subbacultcha-magazine_october

S U B B A C U LT C H A !

U N R U LY M U S I C M A G A Z I N E

O C TO B E R 2 0 0 8

BROOKLYN: TO D D P. DE E R H U N T E R HI G H P L AC E S SK E L E TO N S PLUS: A NEW FILM COLUMN FREE CD’S

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Contents

Opening Line

What’s up? We’re releasing a record by a band called The Moi Non Plus, we’re hosting a showcase at the CMJ music festival in New York and we’ve made a compilation cd for our friends at Artrocker in London. Furthermore, we made this magazine. In this issue we focus on Brooklyn; the very place to hang and see the freshest bands of this moment. Todd P organises all kinds of shows over there and tells us all about it. Then there’s Rob and Maria of High Places, who chat about the meaning of life and beaches.

And there’s Skeletons, who designed their own interview.

Plus, we are launching a new film column by the very modest but oh-so-sharp-and-filmsavvy, Gert Verbeek. And yes, There’s also goodies to be won, shows to attend, people to see and places to go. But hey, we’re off to New York, so whatever. Oh yeah, Deerhunter made a record, Oscar says it’s AOK. NAMEDROPPING ..................4 THINGS THAT MATTER ......6 TODD P..................................8 BROOKLYN GUNS ............16 HIGH PLACES ......................18 TOM MASON ......................22 POSTER ................................24 SKELETONS ........................26 REVIEW ................................30 FILM ......................................32 PROGRAMME ......................35

“TOKYO OR BUST” This photo was taken by Nick Helderman at the Aids Wolf show in Occii in Amsterdam.

We figured it is a good introduction to our Brooklyn issue 3

FRESH

New music:

NAME DROPPING

By Leon Caren

If you wanna be hip, cool, fresh, exciting, out there and cutting edge. read these 426 words on the best new sound around.

Bob van Heur— who normally writes this column—is sucking up Ouzo in Greece, so we’ll do the honours.

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WHY INVEST SHIT LOADS OF TIME AND MONEY IN MAKING A CRAP RECORD???

To start with, Adept became Iklen. We don’t know why.

We don’t know how. But frontman Michiel Klein has reassured us it will still be, and we quote, ‘Boom Boom Boom’.

Similar to the sound of the PRE kickdrum, I presume, as the UK quintet will be hitting Steve Albini’s Electrical Audio Studio in October. They might not even need that second bass amp after all. Then there’s some duo madness from Amsterdam: zZz are releasing Running with

FRESH

the beast on ANTI and The Moi Non Plus are being all self-titled on Subbacultcha! It’s a good record. It must be a good record, cause we made it. And why invest shit loads of time and money in making a crap record???

Plenty of other people can account for that. (Bloc Party) There’s yet another new record from High Places on ThrillJockey and there’s the re-release of These are Powers’ Teriffic Seasons (CD) and Taro Tarot (EP) on Dead Oceans. These are Powers are Pat Noecker’s new band--he who played bass on Liars’ debut album They Threw Us All in a Trench and Stuck a Monument on Top. (And he still has his finger on the pulse of America.)

Deerhoof are releasing ‘Offend Maggie’ on Kill Rock Stars (October 7th). Needless to say, the KRS label manager is called Maggie Vail. What’s that all about? And we didn’t even mention Skeletons yet, who drastically reduced the size of their band name and are about to release Money on Tomlab (October 7th) Also out that day is Women (Jagjaguwar). Man, how we’d love to talk about Women. But we won’t, ’cause we already did. But they will be playing the Subbacultcha! party at CMJ on October 22nd at the Cakeshop. Brooklyn-based Chairlift are out on Kanine (October 28th) with a fucking weird record that combines tacky Eighties stuff with a modern-day hipster attitude. They’ll be touring with Yeasayer in the US in October. To top it off, we also like Telepathe (www.myspace.com/telepathe) and Free Blood (www.myspace.com/freeblood) but they haven’t released anything just yet. Oh yeah, there’s the new TV on the Radio, but something tells me they are no longer wolves.

PS. Latest news: Iklen is not called Iklen anymore but is now called Adept... Now that’s Namedropping!

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Things that matter By Femke Dekker and Nicole Martens Subbacultcha’s personal realm of things, friends, sounds and objects that have surprised, delighted, annoyed and rocked us lately.

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Feature

ON THE SCENE OF BROOKLYN

By Bas Morsch

TO HELL WITH ROCK ’N’ ROLL! “It’s all about the community”

An interview with Todd P.; the Messiah of alternative music

Todd P (32) is the spider in the web of Brooklyn’s alternative music scene.

As a concert promoter he is one of the driving forces behind the success of this vibrant scene, that holds great bands like Telepathe, Free Blood, High Places and Skeletons. With enormous drive and great social awareness Mister P. diggs up these bands and puts them on stage in lofts, homes and Greek restaurants.

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9 CONTINUE

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You seem to be the main man in Brooklyn... but there must be other people working very hard as well. One person couldn’t do all this booking by himself.

There’s a whole family of people working on stuff around here. You know, it’s a really tight and close scene. The particular crew of people that I work with are a nice kind of family. We just hook up with friends who have similar taste. But this is New York so, of course, there’s a lot of other stuff going on around here.

There’s lots of different communities, with people who do different stuff and on different scales.

day. I used to have a staff of 8 people coming over, all volunteers, just to read the email.

Is that still enjoyable?

Well... it’s out of control.

Do you live off this?

No! I do make some money off it here and there, but I have my money from other sources.

What sources?

I rent out rehearsal rooms. You know, this is New York. These houses don’t have basements and so there is a real market for renting out rehearsal spaces. And I know it’s But your scene sure is one of the just a small drop in the bucket, but I most interesting things that is feel like it encourages some creativity that otherwise wouldn’t happen. happening right now.

