Recording: Deliluh

Artist: Deliluh

Song: Freeloader Feast

Recorded at MOCA (Not Dead Yet Presents), June 29, 2019.

Deliluh - Freeloader Feast

There was a bit of physical/emotional dislocation and relocation at this show, sorting through the realities and ironies of our gentrifying city. Recently a sort of semi-abandoned zone where off-the-grid culture flourished (and just over from where some cool DIY loft spaces used to be) and in a formerly-abandoned building (where audiences and musicians like the ones at hand used to sneak in and explore and smoke a joint, looking out over the city) this show took place in the new Museum of Contemporary Art, now refinished with a sort of austere/pricey minimalism and filled with Expensive Things. From the back of the long, rectangular space, held up by large circular concrete pillars, it looked not unlike a show taking place underneath a highway overpass — and by virtue of the space, it sounded more than a little like one too. Is this a simulacrum of independent culture, selling us back our nostalgia for a recently-departed past at a bespoke markup? Or is it just a matter of trying to find any sort of space in a city where space for the DIY spirit is getting crowded out?

Back from a tour and sharp as razorblades, this show served as the official release celebration for Deliluh's Oath Of Intent EP. It'd actually been a hot minute since I had seen the band in action, certainly not since they solidified with their current four-piece lineup with frontman Kyle Knapp and longstanding guitarist Julius Pedersen joined by Erik Jude (formerly of HSY, here on bass) and Erika Wharton-Shukster (on drums). Playing with fierceness and clarity, this was a tightly-focused set, showing off the EP's tunes, re-arranging a couple old ones and then finishing with one brand new one to leave the audience wanting more.

Recording: New Fries

Artist: New Fries

Song: unknown^*

Recorded at MOCA (Not Dead Yet Presents), June 29, 2019.

New Fries - unknown

There was a bit of physical/emotional dislocation and relocation at this show, sorting through the realities and ironies of our gentrifying city. Recently a sort of semi-abandoned zone where off-the-grid culture flourished (and just over from where some cool DIY loft spaces used to be) and in a formerly-abandoned building (where audiences and musicians like the ones at hand used to sneak in and explore and smoke a joint, looking out over the city) this show took place in the new Museum of Contemporary Art, now refinished with a sort of austere/pricey minimalism and filled with Expensive Things. From the back of the long, rectangular space, held up by large circular concrete pillars, it looked not unlike a show taking place underneath a highway overpass — and by virtue of the space, it sounded more than a little like one too. Is this a simulacrum of independent culture, selling us back our nostalgia for a recently-departed past at a bespoke markup? Or is it just a matter of trying to find any sort of space in a city where space for the DIY spirit is getting crowded out?

The second time seeing this new trio re-incarnation of New Fries found the space rendering their sound a bit more harsh and apocalyptic than the previous go-round, but that takes away nothing from the menacing minimalist groove power underpinning the music.

[New Fries will be playing with Frigs and Piper Maru at the Velvet Underground on Saturday, December 14th.]

^* Does anyone know the title to this one? Please leave a comment!

Recording: Eyeballs

Artist: Eyeballs

Songs: two unknown songs^*

Recorded at MOCA (Not Dead Yet Presents), June 29, 2019.

Eyeballs - unknown #1

Eyeballs - unknown #2

There was a bit of physical/emotional dislocation and relocation at this show, sorting through the realities and ironies of our gentrifying city. Recently a sort of semi-abandoned zone where off-the-grid culture flourished (and just over from where some cool DIY loft spaces used to be) and in a formerly-abandoned building (where audiences and musicians like the ones at hand used to sneak in and explore and smoke a joint, looking out over the city) this show took place in the new Museum of Contemporary Art, now refinished with a sort of austere/pricey minimalism and filled with Expensive Things. From the back of the long, rectangular space, held up by large circular concrete pillars, it looked not unlike a show taking place underneath a highway overpass — and by virtue of the space, it sounded more than a little like one too. Is this a simulacrum of independent culture, selling us back our nostalgia for a recently-departed past at a bespoke markup? Or is it just a matter of trying to find any sort of space in a city where space for the DIY spirit is getting crowded out?

Even a fire alarm couldn't derail the make-our-own-fun clamour of this disco-punk duo. Loud-as-all-get-out and with the vox buried a bit, this felt like a giant basement party filled with thrumming dirges and square wave dance tracks.

^* Does anyone know the title to these? Please leave a comment!

