I went to Brian Jonestown Massacre last night pretty much only because of Bev. She isn't getting out to many shows these days, having had a health scare (but she's doing okay: in fact, if my body is holding up in 20-odd years as well as hers is now -- hell, if I'm even alive 20-odd years from now -- I'll count myself blessed). I wanted to see her, and I wanted to make sure she got in and out of the venue all right. Plus I know she really loves the band (she went both nights!), and that she comes to shows with increasingly less frequency now; at some point, we will arrive at "the last show I see with Bev," and maybe that was last night?
Sorry to say that I did not really dig BJM. I had actually quite enjoyed the previous show of theirs I saw (also with/ because of Bev), and do occasionally listen to their music, but numerous factors interfered at the Pearl: it was crowded. It was hot. I was tired. I had made the mistake of making a merch run to the Federale table and then couldn't get back to my spot. And then, having ducked to an area where I could sit and read for a bit, listening to the music in the background (which was just fine with me!), I had to go on a grocery run in the pissing rain mid-way through the band's set because my wife had texted me that the bag of bananas I thought we had in our freezer, necessary for our morning smoothie, did not in fact exist, so about halfway through, I was tromping down to Nesters, getting peed on from the heavens, and buying bananas (and some frozen mangos), after which I was fucking soaked (I had not brought a hat and my jacket, though rainproof, had no hood).
So it's not really a judgement on them that I left early (with Bev's blessing). They did seem a little low-energy, like they weren't having that much fun, but it could be that I just wasn't on the right drugs? And they apparently were doing two hour sets, longer than they'd been scheduled for, so maybe they were just conserving their energy or something... I did not give them a fair shake, and do not mean to criticize them now.
I do have a judgment, here, however, that also kinda colours my reaction to the band, that has nothing to do with what they did onstage last night. I think Anton needs to get over his feelings about Bev's photo on that book cover. He should own that he behaves like this sometimes (and that his fans accept it, enough so that the band still sells out the Pearl two nights in a row, despite that venue being in the same fucking block, even, as the one where this photo was taken); that Bev did not choose for the book to have this cover (having sold them the photo: SEE POSTSCRIPT BELOW); that it was in fact this very photo that made me interested in this band in the first place ("Holy fuck, who is that?"); and that, also holy fuck, it's a great photo and even moreso, the perfect photo for a book of this title. If I ever buy this book (haven't as yet) it will be FOR BEV'S PHOTO on the cover; I probably won't even read it! I do have a button of this image. If I'd thought about it, I would have worn it last night!
And Anton, if you are worried that people will judge you or something because of this image, you should know, man, that my judgements about you have more to do with the fact that you've hurt my friend, who loves you, than that you've melted down at the occasional show. I mean, I melt down occasionally myself. Not quite as spectacularly as you do, of course, but that's only because I usually do it in customer service contexts, not, like, onstage or on-camera. But, fuck, you're only human!
If it still bothers you that much, I invite you to consider the company you are keeping here:
Anyhow, I enjoyed Federale a lot more, though again, conditions were working for me, at that point: I was right up front (having held a spot for Bev, arriving a bit before her, so she would have a stage to lean on); I was still dry; and I hadn't even realized how crowded it was getting behind me. Fronted by former BJM man Collin Hegna, Federale were personable at the merch table, and played rock that was infused with spaghetti western soundtrack sensibilities (mostly Morricone, and a few tracks have passages that remind me of the score for The Big Gundown, especially the main theme, which to me is the absolute peak of Morricone's spaghetti work; they make use of motifs, their bassist told me, such that that theme repeats a couple of times in their work, including in their set last night). I don't know/ understand why they're moving in a rock direction with their newest album, which you hear in the one clip that I shot, but I have no comment on that as yet. It may present differently than live (where it sounded like a western take on late-phase Cure, kinda). The two records I bought don't sound much like what they did onstage, too, even for the tracks that are on those albums), so I think it's by their records I will best get to know them. But I personally am totally into the spaghetti.
And they do seem PROUD of that earlier stuff. Collin had recommended I buy All the Colours of the Dark (and then texted the band members to come sign it for me!), which title also riffs on my favourite giallo. After I heard them play, I went back to the merch table and added The Blood Flowed Like Wine to my purchases, based on another song they played, and they all signed that, too! (If you want a taste of what they did -- and love Morricone -- those seem to be the perfect two albums to start with).
Oh, and Collin gave me their setlist:
It was further pleasing to see that Collin was wearing a Neptoon shirt. I texted Rob a shot of that; he'd gone the previous night, and had both bands in the store over their time in Vancouver. I guess they all know the Sir Paul story by now! It will be cool if Neptoon becomes a destination -- if every touring band who reveres the Beatles makes a pilgrimage there or something to meet the man who found the lost Beatles masters and then GAVE THEM to Paul McCartney, in person.
It has the added bonus of having a fuck ton of cool records, too!
I gather BJM also went to Beat Street yesterday, too, which is real smart; that rare psych/ prog section they have has some real gems in it. Hope they found good stuff!
Meantime, Anton, one more message for you, in all kindness. Be nicer to the people who love you!
Or to put it another way:
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