You know, this city is expensive and Good, I am glad you feel that way. that could be really trifling to a I was trying to imagine the scene. amount of emails a happening concert promoter in Brooklyn Well, your scene seems pretty alive and successful. recieves each day. Tell me.

Let’s see... 1,2,3,4,5... 23,24... It’s now Well, what is success? When you’re 12.34pm and I’ve gotten 24 emails. making good music it tends to be And this is a slow time of year. Also, fairly obscure. Even bands like TV some of my friends are putting on on the Radio, which in our eyes are shows, so that takes a bit of the pres- fairly successful are still very sure off. But there used to be times obscure by the real standards of that I would get 150 to 200 emails a what people are aware of. You 10

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know, they may have enough money to live a vaguely middle class lifestyle without having a job. But that doesn’t even last that long, and they’re still very obscure.

What do you actually like?

You know, I can do shows for 1000 people every day but most of the bands that pull that kind of crowd, I don’t even like... I don’t mean on a personal level, but I just don’t like So you feel you and the scene their music. I don’t care, and I don’t around you have a certain wanna do shows for people I don’t amount of success but you don’t give a shit about. Yes, I had a certain amount of success, sure... but it can feel it is really big?

No. Well, I think it could be really also be a burden. You are defined by big. I’ve had plenty of chances to go the scale of stuff you have achieved big, but I don’t really want that. I and I didn’t wanna be defined by mean I am still putting on little that, so I deliberately downsized shows. I do shows of 1000 people what I do. You know, these big and shows of 25, and I like it that shows of 1000, 2500, 5000 people... way. That’s part of why I wanted to that’s just a caricature of a show... take a break at the beginning this sort of a little play to show what a year, because I was getting to a point real show can be like. To me that is that if I wanted to keep up the not an interesting experience... it momentum that I was having, I doesn’t really engender a communiwould have to start to do bigger ty. It is sort of an anonymous conthings in bigger venues. You have to sumer thing, and I don’t wanna be think... a lot of the stuff I do has ille- involved in that. gality to it, and you cannot put on shows for a thousand people if it is So if success is not that imporkind of illegal. If I would keep doing tant to you, then what’s it all my things with the same exponential about? growth that I was having, I would If you’re on an internet level able to have to start working in clubs and I discover music that you really like... just don’t wanna do that. So I am try- that it can be your thing for a while ing to take a break and encourage and be part of your personal growth my friends to start doing more so I as a human being... that you found it and can be part of the community can focus on stuff I actually like.

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Loft party in Brooklyn. Photo by Victoria Jacob.

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that’s around it... that’s real... that has currency...

My device is not to be rich and famous but to create really beautiful things that form a process of people’s identity experience. There are so many people that are young, get out of college and need to form an identity; they have to figure out who they are. I think music can be very important in that process. And I think because of the bankruptcy of our culture, because of the media, the alienation, the economic system, there are a lot of people who are older, like my age (32), who still need that... independence man!

Like, come back to living in the real world, not come home and turn the TV on, turn it off and go to bed. I think music is one of the only things--especially on a small scale-that gets people out of the house, that gets people to group together and hang out and have an experience that is overwhelming, and it doesn't necessarily have to do with alcohol and drugs, although that is often part of it. It can be an experience that is really moving and can be a physical high. So there is this whole culture that is always reinventing itself and doesn’t exist in any way, but it’s natural being.

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What’s your drive to open up this culture to a lot of people?

I see it as curation. I have the ability of sifting through bands and being aware of the scene. Most people don’t have that luxury because they are stuck in a nine-to-five job. I see it as my job to find bands that were unnoticed before and show that to people. It is my job to be curious, it is my job to find the music that I think is moving or important. And people seem to like what I am choosing. It’s working, and yet it is still very obscure.

Well, it may be is not that obscure. It travels to Europe and we are aware of it and are aware of the coolness of the bands.

Even MTV did a thing.... how does it feel that it gets out of obscurity?

It’s weird. Me and a lot of people around me had sort of the same instant reaction... it is a cynical reaction but it is a reliable reaction.

It’s the reaction that if something ends up on MTV it is probably not as good as it was... and it is probably going down the road to be garbage... so it is funny to see myself and some of my friends on there. (Laughs)

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But it is also kind of strange. You really are trying to create your own thing... sort of ‘us vs the world’ but then the world wants to join you.

They are welcome to join! but it gets a little complicated when the lens they put on you, warps what you are doing. Their recreation of what our scene is about is wildly inaccurate.

And that sort of bugs me. What they present is sort of poisoned by publicists who want their band on there or something. Because of that, they miss the whole point of what an alternative scene is about; everybody coming together and feeling the energy. To me it is about the community more than the music. Of course, Some of the music is timeless but most of it will be forgotten, but ultimately that’s not so important. What really matters is that it changes people’s lives, that it enriches people on a personal level. And that’s what happens here now. This is a time when a lot of bands are very inspired and a lot of people are coming together and are feeding off each other.

It feels like we are creating almost an international community of people who are feeling the same about music and respond to each other and have sort of an artistic con-

versation. That’s when it gets to be the most interesting... That’s when music as an art form moves forward.

At this point I give up asking questions.

I hope that the coverage on MTV and all these magazines doesn’t mystify the scene and divert from the idea that a community is something you can build yourself wherever you are.

Even if you are in Alaska, you can put bands together and start playing music. And the hope is that the concept of ‘you can do it yourself’ is an empowering thing. And once you’ve done it, it becomes an important nugget of your life story. There’s no glory in people’s life anymore. We are animals. We’re supposed to have excitement! But right now we have TV. I think music can bring the excitement back in life. Music has a real powerful way of making people feel that they have ownership of their life and that they can build a community. I am really happy to be part of this sort of return to independent culture that people can hold in their hands instead of sitting in front of their TVs... and fade away. www.toddpnyc.com 15 END

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A Short Story About

WILLIAMSBURG BY NIGHT

By Bas Jacobs

BROOKLYN GUNS

It’s 2am. Just got out of the subway. One stop ago I realised I’d taken the wrong train and I thought it was wise to get out instead of staying in and get more lost than I already was at this point. A thought sprung to mind. It’s really cool that the New York Subway runs all night. Not like the silly trams in Amsterdam that stop running way before any bar closes.

