy and does have something musically. He’s someone I’d like to like, but it’s just not my thing; plus I’ve been having high expectations lately from anyone named Lê. Yeah that’s a pun, and a plea of sorts — one never knows with this internet thingie — but if Lê Tuấn Hùng ever comes nearby, I just can hope I’ll get word of that event.

Very nice surprise with Lispector though. I only knew her as someone Kumi has praised more than a few times, so I expected some ear candy. There’s actually an edge to it, in a most pleasant way for me, reminding me of the Mass. indie sound I cherish. There might not be any sane reason for that feeling, but it felt good nonetheless. I lack references in that genre, but I sure want to learn — and hear — more. Anyway, on a truthiness level, anyone who manages to remind me of Juliana Hatfield just makes my day — that isn’t making much sense, but she did. That collective is looking better the more I look, and even though they seem related to people I don’t care for all that much, they seem to be putting together gigs I can relate to in a way I’m not used to. Meaning that my gig-going habits are heavily biased to noise and experimental even though what I actually listen to is more diverse, it’s just that I suck at finding gigs of idiosyncratic New England indie or South-East Asian music. Neither are related to Dokidoki, but they still fill a void in my schedule; it even makes some kind of sense when factoring in my long standing love of Japanese music — I mean back when I was young less old every other gig I went to was headlining Ryuichi Sakamoto, and I had even talked my mother into knitting a custom YMO sweater.

Last but anything but least, Chocolat Billy. I know they have always said the gigs I attended were below their standards, but that only shows theirs are way higher than mine. I wish I could see a “good” one then, because they’re already one of my favorite live bands anyway — and definitely top of the french pile. Probably more controlled than the previous times — it’s all relative — but I had a very good time. Some familiar tunes, some newer ones, and consistently good, with the immediacy that makes their shows a predictable highlight in my gig-going season — one of the few times when I can use “predictable” in a positive way — and physically compelling enough to put the life back into “live”, both as in alive and as in “live wire” because they sure deliver a jolt.

My — only — problem with their latest release is that I can’t really hear it without wishing they were playing nearby to hear it live. They’re just so great that hearing them on a mere record is frustrating, because no matter how many times I play that damn record, it’s always the same, whereas seeing them live is sure different. By the way, their first LP was not just the first record I bought after getting a new turntable to replace my broken-down oldie, it was the very reason I got one. Yeah, I bought a turntable so that I could listen to Chocolat Billy’s record, even though I already knew it would come nowhere near the live experience. Shows how much sense there’s to be found in me, and how highly I regard these people. Again, they’re a really good live band, so anyone who might be reading this drivel should look for their next gig instead, and make one happen if there’s none in the works.

June 11th, 2008: Métal Mité / Vermisst Susi / Ero Babaa

@leoz

Back to that small basement, it had been a while. Things are winding down anyway with summer allegedly getting near. Four short sets nonetheless, starting with with a female singer with an electric guitar. She said several times she could have used a drummer, but I don’t think I would have liked it much better anyway. Not that it was bad, but too mainstream indie for me.

Speaking of drummers, Ero Babaa had conned one into joining them. That was almost scary at first, as his presence made the whole dangerously close to coherent — maybe even within the area code. I don’t know whether that spurred the other into deeper chaos, he consciously cut the sense or I just got over it, but it got worse/better over time. Another fun filled performance with new tricks but in the same primal spirit — in the alcoholic sense of the word, of course. Definitely my favorite set of the evening, and surprisingly maybe my favorite of theirs.

I’m not even sure of the name of the other band, some noise but definitely sounding tame after the havoc. A couple of interesting parts — especially with some faint voice snippets barely coming through — but overall I thought it was too flat and lacking interaction between the two guys. Métal Mité was better, even though I’m not that fond of him. But still, it was quite fun and his set was just long enough for me — I know I would have gotten bored soon after. Not all that metalish though, but I couldn’t exactly expect cookie monster vocals, could I? I would probably have loved that though.