I thought some people might be interested here in this over-cranky write up for tonight's Hemophiliac appearance in San Francisco. ----------------------------------------------------- Bad blood It must be a source of endless frustration for the starving artists of the noise and free-improvisation scenes, who often have trouble moving a few hundred units of their latest proud creation, to see an all-star side project like John Zorn, Mike Patton, and Ikue Mori's Hemophiliac effortlessly sell out a few thousand copies of an Internet-only CD priced at 45 bucks no less. The real knee-slapper is this overpriced CD (self-titled, and released in 2002 through Zorn's label, Tzadik) isn't even any good it sounds like something you'd yawn and fidget through on improv night at the local art-gallery storefront. So why would anyone recommend seeing this trio live? Morbid curiosity? A celebrities-at-their-worst-style fascination with public failure? Or the slim hope these talented cult icons reach beyond the Knitting Factory improv clichés and smarmy laptop computer gimmicks that characterize so much of the CD? Cross your fingers. 8 p.m., Slim's, 333 Folsom, S.F. $20. (415) 255-0333. (Will York) -------------------------------------
He has to be an irritated Faith No More fan. --- ripleyjames@comcast.net escribió: > I thought some people might be interested here in
this over-cranky write up for tonight's Hemophiliac appearance in San Francisco.
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Bad blood
It must be a source of endless frustration for the starving artists of the noise and free-improvisation scenes, who often have trouble moving a few hundred units of their latest proud creation, to see an all-star side project like John Zorn, Mike Patton, and Ikue Mori's Hemophiliac effortlessly sell out a few thousand copies of an Internet-only CD  priced at 45 bucks no less. The real knee-slapper is this overpriced CD (self-titled, and released in 2002 through Zorn's label, Tzadik) isn't even any good  it sounds like something you'd yawn and fidget through on improv night at the local art-gallery storefront. So why would anyone recommend seeing this trio live? Morbid curiosity? A celebrities-at-their-worst-style fascination with public failure? Or the slim hope these talented cult icons reach beyond the Knitting Factory improv clichés and smarmy laptop computer gimmicks that characterize so much of the CD? Cross your fingers. 8 p.m., Slim's, 333 Folsom, S.F. $20. (415) 255-0333. (Will York)
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On Tue, Feb 24, 2004 at 07:00:55PM -0600, ripleyjames@comcast.net wrote:
I thought some people might be interested here in this over-cranky write up for tonight's Hemophiliac appearance in San Francisco.
I went to the show with a friend. I am a pretty big Zorn fan; I own probably 15-20 albums by him, but I've never seen him live. I'm normally not into his more free improv/noise projects, like some of the Naked City stuff, so I wasn't really expecting to like the show. I was thinking it'd be this wall of noise and I'd be terrified and run out of the club or something :-) :-). I hadn't heard of Mike Patton. Ikue Mori I've seen in concert once before with the Rova Saxophone Quartet. But I was determined to go to see John 'cause I don't think he gets out here too often. It was amazing, it was one of my favorite concerts I've ever been to. I've seen this in the past, where music on an album can totally rebuff me, but seeing it live changes everything. And that was definitely the case. If I'd just heard last night's performance on a CD I'd probably say "SUCK". Mike Patton was really amazing. I gather from the list traffic that he's a member of a band called Faith No More -- I have a vague memory of that band, I think they were popular when I was in college, But his work last night was brilliant, and his energy level was awe inspiring. Ikue Mori was similarly key to the sound of the night. I usually can't get her work; I even bought her CD on Tzadik to try to understand it, but for the most part it just sounds like masturbatory sound loops of stuff breaking. Doesn't do anything for me. But tonight, she was a total member of the trio and filled it out beautifully. And Zorn. Wow, he is everything I'd hoped to see. His mastery on the sax was obvious, and the fact that he can just ignore all that shit and make the most amazing sounds come out of it, and keep up with and react to Mike and Ikue to go where the music was going. I don't really know what to say -- I had a brilliant time. It was clear that they were having a blast on stage. The show was sold out, the place was packed. Everyone I heard talking was awestruck at the end of the show. Yeah, it was a wall of noise. And yeah, it was louder than shit - you could feel your clothes vibrating, and the opening act was even louder if that's possible - but I loved every second of it. The show opened at 8pm, the opening act (Mike Hill? I'm afraid I'm getting that wrong :( ) was a drummer who played a set for maybe thirty minutes, and then John, Mike, and Ikue came up and performed for an hour or an hour and a half. It was a perfect amount of music. My favorite reaction is after the first two or three songs play, and there's this one song where John has these long, low breathy sounds on the sax as background for Mike and Ikue, and I turned to my friend and said, "$45 for the CD? I'd pay that." (the article from the SF Guardian was complaining about how the 2002 CD cost $45 and was lame). There weren't any CDs or anything of Hemophiliac for sale at the show. If they're performing anywhere near you, go see them. Jason
Hi,
I went to the show with a friend. I am a pretty big Zorn fan; I own probably 15-20 albums by him, but I've never seen him live. I'm normally not into his more free improv/noise projects, like some of the Naked City stuff, so I wasn't really expecting to like the show.