Then again, if you take the wrong subway at night, it’s maybe not such a cool system.

I got out somewhere in Williamsburg, which is, if you’re going to Brooklyn, on the right side of the river, but that’s about the most positive thing I can think of right now. I remember it because this is where I first heard real gunshots. And that’s not so positive. Anyway, standing on the 16

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corner of whatever street I was standing, didn’t seem like a very smart thing to do for too long a time. So I got my map out and convinced myself it wasn’t that far a walk to Fulton Street in Brooklyn. I found a comfortable pace and headed in the right direction.

An hour later, I’m still nowhere near where I want to be: a warm bed. ‘Brooklyn Boy’ by Kevin Devine is on repeat in my iHead. My mind wanders to the time I went on my friend’s bike, passed the Bill Cosby Show Brownstones to a gallery in Red Hook to see Kanipchen-fit play. And back again. And the time I took the bike for an all-day ride through Park Slope, Prospect Park and all the way down to Coney Island. The beers I drank in a bar, the movie I saw outside a Mexican bar projected on an adjacent building.

My feet were sore and I hadn’t noticed the guys with dogs, the fights, the altogether rather threatening situation I’d gotten myself into. Somehow, after a last look on the map that seemed way bigger than two hours ago, I found my friend’s place.

She made me a cup of tea and I told her about my little adventure. From time to time she looked somewhat frightened. As it happens, I’d been a lucky boy, as big parts of Brooklyn aren’t such nice places, especially at night. But hey, your mind is the most beautiful place to visit, more so when you’re in a foreign place. And Brooklyn is just the place to give your mind a break.

Tourist advice: If you ever visit New York, don’t be a stranger to Brooklyn. And make sure that, at some point, you take the wrong train, whether it’s nighttime or daytime.

Advice to all of mankind: If you ever end up anywhere, make sure you always carry the right head to pull yourself through any situation you get yourself into. Then things will be just fine!

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Interview with self:

HIGH PLACES High Places is Mary Pearson and Rob Barber.

High Places has created a signature sound using bass-heavy, yet crisp beats, lilting vocal melodies, folk instruments, samplers, shakers and household objects. Their record was released on 23 September on ThrillJockey.

Every month Subbacultcha! asks a band to interview themselves. This time it’s High Places from Brooklyn.

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Mary: Have you ever been to Leo Carillo?

Rob: Yes! it rules!

Mary: I know!

Karate Kid! Mary: Oh yeah!!!

“Here is a g-chat Rob and I did for the Subbacultcha interview. I’m attaching a photo too. We each took a shot of ourselves while doing the g-chat and I put the photos together with a little image of the beach Leo Carillo we refer to in the interview.”

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Rob: hi there Mary: Hey buddy!

Rob: Are you having fun?

Mary: Yeah, it’s been fun Very relaxing. Which is what I was hoping for Have you ever been to Leo Carillo?

Rob: Yes! it rules!

Mary: I know!

Karate Kid! Rob: Oh yeah!!!

Mary: We went to a beach called Heaven near there Rob: I haven’t seen that in forever though Mary: I was walking out of the water and a wave came up behind me and just violently slammed me to the ground. It was hilarious because I was in like ankle-deep water. And I got so much sand up my suit I felt like a little kid Rob: I went to this beach once near Malibu, and I can’t remember which one, it sorta wasn’t that rad, but the person I was with swore by it. And the waves were like overhead and mega powerful and breaking directly on the beach and full of rocks, so at the end of the day, we were all bleeding and had little sharp rocks embedded in our backs!

Mary: Yikes!

Rob: Yeah there were little rocks hitting me super hard because the current was so strong. And seaweed kept wrapping around my legs but it was super beautiful and not many people were there. It reminded me of Trinidad, CA a bit.

Okay, interview beginssssssss.... NOW Rob: a/s/l?

Mary: 24/f/what is the last one?

Rob: location Mary: Los Angeles a/s/l?

Rob: 14/m, nyc Mary: sweet What’s one question you wish someone would ask you in an interview?

Rob: How did we meet? j/k Mary: You’re so sassy Rob: it’s hard to say, I really only respond well to direct questions that I am not expecting. So like if I already know the question beforehand, I would probably give a total politician answer Mary: or Miss Teen USA answer Rob: eep leave her alone!!

Mary: I mean that in the best possible way. Mega respect Rob: You mean Miss Teen US Americans What about you? What’s your fantasy question?

Mary: People don’t ask me about my basketball career. I used to win free throw competitions Rob: What position did you play?

Mary: Forward. And then I went to a ballhandling camp and my coach then made me a point guard. I was a horrible point guard though Rob: I shot a few hoops at a party in LA the other day.

Mary: Sweet!

We should play 1 on 1 in Brooklyn sometime.

Have you eaten breakfast yet?

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Rob: Just coffee.... I have been on this weird one meal a day trip lately.

Like yesterday I tried to eat two meals, and I was totally full half way through the second meal.

Mary: Yeah, that’s sort of my summer steeze too. I wonder how “steeze” translates in Dutch Rob: Do you think it is a summer thing? I know... the cats definitely aren’t eating a whole lot. Like two cans is too much.

They don’t finish the second Mary: Yeah that’s pretty normal I think They still have little tummies. You can just give them one can Rob: Has it cooled off there in LA? It was super NYC style heat when I was there over the weekend. NYC has been LA style, hot powerful sun, and then almost chilly at night..

Mary: I went running yesterday and it was pretty hot, but when I went to the beach the other day, it was almost chilly... I love the weather here.

What is your favorite summertime meal?

Rob: Grilling vegetables and fake meat veggie drumsticks at my parents house with you.

