TRMW Archives

* FYI, this stuff is old. The current TRMW is here.

August 24, 2005

Foot Foot (mp3)

Last night my band Clap Amp played with this band Foot Foot at the Towne Lounge. It was our first time playing in a bar and I didn’t know Foot Foot’s music and I was pretty much feeling pissy and blah about the whole thing. We ended played probably our best set to date (which is still sloppy, trust me) and I had a really good time slamming my keys and dancing around. Even said something into the mic – “trippy”, basically that’s what I said. It was also our drummer Ryan’s last night with us before moving to Seattle, so it was nice to go out on a high note. Us three band dudes got shots after the set and talked about our band – I felt hella manly.

But what I really want to tell you about is Foot Foot. They are from Los Angeles, where they just played with the Dead Science. They play kind of shambly, weird, broke-down accoustic music with really pretty dual female vocals. It’s very simple music, but somehow feels a little bent and fucked up. Live, it’s kind of ragged and hoarse, which works quite well. On the demo CD they were giving away it sounds more quiet and clear.

I was thinking how they really need to play with 2% Majesty, and then I get an email today and, lo behold, they’re playing with them tonight. They’re really nice kids and the music is good – totally worth 2 bucks – so check it out if you’re looking for something to do.

tonight WED AUG 24

@DUNES [1905neMLK]

2% Majesty — majestic harmony chorus semblance congregation from our town.

Root Villa — first show for local folk composers featuring someones

favorite Rafn brother (and the girls scream).

FOOT FOOT (LA) — beautiful four piece folkestra humble vocals compassionate

arrangements

show is at 9pm

bring $2

and a heart

and after that – or during that if you’re not feeling the live music thing – is the first installment of me and Shayla‘s new collaborative DJ night at the Aalto! YES!! We start at 10, the Aalto is on 37th and Belmont. See you there? Yesssssssss.

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July 19, 2005

Mikaela’s Fiend, Hustler White, We Quit, Clap Amp, Inca Ore @ Hood, 7/14

[This post originally appeared on Team Tinnitus]

This was an awesome show. Mikeala’s Fiend is fucking amazing. They’re like two 17 year old dudes from Seattle playing the most slamming amazing noise rock in the world. Kinda midway between Lightning Bolt and Hella with more bounce. See this video from their last show in Portland for documentary proof (courtesy Jeff Mawer). Seriously one of the best new bands I’ve seen in a long time.

Here are some great photos taken by Jeff Mawer. Please take a second to check out the rest of his awesome photos.

(full disclosure: i play synth in clap amp)

MIKAELA’S FIEND

mf1

mf2

mf3

mf4

mf5

WE QUIT

wequit

CLAP AMP

clapamp1

clapamp2

ALL PHOTOS BY JEFF MAWER

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July 14, 2005

house show w/ hustler white, we quit, good bands

UPDATE: This show was great and Mikaela’s Fiend is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!! Photos and words on Team Tinnitus soon.

***

ripped straight out of the friendster/myspace negiverse:

people! my band clap amp is playing a most excellent house show tonight and you should all come. we go on first i think, like 9ish. our set is SHORT so get their early if you want to view our music.

the house is at 404 SE 10th at the corner of 10th and oak, a block north of stark

this is a great group of bands put together by the super nice people in hustler white, and it’s FREE – come out!

here’s some info someone else wrote

Mikaela’s Fiend (twisted variant on the post Lightning Bolt scuzz annihilation, best new band from Seattle)

Hustler White (skronky fugged up art noise with big energy)

We Quit (also treading in Lightning Bolt water co-ed duo with punkish attack and super catchy pop songs..great new PDX band)

Eva Inca Ore (disembodied voice from Alarmist)

Clap Amp (another great new PDX band..skronky, caustic Numbers style moog punk with Ex Models styled vocal edge)

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June 3, 2005

CLAP AMP TONIGHT

Breaking news for blog-reading friends! The band I’m in, Clap Amp, just hopped on this awesome house party show last minute and it’s going to RULE. This will be our second show EVER, and we are so stoked. This house is right around the corner from my house, which means the neighborhood is super quiet, so the music is early. We are the first band so get there at 8PM FOR REAL if you want to see us. The other bands are awesome too, all of them.

8PM >>> CLAP AMP, WE QUIT, CHEVRON, JESSICA JONES >>> 10PM
playing
at
4221 se washington. one block south of stark
music starts at 8, ends at 10
free

(stoked)

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May 12, 2005

ATOM SMASHER VS HELIX COUNTER (mp3)

Here is an mp3 from a Clap Amp practice sesh. The song is called Atom Smasher vs Helix Counter. I’m pretty stoked on this recording, especially the middle-to-end part. Pat’s singing and lyrics are awesome, and Ryan’s beats be bangin’. Keyboard player sure sucks though. The awesome dudes over at 20 Jazz Funk Greats are diggin’ it, which makes my heart swell with evil pride.

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March 12, 2005

PERFORMANCE

Last night my first band ever had our first show ever. We’re called Clap Amp and I’m not sure what we sound like. I told my mom I play “weird noises” on the synthesizer, so she can call it “dancey weird noises music” (also, she doesn’t think I can actually play keyboards and suggested I switch to tambourine ; emasculating). People who saw us tell me we sound like “Nice Nice but dancier” or “um, experimental but fun” or my personal favorite “halfway between something I wouldn’t like and something I would like, and I liked it”. These were all my friends, so of course they’re going to be complimentary, but it was still cool to see their reactions, especially since they were the first I’ve ever heard from anyone, ever. Steve thinks we rule, and that’s huge (unlike Steve who is really quite slight).

I myself had a fucking awesome time and freeked the fuck out. My girlfriend says I was making faces she’s never seen me make before. I caught flack for wearing shorts and flip-flops and dancing around like a hippy, but fuck that noise. It felt so amazingly good to bang my fists down on the keyboard and yell in time with each hammer drop while Ryan worked out the 1-2 slam beat and Pat got nutz with the feedback pedal. I predict many more house shows this summer. Stoked!!!!!!!!!

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August 7, 2004

PORCH PLUR was a smashed success. The DJs sounded great (even the the lowly CUM LAZER) and the Snuggle Ups rocked it, positive-core. During the last song people were jumping up and down in ecstatic bliss as the disco ball spun at way-too-fast speeds and inexplicable fireworks burst just beyond the porch. Can you say “nirvana”? I did – but not out loud.

In other news, my friend and fellow festival organizer, Ross Beach, has posted a nice visual summary of the first ever PDX-POP fest, which went down early July.

Also, my new band – working name: Accident Pack – had our first ever rehearsal on Wednesday. Turns out Pat is a kick-ass improv-atonal guitarist with a very healthy Brainiac fixation. This bodes well for the future.

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Blast from the present!