Musical*Pasta

I like to think that I have a very eclectic taste in music.  I don’t discriminate, I’ll go to a huge act at a big-time venue, and the next day see a basement show with six people.  Music serves a ton of purposes for a number of folks out there.  It can back up a night out on the town, entertain you on a subway ride, put you to sleep, or wake you up. It can even happen when you have your first kiss, or on the car ride home after breaking up with someone you love.  Music is great, and that’s why it’s fun to talk about iand experience it.

So when I arrived at Terminal 5 to see the Brian Jonestown Massacre I had no idea really what to expect.  There were a few strikes against the show right from the start.  Terminal 5 isn’t the greatest venue, it was a cold and rainy Wednesday night, I was hungover, and there was no guarantee who exactly would be playing with the band that night.  Matt Hollywood, guitars and vocals, might be one of the most talented guys out there, and to my surprise he was out in full effect, along with their colorful tambourine player Joel.  While Joel technically doesn’t add as much musically as Hollywood, seeing him with the mutton chops clearly intoxicated jamming with the band made everything feel right.  The normally bad venue was ten times better due to the show not selling out.  There was just enough room.  I’m convinced now that Terminal 5 is oversold too much due to all the balcony space on top.  The acoustics felt perfect, and the opening band (The Asteroid No. 4) kept the volume growing increasingly throughout their set.  I only regret there wasn’t a better backdrop so I could see all the psychedelic craziness being projected behind the band.

Then BJM hit the stage and blew the roof off.  Just the mere sound of Anton incessantly tuning his guitar got the crowd riled up.  There was a constant feeling of not knowing what would happen next.  One song, which I can’t figure out, felt like something Jim Morrison would break out.  Anton was just running around the stage cursing and talking about the craziest shit.  However it worked.  To sum it up I felt baptised by Rock.

Part of me felt guilty that one of the only real reasons I wanted to see the band was just how interesting the lead singer Anton Newcombe (Lead Singer) is.  I won’t deny that the documentary Dig! had a lot to do with me wanting to go.

I turned around to my friend who came along and told him that thousands of years from now when Rock n’ Roll is in the history books as a form of music, this band might never be remembered, but it was happening right here, and happening on a level few will ever experience.  Truly special.

I think that my friend summed up the musical aspects of the show best in a post concert email to some friends, where he does a much better job putting it all together.

Well, I made it home in one piece last night from an absolutely mind-blowing experience in NYC!  I have NEVER…NEVER…NEVER heard the Brian Jonestown Massacre sound as good as they sounded last night!  I was in awe with a smile plastered on my face the entire time while simultaneously having an ear-gasm.

If my definition of Heaven is being surrounded by everything that’s good and pleasant, then I now know what Heaven is like.

Phil Specter’s Wall Of Sound was perfectly mixed with a gritty, rough, perfectly melodic jangle of 60’s revival music that my synapses were overloading.

The Asteroid No.4 opened the night with a solid set and their sound filled the airplane hanger-esque venue then BJM took the stage.  Before the first chord was attacked, A silhouetted figure appeared center stage with mutton chops so large that Lambchop would be jealous…it was Joel Gion!  In full effect with tambourine in hand.

Then, I started to pay attention to the other guy standing right next to Joel…he was slightly heavier than how he looked in “Dig!” but the Lennon-ish quality still showed and it was most certainly Matt Hollywood!!!!

Some of you have told me how much you enjoy seeing a show when I’m there because I loose myself in the music and get all fired up in happiness…I know what you mean after last night because my friend, John, who has never seen BJM before was so fired up throughout the show that it made the whole experience even more intense.

So in closing I’d like to recommend to anyone who knows me and respects my opinion on everything from video games to sandwiches, to try their absolute best to see this band the next time they come around… Next time being the key word here.  But for starters check out the documentary Dig!.  I also want to give a shoutout to The Asteroid No. 4 who totally kicked ass as an opener.  It set the table for BJM perfectly.  I’m actually wearing one of their t-shirts right now.