Mary: Oh yeah! That’s the best!

Corn on the cob and watermelon too.

Rob: But you have to be there, otherwise it isn’t the same.

Mary: Awwww so sweet We should go there when I get home Rob: Kate Hall had so much corn left after the F Yeah festival. So the next day she was pushing corn so hard. She is responsible for the corn surplus!

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Mary: There’s an ice cream shop in NYC that sells corn ice cream Rob: Corn based as opposed to soy?

Mary: No just corn flavored dairy ice cream Rob: Oh....rad. Is it sweet?

Mary: I think so Rob: Oh I guess you don’t know if it sweet because it is dairy Mary: Right If you had to dye all of your shirts one color, which color would you choose?

Rob: Light blue. But I like it when the dye is not totally even, so it has some variation. I like how blue works with my complexion.

Have you ever dyed your hair?

Mary: Red when I was in college But it looked like hot pink. I just dyed the ends of my bangs I had really short hair and longish bangs Rob: Oh yeah, it is in your driver’s license!

Mary: OLD drivers license Rob: It is a shame you got a new license because we both had dyed hair in our licenses.

Are you ever happy with your hair? I feel like I am on a constant quest for a good haircut. It’s consuming.

Mary: I have never been happy with my hair. In my kindergarten photo, my hair turns under on one side and flips out on the other side. I remember hating that even when i was 5.

Rob: Yeah.... Trauma.

Mary: And I definitely wasn’t a vain little kid Rob: I had AWESOME hair, until I hit

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puberty and my hair turned to steel wool. My hair was pretty straight, with a slight wave to it. Then 6th grade....

WHAM!!

Did your parents ever hate your hair?

Mary: No they’ve always been nice about it. I was always on a quest to make my hair look weird because I think I’m pretty plain-looking Rob: You are not plain-looking!!

Mary: Yes I am!. But I’m okay with it What are 5 places you want to see before you die? Or things?

Rob: First, I am not going to die. It isn’t in my plans. I would like to see the middle east.

The moon, Antarctica, Bali, New Zealand, Puru or chile Mary: 1. A duck shepherd in Indonesia 2. Mountain hot springs in Japan 3. Aurora borealis 4. Roden crater in AZ 5. Africa...all of it Rob: Oops... I forgot Africa.

Honsestly, I like everywhere.

Mary: Yeah, totally Rob: I even had an awesome time in Ohio on that day off from tour last fall. That was such a nice day.

Mary: Gosh, I know. Who knew Ohio could be that nice? Quintessential fall day Rob: I told somebody in CA that my favorite beaches were in Southern

New Jersey. They thought I was mad.

Mary: Man, I agree. Ocean City gives Malibu a run for its money, but no one in CA would ever agree with that. Cali pride. The water is probably a lot cleaner too Rob: I do like the cliffs and stuff, but pound for pound, give me a nice fine sandy beach with 80 degree water, and I am totally stoked. I was telling somebody from San Diego that yesterday.

The water in NJ is WAY cleaner.

But CA is rad, nobody is going to front on Big Sur. Could you imagine if Big Sur had 80 water?

Mary: Totally, I am a California believer. But NJ is so underrated Rob: Yeah, Ocean City NJ’s boardwalk totally owns all other boardwalks. Santa Cruz is a pretty good boardwalk.

Especially when the shirtless oiled up sax rock guy form Lost Boys is playing a free concert.

Mary: Woo hoo!!

Rob: Whoa... SAX-ROCK! NEW GENRE! Mary: ha!

Okay, buddy. I’m going back to bed.

Rob: ok.... I miss you.

Mary: I miss you too!

Love you!

Good luck with your show!

Rob: I LOVE YOU Mary: bye bye

I had AWESOME hair, until I hit puberty and my hair turned to steel wool.

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THIS MONTH’S FEATURED ARTIST: TOM MASON 23

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An Interview about an interview with

SKELETONS Skeletons is a stumbling, rumbling and noising band from Brooklyn, NY. Their album ‘Money’ is out on Tomlab on October 7.

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1 - What should the headline of this interview be?

SKELETONS: 2 - What should the subhead be? Music’s OPRAH. 3 - Should it have a pull-quote? Yes. 3.1 - If yes. What should it be? It should be a cut and paste sentence using one word from each answer, no commas please, preferably sounding as trite and ineloquent as possible.

4 - Should it have a photo, an illustration or nothing at all? PHOTOS. 4.1 - If photo, send us one (any photo) 5 - Should the article mention your names and ages?

Sure.

5.1 - If yes, what are they?

Jojo King Jr.=%13 Tiny Man=%22 Snards=%79 Fatty Mon=%230 6 - Should your band name be explained? YES. 6.1 - If yes, how? S = $.

7 - Should we describe your music? OH YES. 7.1 - If yes, how? Inspirational and fiery protest songs.

Classic Rock.

8 - Should we refer to other bands when describing your music? Sure.

8.1 - If yes, which ones? Weather Report, Van Morrison, Oprah.

8.2 - If no, how would you feel if we did it anyway and referred to, for instance, Frank Zappa, Gang Gang Dance or Animal Collective? Where’d you read that?

9 - Should we ask you about the recording process?

Oh Yes! 9.1 - If yes, how did the recording go? Please refer to

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“Times Square” by Ornette Coleman’s Prime Time.

10 - If we say the words “Silent Barn” how would you reply? Please refer to “The Ambrazier CD” available via SHINKOYO.COM. 11 - Should we ask you what your future plans are?

OK! 11.1 - If yes, what are your future plans? Record music, world tours, divorce, misguided political aspirations, universal language of music is the healing force of the universe.

11.2 - If no, do you live in ‘the Now’? We lives in the future past.

12 - What should be the main feeling or idea readers get from this interview? INSPIRATION! You can be anything you want to be indeed.

13 - Did you agree on all the answers to this interview? We don’t do anything together anymore.

