Countdown to NX35 2010: 45 days ’til you hear something new.
It’s a new week so I figure this is a good time to switch things up a little. If you’ve read about the past four bands I’ve highlighted, you probably have a good sense of what kind of music I prefer: indie folk, catchy tunes, and a wide array of stringed instruments. I’d venture out to say they are safe; bands that your mama would approve of (granted, you don’t play them too loud). They represent a good chunk of the shows I catch but sometimes you need to spice up your routine. And what better way to try something new than purchasing a 4-day wristband for NX35 2010? 125+ bands, my dear friends, and over twenty hours to run around the square, sampling from the buffet NX35 has prepared for you. So, here’s a taste of something different:
photo credit: The Schoolhouse
New Science Projects
As I mentioned in a previous post, I discovered the magic of house shows at The Schoolhouse’s inaugural show last year. If you’ve never had the pleasure of visiting 914 Bolivar, picture an old house with a little old attic. Then, picture the hottest day in July and cram almost every inch of that little old attic with sweaty Dentonites. And those spare inches? Spare those for one crazy madman that goes by the moniker of New Science Projects.
I had no idea what I was getting into when I followed the crowd into the attic and sat beside my fellow sticky, perspiring friends. I had only hoped it would help me forget my deep longing for an air conditioner. When the crazy madman, Dale Jones, started pacing nervously back and forth with no regards for people’s personal space, covered in blood (which at this point, I wasn’t sure was fake or not), I knew I would be aptly distracted from my basic needs.
It took me two or three songs to finally ask my friend, “Is this guy for real?” I couldn’t quite pinpoint the accent and his pacing made me increasingly nervous. My friend assured me that he, indeed, was real and as the set progressed, I did come to realize that yes, he is real. In fact, Jones is moreso real than any musician covered with blood I’ve ever seen. Most of New Science Projects’ songs clock in around a minute or two but are a whirlwind of a ride, complete with incomprehensible growls, howls, and toe-tapping blues chords from his Dobro. Wait, why have I written three paragraphs about this? Thanks to Gutterth Productions, the entire set is online for you to watch; however, you’re missing out on the opportunity to play along with a tambourine, only to have him lovingly fall on you. That’ll have to wait ’til March.
Notable tunes to preview online: “Poison Culture,” “Give Up and Die” / Myspace / Facebook
Art Ebie on January 25th, 2010
Good.