Recording: Cares

Artist: Cares

Songs: Knowing + Resolution Body

Recorded at MOCA (Not Dead Yet Presents), June 29, 2019.

Cares - Knowing

Cares - Resolution Body

There was a bit of physical/emotional dislocation and relocation at this show, sorting through the realities and ironies of our gentrifying city. Recently a sort of semi-abandoned zone where off-the-grid culture flourished (and just over from where some cool DIY loft spaces used to be) and in a formerly-abandoned building (where audiences and musicians like the ones at hand used to sneak in and explore and smoke a joint, looking out over the city) this show took place in the new Museum of Contemporary Art, now refinished with a sort of austere/pricey minimalism and filled with Expensive Things. From the back of the long, rectangular space, held up by large circular concrete pillars, it looked not unlike a show taking place underneath a highway overpass — and by virtue of the space, it sounded more than a little like one too. Is this a simulacrum of independent culture, selling us back our nostalgia for a recently-departed past at a bespoke markup? Or is it just a matter of trying to find any sort of space in a city where space for the DIY spirit is getting crowded out?

Like a black and tan or other cocktail where ingredients with different specific gravities co-exist separately until forcefully mixed together, James Beardmore's mix of pretty ambience and unpretty weltzerstörungsgeräusch creates an uneasy listening experience. Still exploring his Regular Unconscious, there were an equal number of weird pop moments and abrasive noisebursts in this set.

[Cares will be playing a collaborative set alongside WHQB at See-Scape next week, as well as solo opening for Xiu Xiu and Jessica Moss on Wednesday, September 25th.]

Recording: Sarah Davachi

Artist: Sarah Davachi

Song: unknown [excerpt]^*

Recorded at The Baby G, August 9, 2018.

Sarah Davachi - unknown [excerpt]

Nominally a "punk" presenter, Not Dead Yet is best known for its namesake festival, but its year-round programming is also noted for fostering positive community vibes. As this drone dream of a show indicated, they're also willing to stretch out, musically, and it was a thrill to see a healthy and mixed crowd out for a night of zero-bpm hovering. Although recent recordings have featured mellotron, harpsichord and pipe organ, this touring show from the Canadian-born/LA-based drone superstar was a minimalist, synth-based affair. Eschewing banter or any stage dramatics, Davaci simply let her music slowly unfold and embrace the audience, delicious soundscapes slowly shifting and morphing before evaporating into the air.

^* Does anyone know the title to this one? Please leave a comment!

Recording: Uxvae

Artist: Uxvae

Song: unknown^*

Recorded at The Baby G, August 9, 2018.

Uxvae - unknown

Nominally a "punk" presenter, Not Dead Yet is best known for its namesake festival, but its year-round programming is also noted for fostering positive community vibes. As this drone dream of a show indicated, they're also willing to stretch out, musically, and it was a thrill to see a healthy and mixed crowd out for a night of zero-bpm hovering. Bryan Bray would probably be familiar to the NDY crowd for his other projects (especially Gates' doom-y side) but this newer duo with Marty Adem, heavy on, er, heavy atmospherics fit right into the night's flow. Dramatic whispers and soaring e-bow lines cut through the dronefog, and in presenting just three long pieces, the pair managed to deliver the most focused set that I'd yet caught. Still made me feel like I was out later than I should be in a dark forest, though.

[Uxvae will be performing next week (Tuesday, October 2nd) at Track Could Bend, alongside The Velvet Crystals and Jakob Rehlinger at Wenona Lodge.]

^* Does anyone know the title to this one? Please leave a comment!

Recording: Moth Ash

Artist: Moth Ash

Song: unknown^*

Recorded at The Baby G, August 9, 2018.

Moth Ash - unknown

Nominally a "punk" presenter, Not Dead Yet is best known for its namesake festival, but its year-round programming is also noted for fostering positive community vibes. As this drone dream of a show indicated, they're also willing to stretch out, musically, and it was a thrill to see a healthy and mixed crowd out for a night of zero-bpm hovering. But it's only a lateral step over from harsh noise (which is closer to NDY's sweet spot) to loud ambient, and both members of this duo have straddled those liminal sound-spaces in their respective solo gigs. Framed by some liturgical chanting, this latter section of their set builds a nice drone from hurdy-gurdy, violin and plenty of pedals.

[Moth Ash will be opening things up for Jerusalem In My Heart and Sarah Pagé next week (Wednesday, October 3rd) at Burdock.]

^* Does anyone know the title to this one? Please leave a comment!