13.1 - If yes, are you harmonious? We try to harmonize, usually very crunchy intervals.

13.2 - If no, who got his way? 50/50?

14 - How would you feel if we misinterpret everything you say? I’d say “that’s about right!” Or “That’d be impossible.”

14.1 - Considering other interviews you did, what do you think are the chances we do that? 100% pure love.

See the RESULT on the next page >> 27 CONTINUE

result

SKELETONS: Music’s OPRAH

Trite crunchy Oprah skeletons love fiery weather photos.

Yes sure sure oh available Ornette! YES you jojo 50/50 impossible together. OK divorce future inspiration.

Skeletons are Jojo King Jr.=%13, Tiny Man=%22, Snards=%79, Fatty Mon=%230 Their band name needs some explanation. To put it in their own words “S = $”.

Their music can be described as inspirational and fiery protest songs. Classic Rock also springs to mind. The music brings up names like ‘Weather Report’, ‘Van Morrison’ and ‘Oprah’.

We asked them three questions

Tell us about the recording of your album? ‘Times Square’ by Ornette Coleman’s Prime Time.

When we ask the band about Silent Barn they say “‘The Ambrazier CD’ available via SHINKOYO.COM.” What are your future plans?

Record music, world tours, divorce, misguided political aspirations, universal language of music is the healing force of the universe.... you know we want to inspire people. You can be anything you want to be indeed.

THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS

Fact check:

DEERHUNTER MICROCASTLE Door Oscar Smit

JEAN GENET NIET

Onder het kopje Influences staan bij andere acts altijd veel en zeer uiteenlopende namen. Zo niet bij Deerhunter, hier staat slechts een citaat van Jean Genet “To achieve harmony in bad taste is the height of elegance.”

Iedere maand bespreekt Oscar Smit op zeer feitelijke wijze een plaat die er om één of andere reden toe lijkt te doen.

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Waar Deerhunter op Cryptograms (2007) nog flink aan het worstelen was met hun identiteit lijken ze op hun nieuwe CD wat tot rust te zijn gekomen. Deerhunter heeft zich ontwikkeld tot een gitaarbandje met lekker songs.

Maar net als je denkt dat dat ook werkelijk zo is, begint bij track 5 een serie van vier korte rustige, soms minimale liedjes, culminerend in Activa; een beetje een zweverige song met vervreemdende zang, belletjes en zelfs een harp(?). Ik vraag me direct af waar de bandleden hun inspiratie vandaan halen.

MySpace is daar altijd goed voor. Onder het kopje Influences staan bij andere acts altijd veel en zeer uiteenlopende namen. Zo niet bij Deerhunter, hier staat slechts een citaat van Jean Genet “To achieve harmony in bad taste is the height of elegance.”. Nu wordt het echter wel interessant! Jean Genet (1910-1986) was een Franse vage-

THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS

bond en schrijver die kleine criminaliteit en homoseksualiteit verheerlijkte. Hij was goed bevriend met de veelzijdige, experimentele, surrealistische kunstenaar Jean Cocteau. Eén van de eerste links van Genet met popmuziek kwam via David Bowie. Begin jaren zeventig was Bowie hevig geinteresseerd in biseksualiteit en kwam zodoende bij Genet terecht. Over hem schreef hij het nummer ‘Jean Genie’, een grote hit in 1973. Hierin komt de regel “He’s so simple minded...” voor, waaruit zanger Jim Kerr jaren later de naam van zijn band Simple Minds zou halen. Meer recentelijk vormt Jean Genet een inspiratiebron voor het duo Cocorosie. Hun song Beautiful Boyz (op Noah’s Ark), gezongen met de androgene Anthony, gaat over het leven van de Franse schrijver.

Maar hoeveel Jean Genet is er te vinden bij Deerhunter? Volgens mij niet veel. Homosexualiteit of criminaliteit, laat staan verwijzingen naar ‘s mans kleurrijk leven zijn niet direct uit de teksten van Microcastle te halen. Wel zou je met een beetje goede wil in het nummer ‘Never Stops’ seventies Bowie invloeden kunnen horen.

35 Jaar geleden(!).

Kortom eigenlijk zet Deerhunter ons met Jean Genet op het verkeerde been. Misschien dachten ze dat het interessant stond. Wat hun werkelijke invloeden zullen zijn, moeten we ze zelf maar eens vragen. Waarschijnlijk hebben ze goed naar Mercury Rev geluisterd, getuige de openingstrack van hun album, welke hoe kan het ook anders ‘intro’ getiteld is. Na dit intro ontrolt zich in ieder geval een lekker gitaaralbum met gelukkig her en der een vervreemdend effect, waardoor het niet te gewoontjes wordt.

Jean Genet

Jim Kerr

Jean Cocteau

Deerhunter- Microcastle (4AD) www.myspace.com/deerhunter 31

THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS

Film:

DE ONDERGANG VAN HET FILMHUIS Door Gert Verbeek

OP SAFARI

“Bijna zonder uitzondering zijn de stoorzenders van middelbare leeftijd, van het vrouwelijke geslacht en altijd met z’n tweetjes”

Hell is other people, schreef Jean-Paul Sartre en zingt Bettie Serveert. Een uitspraak die zeker geldt voor bioscooppubliek. Vreemd genoeg is de aanwezigheid van andere mensen erger in filmhuizen dan in multiplexen. In de Pathé’s van de wereld vreet de gemiddelde adolescent zonder gêne popcorn en chips met de hoorbare gretigheid van een zwijn. Ze zijn echter zo snel klaar met vetmesten dat ze het merendeel van de film nodig hebben met het zwijgzaam verwerken van alle onverzadigde vetzuren. Je hebt dan nauwelijks nog last van ze. Wat onverhoeds aan geluiden uit de maagstreek ontsnapt, wordt overstemd door de luide achtervolgingen en ontploffingen in Sensurround. Nee, de boosdoeners zitten niet bij zomerse Gert Verbeek is werkzaam bij blockbusters, maar in knusse filmhuiszaaltjes, bij broze, Muziek Centrum kwetsbare films uit verre streken. Bijna zonder uitzonderNederland en kijkt ing zijn de stoorzenders van middelbare leeftijd, van het heel veel films. vrouwelijke geslacht en altijd met z’n tweetjes. Het ergst 32

THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS

zijn de meest fitte oude vriendinnen die verre reizen naar exotische oorden afwisselen met bezoekjes aan films over exotische oorden. Sinds het succes van The Story Of The Weeping Camel is hun aantal schrikbarend toegenomen. Deze vriendinnen maken twee denkfouten.