Except for "Heretic: Jeux des dames cruelles" on Avant, there's no improv in Naked City. I was thinking it'd be this wall of
noise and I'd be terrified and run out of the club or something :-) :-). I hadn't heard of Mike Patton.
There's something great about someone not knowing Patton, really!! However, you're missing a great singer who's released lots of amazing material during and after his FNM period. Ikue Mori was
similarly key to the sound of the night. I usually can't get her work; I even bought her CD on Tzadik to try to understand it, but for the most part it just sounds like masturbatory sound loops of stuff breaking. Doesn't do anything for me.
You must be talking about "Labyrynth" or "Garden", her two solo albums on Tzadik. They're not my cup of tea either, but I'd urge you to listen to "One Hundred Aspects of the Moon" with Erik Friedlander, Eyvind Kang, Kato Hideki and Anthony Coleman, among others. Great compositions and amazing performances and miles away from her solo electronic work. If I had to choose my 10 or 15 favorite Tzadik albums, this one would certainly make the list. Best, Efrén del Valle ___________________________________________________ Yahoo! Messenger - Nueva versión GRATIS Super Webcam, voz, caritas animadas, y más... http://messenger.yahoo.es
On Wed, Feb 25, 2004 at 06:36:52PM +0100, Efrén del Valle wrote:
I'm normally not into his more free improv/noise projects, like some of the Naked City stuff, so I wasn't really expecting to like the show.
Except for "Heretic: Jeux des dames cruelles" on Avant, there's no improv in Naked City.
I didn't know that, but you're right -- I misspoke. But when Yamatsuka Eye gets really going on the Naked City albums, I'm impressed but it's not what I'd normally consider Fun Listening Music. I was talking about the intensity and the loudness of the albums - that normally turns me off. I know it's my own listening limitations - I'm not making any comments on the quality of the music. In fact, I've found that my music tastes usually expand over time, so in a few years I might return to my Naked City albums and discover that I absoultely love them. Or Ikue Mori's Labyrinth album, for instance. People with more musical experience than me love these things, so I'm sure there is good stuff in there.
You must be talking about "Labyrynth" or "Garden", her two solo albums on Tzadik. They're not my cup of tea either, but I'd urge you to listen to "One Hundred Aspects of the Moon" with Erik Friedlander, Eyvind Kang, Kato Hideki and Anthony Coleman, among others.
Thanks! I'll order a copy of that and check it out. Jason
-----Original Message----- From: zorn-list-bounces+bvergara=sfsu.edu@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:zorn-list-bounces+bvergara=sfsu.edu@mailman.xmission.com]On Behalf Of Jason Molenda Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2004 8:51 AM
The show was sold out, the place was packed. Everyone I heard talking was awestruck at the end of the show.
Damn, damn, damn -- and there I was just folding laundry last night. Was the concert announced on this list beforehand at all? Slim's is a great, small venue too; the last time I saw Zorn there was for the *massive* Zorn/Patton/Lombardo concert a few years ago. (Which reminds me that the few times I've seen Zorn live have been frankly, close to religious -- saw Masada at the Temple Emanu-el, also in SF -- and, I swear, *you will believe*.) Later, Ben np: jay-z, "reasonable doubt" http://www.thewilyfilipino.com
participants (4)
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Benito Vergara -
Efrén del Valle -
Jason Molenda -
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