When the afternoon sun blares through the windows and you realize you should dust and the rest of the world’s nagging nonsense feels like it’s itching the inside of your skin and you ask yourself “Is it me, or the world I live in?” Well, at least there’s music.
You know who else feels frustrated? Superchunk. And the good news for those of us who like tight drum fills behind fast fuzzy riffs is that when Superchunk feel frustrated they write songs like “What A Time to Be Alive” and make it feel like the bad energy can be turned to good. The veteran band out of North Carolina is on tour next February through April.
We saw one of our favorite drummers, Mario Rubalcaba, play most of a set with Hot Snakes the other day at Alex’s Bar, and wow if that rhythm section wasn’t just soul-shakingly divine. The rest of the band really threw down, too, but this was one of those shows where playing air drums was as acceptable as air guitar (if one must express oneself by pretending to do what the guys on stage are doing, that is). Rubalcaba hit hard but with feeling (all the feels, as the kids say), so each lick stuck a moment longer, while Gar Wood’s bass dove to depths that literally buzzed the wood on the bar itself. You ever had a whole body massage without ever being touched? Deep and intense rocknroll!
Sub Pop is reissuing the old Hot Snakes catalogue, and there’s a new record expected in 2018.
Here’s Rubalcaba and fellow Hot Snake John Reis playing a show in France earlier this year with Rocket From the Crypt. In addition to the high energy rock with horns, you can see what’s become of mosh pits as guys in sandals and backpacks politely push each other around. Watch to the end to see Reis yelling, “Dance you fucking pigs!” perhaps as a joke.
Brooklyn-based psychedelic jammers Oneida have a new single that is just brimming with jittery energy. Dig “Town Crier” which sounds like what might happen if Can got mad. Kick it into lower gear, but keep the groove going with Spanish band Melange and their new song “Armas Preparades.” And since this paragraph is all about heavy-jammy stuff, check out Causa Sui, who blew our minds the first time we heard them (late to the party), making us say outrageous things like “this sounds like the Experience jamming!” Yes, we meant that Experience, and we’re sorry (some particularly potent something-er-other on the brain as our buddy drove us to the above-mentioned Hot Snakes show), but see if you don’t get caught up in one of the moments that go on and on.
Rodney Bingenheimer may no longer be on the Roq, but he still knows real rock, and he’s throwing a party on December 7 at La Luz De Jesus Gallery in L.A. to promote his new Christmas record, Rodney On The Rock Presents: Santa’s Got a GTO Vol. 2. The record features songs by CJ Ramone, The Dollyrots, The Ramonas, and Gilby Clarke’s daughter’s band. The event is free. More info here. And you can buy the record so you can have the rockin’est holiday party at gearheadhq.com
Our question of the month comes from former KNAC radio personality (and guy who’s been kicked out of more shows than you’ve attended) Full Metal Phil. He asks, “If I saw The Verve when I was on acid in the ‘90s, is that the same as seeing Radiohead now?” Post your answers in the comments section, as well as any videos of Mario Rubalcaba playing drums.
Conclusion: It’s not you, it’s definitely the world you live in. And don’t worry too much about the dust. Let the music help. Turn the speakers up and they can actually blow it away.
The turkey was great this year. Flavorful and juicy. Jimi Hendrix caramelized the mushrooms.