Ze veronderstellen (1) dat elke filmfhuisfilm bestaat uit grienende kamelen en hun aaibare kroost, en, wat erger is (2) dat een bezoekje aan een filmhuis gelijk staat aan de safaritochten die ze gewend zijn tijdens hun vakanties te maken. Ze ervaren hun bioscoopstoel als de zetel in een veilig afgestelde tourbus en zien de film als een avontuurlijk ritje over de savannen. Ze menen daarbij hun enthousiasme over de schoonheid van de ongerepte natuur hardop aan de rest van de bus kenbaar te moeten maken.

Bij elk wild dier in het vizier springen ze op, stoten ze elkaar aan en wijze ze naar het doek. Kijk! roepen ze. Een olifant! Of: Kijk! Een struisvogeljong! Als je veel pech hebt, spellen ze tijdens de openingstitels hardop de namen van de filmproductiemaatschappij en de meeste van de crewleden, alsof de rest van de zaal uit analfabeten en blinden bestaat. En wee je gebeente als ze iets waarnemen dat ze niet kunnen thuisbrengen en uitleg stante pede gewenst is. Helaas zijn niet alle films in het filmhuis even toeristisch geschikt als de genoemde kamelenfilm en helaas hebben de middelbare vriendinnen dat pas halverwege door, waarna hun ongenoegen tot aan de aftiteling niet van de lucht is. Ze leven in de veronderstelling dat als zij de film onbegrijpelijk of onaangenaam vinden dat automatisch ook geldt voor de anderen en dat hun verbale sabotageacties daarom geoorloofd of zelfs gewenst zijn, niet wetend dat cinefielen langzaam maar zeker voorgoed de veilige thuisbioscoop worden ingejaagd. Middelbare vriendinnen betekenen het einde van het filmhuis.

a weeping camel

Sartre

Hell is other people

33

SUBBACULTCHA! PROGRAMME SEPTEMBER 2008

SUBBACULTCHA! PROGRAMME OCTOBER 2008

THE MOI NON PLUS B O N N E A PA R T E WO M E N ADEPT AND MUCH MORE 35

SUBBACULTCHA! PROGRAMME OCTOBER 2008

SUBBACULTCHA! CMJ SHOWCASE OCTOBER 22ND AT THE CAKESHOP, NEW YORK

ft.

THE MOI NON PLUS // BONNE APARTE // ADEPT // WOMEN & SKELETONS (DJ SET) Subbacultcha! is hosting a showcase/party at this year’s CMJ festival.

That means all NEW YORK HIPSTERS and all of the INDUSTRY FOLK will finally get a chance to get to know all the cool stuff they’ve been missing out on.Yes you will be saved! We bring you earpiercing violence from the lowlands, as performed by ADEPT ,THE MOI NON PLUS and BONNE APARTE. Followed by an appearence by the great WOMEN , who seem to have no trouble at all combining BEACH BOYS with LIARS. Also dance tunes by SKELETONS, FREE BEER during the concerts and FREE CD’s too. Cause “WEGGEVEN IS HET NIEUWE VERKOPEN” And you get what you pay for... OW YEAH! 37

SUBBACULTCHA! PROGRAMME OCTOBER 2008

BONNE APARTE

THE MOI NON PLUS

Bonne Aparte are a six piece art/noise punk collective from outter Friesland.

They mix Beefheart’s insanity with Shellac type grooves and like to shake their hips while doing so. Live they tend to rip you apart and put you back together in a mere 25 minutes. Their violence is real, their songs are for singing.

The Moi Non Plus is a loud uncompromised duo from Amsterdam, combining drums, guitar, samples and vocals into loud energy driven art/noise rock, referring to bands like Liars, The Lapse and Sonic Youth. The Moi Non Plus keep it simple and do so loudly. This is raw, this is fresh, this is music that pushes, squeezes, and fights its way out of the speakers. It is dark, sharp and dissonant... uncomfortable yet somehow pleasing.

Their self-titled debut is in stores October 6th. Beware.

OCTOBER 10 MERLEYN, NIJMEGEN + THE MOI NON PLUS OCTOBER 14 BUFFALO BAR, LONDON (ARTROCKER SHOW) + THE MOI NON PLUS OCTOBER 17 NORWICH ARTS CENTER,NORWICH + THE MOI NON PLUS OCTOBER 22 CAKESHOP, NEW YORK (CMJ SHOWCASE)

ADEPT Adept is one of Holland’s finest electronoise products, boom boom booming somewhere between techno-rock and contemporary trash, combined with a good dose of electronic gaze. Adept utilise dark industrial noises, cold, machine-like electronic dance beats and highly erotic vocals. These kids will suck the life right out of you! Rave on people, rave on.

OCTOBER 3 PATRONAAT, HAARLEM + ADEPT+SIXTEENS OCTOBER 4, BITTERZOET, AMSTERDAM (ALBUM RELEASE PARTY) + ADEPT OCTOBER 7 ZURMOEBELFABRIK, BERLIN + THE GERMANS + ALAMO RACETRACK OCTOBER 10 MERLEYN, NIJMEGEN + BONNE APARTE OCTOBER 14 BUFFALO BAR, LONDON (ARTROCKER SHOW) + BONNE APARTE OCTOBER 17 NORWICH ARTS CENTER,NORWICH + BONNE APARTE OCTOBER 22 CAKESHOP, NEW YORK (CMJ SHOWCASE)

OCTOBER 3 PATRONAAT, HAARLEM + THE MOI NON PLUS + SIXTEENS OCTOBER 4 BITTERZOET, AMSTERDAM + THE MOI NON PLUS OCTOBER 22 CAKESHOP, NEW YORK (CMJ SHOWCASE)

39

SUBBACULTCHA! PROGRAMME OCTOBER 2008

WOMEN Women are making music that sounds like the Beach Boys on acid taking on Animal Collective. Blending the modern day madness of bands like Liars, HEALTH and Fuck Buttons with the likes of The Kinks, Syd Barret and Brian Wilson.

These kids know how to disturb, big time.

Want to be where the sun hits the sky?

Driving off to a southern part of the world? Leaving all things behind and ready to look forward? Listen to Women, where the good old sixties meet the newborn soundscaping afrodrumming freaks of today. Sufjan Stevens eat you heart out!

OCTOBER 22 CAKESHOP, NEW YORK (CMJ SHOWCASE)

HAWNAY TROOF

THE FEELING OF LOVE

From country sounds to reggae, from hip to hop and from breaks to beats. What the hell is this? Is this the Beastie Boys doing a sing-a-long with Aux Raus and Django Reinhardt? No, it’s just a guy named Vice Cooler from Oakland, who uses beats, banjo sounds and deconstructed baille funk to make retarded disco and stuff far beyond that! His cover of Gwen Stefani’s ‘Hollarback’ is genius, and we don’t use that term lightly. And... you can have a go at it yourself; join the cut and paste madness by signing up for his remix project.

The Feeling of Love brings back the best of Nineties garage blues (Oblivians, JSBX, and Doo Rag at their finest) without the stench of revisionism. In fact, they’re updating those styles with a Pussy Galore-like slop of noise and a healthy dose of acerbic wit. Guitars alternately slide and slash; keyboards get punched and stepped upon amid the fracas, Frenchmen sneer and whoop at you, drums boom before turning coffee-can hollow. They run blues-trash through the gauntlet and come out the other side reborn as some snarling beast.

OCTOBER 22 SMART PROJECT SPACE, AMSTERDAM

OCTOBER 19 PATRONAAT, HAARLEM

41

DB’S PRESENTS

GALLON DRUNK

(U K )

Legends feat. members of The Bad Seeds, Faust & Tindersticks www.myspace.com/gallondrunk

THE DEATH LETTERS

High Energy Teenage Bluespunk from Dordrecht www.myspace.com/ thedeathlettersrock

MAANDAG 20 OKTOBER AANVANG 21.00 (SHARP!) ENTREE 8 EURO

WWW.DBSTUDIO.NL | CARTESIUSWEG 90A | UTRECHT

HEY! WE COULD USE SOME HELP HERE! SUBBACULTCHA! HAS OPENINGS FOR: Sales people / Web people Distribution people / Any people Are you worth 5000 euros a month but are you willing to do it for the love of it? Send skills and motivation to magazine@subbacultcha.nl

SUBBACULTCHA! PROGRAMME OCTOBER 2008

SIXTEENS

THE WALT

Disco-noisy wavy pop from San Francisco. Just what the world needs in times where mutant bleeps from vintage computer games are awaiting a global comeback. ‘Welcome to the invisible injection of electrical magnetic transmissions’ it says on the Sixteens’ MySpace page. Eeeemmmm... thanks for the invitation to listen to your sounds... and yes we will! And while you are at it, is it possible to create a rhythm-box that sounds like Modern English and Crystal Castles? Oh you already did... Well then, push the buttons and sample and synth the hell out of me. Thanks!

The Walt are often referred to as an Utrecht indie supergroup and there’s some truth in this. The Walt’s members play or played in bands like: Kismet, We vs.Death, Stellenbosch and Dawn of Awakening. This band plays modern indie rock (think Q and Not U and Faraquet) with old-fashioned excitement (think The Wipers and The Cure). They will present their debut EP tonight.

OCTOBER 23 DB’S, UTRECHT + 31 KNOTS

OCTOBER 3, PATRONAAT, HAARLEM + ADEPT + THE MOI NON PLUS

31 KNOTS The 31Knots style filter often puts the boys in the same camp as Modest Mouse.

But a deeper look reveals a more Police or Fugazi-like aggregation of influences.

31Knots fuse complex rhythms with jagged guitars in mathematic songs that zigzag through changes and anxious start-stop riffs. They are returning to the Netherlands with their new album Worried Well.

OCTOBER 23 DB’S, UTRECHT + THE WALT

43

SUBBACULTCHA! PROGRAMME OCTOBER 2008

THE WOODEN CONSTRUCTIONS The Wooden Constructions are here to save your life. This Amsterdam based post-punk quartet produce two-minutesomething songs. Think early Gang of Four combined with vocal elements that remind of a young Mark E. Smith.

Another raging young band with no official release just yet, but hear-hear when they do. For now, they kick ass and should be seen. In their own words: ‘If you don’t dance, we’ll beat you up’.

Better bring a helmet.

SKELETONS Skeletons played a very memorable show at De Nieuwe Anita in Amsterdam. The band definately did go well with the cocktails. Matthew Douglas Mehlan sounds like a folk singer who got caught in a band that would prefer to play more Zappa type of stuff. But there’s no comprimise. Mehlan is telling his truth, while the rest of the band is feverishly caught in strange ryhtmes and outerspace scales.

They are all over place, highly entertaining and times as cut throat as Dylan singing ‘It’s all right mama’.

OCTOBER 22 CAKESHOP, NEW YORK (CMJ SHOWCASE)

OCTOBER 27 STUDIOK, AMSTERDAM, + MAHJONGG

ALAMO RACETRACK What’s to say about the most styleful band from the Netherlands. Excelent songwriting. Skillfull. Crafty. Pure. They are the band you wanna see at work in the studio. Using shakers, tambourines, vintage guitars and vintage effects. And it all sounds so damn good. Do I hear a cat purring? Yes folks. Still a must see from the Lo Lo Lowlands.

OCTOBER 7 ZURMOEBELFABRIK, BERLIN + THE GERMANS + THE MOI NON PLUS

44

SUBBACULTCHA! PROGRAMME OCTOBER 2008

ANAVAN

MAHJONGG

Birthed from the pregnant stew of downtown’s now legendary all-ages venue, The Smell, Anavan cracked their shell alongside groups like Abe Vigoda, HEALTH and Mika Miko. Their sound, however, owes little to their local peers. The most obvious break from convention was (and still is) the conspicuous lack of guitar, an absence one forgets shortly after the first glorious note is struck. You see, any group of haircuts can leave something out. In a city full of 5-, 7-, hell, even 10piece ensembles, the concept of ‘less is more’ starts becoming something of an emergency. When less equals as much more as Anavan delivers, ‘power trio’ hardly does them justice. So if you think Abe Vigoda and HEALTH are a bunch of soft wussies with no balls, try this delicious stinking treat from The Smell instead.

Mahjongg are from Chicago--not from Dubai as it says on their MySpace page.

They make happy, weird, off-beat indie dancy pop that flows from rock to dance and back again. This band jumps from a Certain Ratio to techno and from noise to Afro beats, grappling like an imaginary jam session of Konono No.1 locked in a room together with !!! (chk-chk-chk).

Crazy times. Does anybody know what ‘Kontpab’ means?

NOVEMBER 1 DB’S, UTRECHT

OCTOBER 26 STUDIOK, AMSTERDAM, + THE WOODEN CONSTRUCTIONS

THE GERMANS The Germans are from Belgium. They have produced an album that had raving reviews. It’s eclectic... That’s what it is. It is said they are ‘the most dangerous rock band from Belgium’... Is that a fact hard to achieve? Anyways.... they are out to get you... taking the opposite route; through Holland on their way to Germany.

OCTOBER 7 ZURMOEBELFABRIK, BERLIN + ALAMO RACE TRACK + THE MOI NON PLUS

45

SUBBACULTCHA! PROGRAMME OCTOBER 2008

SUBBACULTCHA! PROGRAMME OCTOBER 2008 FRI PATRONAAT

OCT 3

STARTS: 20:00 | ENTRANCE FREE

SAT OCT 4 BITTERZOET STARTS: 21:00 | COVER: 6 EURO

TUE OCT 7 ZURMOEBELFABRIK, BERLIN MORE INFO: WWW.SUBBACULTCHA.NL

FRI MERLEYN

OCT 10

STARTS: 21:00 | COVER: 6 EURO

SAT OCT 11 DE NIEUWE ANITA

SIXTEENS (USA) / ADEPT THE MOI NON PLUS THE MOI NON PLUS ALBUM RELEASE PARTY / ADEPT ALAMO RACE TRACK THE GERMANS THE MOI NON PLUS THE MOI NON PLUS BONNE APARTE MAGAZINE PARTY!!

FREE FOR MEMBERS OF THE SUBBACULTCHA! MAILINGLIST

SUN OCT 19 PATRONAAT

THE FEELING OF LOVE (FRA)

STARTS: 20:00 | ENTRANCE FREE

WED OCT 22 CAKESHOP, NY MORE INFO: WWW.SUBBACULTCHA.NL

WED OCT 22 SMART PROJ. SPACE

SUBBACULTCHA! CMJ SHOWCASE THE MOI NON PLUS, BONNE APARTE, ADEPT, WOMEN (CAN), SKELETONS (DJ-SET)

HAWNAY TROOF (USA, SOUTHERN)

MORE INFO: WWW.SUBBACULTCHA.NL

THU DB’S

OCT 23

STARTS: 21:00 | COVER: 6 EURO

SUN STUDIO-K

OCT 26

STARTS: 21:00 | COVER: 6 EURO

31KNOTS (USA, POLYVINYL) THE WALT MAHJONGG (USA, K-REC) / THE WOODENCONSTRUCTIONS COMING UP IN NOVEMBER

ANAVAN (1 NOVEMBER DB’S, UTRECHT) DD/MM/YYYY, THESE ARE POWERS & SUBBACULTCHA! ON CROSSING BORDER! 46

SUBBACULTCHA! PROGRAMME OCTOBER 2008

ADDRESSES BITTERZOET STUDIO-K DE NIEUWE ANITA PATRONAAT DB’S

SPUISTRAAT 2, AMSTERDAM TIMORPLEIN 62, AMSTERDAM FREDERIK HENDRIKSTRAAT 111, AMSTERDAM ZIJLSINGEL 2, HAARLEM CARTESIUSWEG 90 A, UTRECHT

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Free parties SIGN UP TO THE SUBBACULTCHA MAILINGLIST AND GET INTO OUR MONTHLY MAGAZINE PARTIES FOR FREE.

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Grensstraat 14 II,1091 SX Amsterdam, the Netherlands. www.subbacultcha.nl magazine@subbacultcha.nl To advertise in Subbacultcha! magazine send an email to magazine@subbacultcha.nl Subbacultcha! Magazine is distributed troughout the

Netherlands. If you desire to be on the distribution list please send an email to magazine@subbacultcha.nl Editors: Leon Caren and Bas Morsch Design: Bas Morsch

Keimpe Koldijk, Tamara van Laarse, Nicole Martens, Tom Mason, Steven McCarron, Bas Morsch, Rob & Maria from High Places, Rollergirl, Oscar Smit and Gert Verbeek Cover illustration: Tom Mason

This month’s featured artist: Tom Mason Contributors: Leon Caren, Femke Dekker, Nick Helderman, Victoria Jacob, Bas Jacobs, Russell Joyce, 47

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