I think I'm becoming a LOTR nerd.

I haven't been this happy about a new single on first impression in what seems like years.

Opeth - "The Devil's Orchard"

The album, Heritage, is due out 9/20. You will know it by the ridiculous artwork.

And then there was a stream:

Big Business - Quadruple EP

I've got nothing to say about it except that "Guns" has been stuck in my head since the little tiny clip I heard weeks ago.

I went to year-round school as a kid, so I didn't have much concept of what it was like to have summer off until I moved away. Even then, the next few years sucked regardless of the season and I would have preferred to be at school most days. But summers off in middle and high school was the greatest thing ever. Even my first summer after graduation was good, despite being a bit "too interesting" at times. I had this illusion of really enjoying summertime...

But then I became an adult, and fuck summer. I hate this time of year. It's too hot, and even when it isn't that hot, it's too humid. I can't get anything done. My bedroom is disgusting at night. I can't focus. Having fans running on me to keep cool results in sore throats and dehydration. Going out is pointless because I have to walk everywhere, exacerbating the problem. I like rain and sweaters; I do not enjoy summer.

While I get to think happy thoughts about the end of the summer in the meantime, I also get to think about times I did enjoy summer. My 12th summer was pretty cool. I stayed much of the time with family and got to socialize and swim in a river and play lots of video games. That was the year Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun" video came out, and how appropriate.

It was either my 13th or 14th summer that I discovered Nine Inch Nails. I didn't know who they were yet, I just knew I liked one of their songs ("Head Like A Hole") and recorded it on tape from the radio to listen to in the car on the two-day drive to Hell, California. A year or two later I heard "Down In It" and that sealed the deal for me as a fan of whoever the fuck this band was.

My 15th summer was a big music summer for me. I'd taken up watching MTV for some god awful reason. Maybe because I was 15, but either way I felt really weird about it. My 11 year old nephew stayed over a few times and we watched a bunch of crap together for the first time - Prodigy, Missy Elliot, Puff Daddy/Faith Evans, that Will Smith song for Men In Black. This was also the year I had my first sort-of boyfriend, and started writing regularly/every day for the first time. I wrote that I loved that "goodbye" song... Third Eye Blind's "Semi Charmed Life".

By 16 I had learned that I preferred heavier music by evidence of how well I was taking to "alternative" metal and rock - shit that was no longer playing on MTV, and overplayed on the radio. "Space Lord" was the really big one, but I was also enjoying the stylings of Stone Temple Pilots. I started getting into Tool here and being more musically aware, intentional, and curious.

I really remember this summer musically because of two assholes I met - my future boyfriend who thought "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing" was worthwhile entertainment and didn't understand why I groaned about it - and a temporary infatuation I had during the week "Ghetto Superstar" was most popular. I thought Mya was so cool then. Just listen to that voice, it's like a damn bird.

My 17th summer sucked - that whole year sucked. The music I was listening to reflected the suck. Staind, Korn (although I was starting to get sick of them over the summer), I finally heard The Downward Spiral all the way through.

At 18, though, I finally got a copy of Marilyn Manson's Antichrist Superstar. I had to instruct a friend on what the lyrics were from my own memory shortly after, and it was weird to think that just a few years beforehand I was somehow afraid (not the right word) to get caught listening to that band. My mom told me I wasn't supposed to listen to him - dude, whatever, nobody's going to stop me from doing anything, have you met me? Still, I thought there was more going on with the band than there actually was. Regardless, that album deserves all the praise it gets.

Also, at 18, I was introduced to ICP. I didn't "get it", especially at first, but I have a thing against cults. One of my friends got me into The Great Milenko, and another tried to get me into Riddlebox to some failure. Every time I hear anything akin to the phrase "dead bodies" I immediately think "dead bodies, dead bodies, all over the street... 55, 65 bodies at least". I made the Riddlebox friend listen to Opiate and Aenima and told him he'd really like "Jerk-Off". Weird that a Tool song would have anything to do with Insane Clown Posse, but yeah.

My 19th summer I listened to Lateralus practically nonstop. But yeah, this year didn't seem quite so "summery" and the novelty of summer had more than worn off.

Edit: As soon as I finished this entry and took off my headphones, I noticed a thunderstorm had started. How poetic.

If you're a fan of Big Business (and I mean a big enough fan where video quality won't be an issue for you) you can get a sample of their new songs on youtube now. Thanks to seasofluck for recording their recent show at The Earl, drunk or otherwise.

Here's part one; you can figure the rest out on your own to get to the new stuff.

Song: "Man Overboard"
Artist: Puscifer
Album: Conditions of My Parole (2011)

Puscifer has gotten better.

This album doesn't come out til mid-October, though. :(

Song: "Shame"
Artist: PJ Harvey
Album: Uh Huh Her (2004)

I used to have a friend who liked PJ Harvey. At the time (2005?) I gave her a quick sample, didn't care for what I heard, and wrote her off. I've gone just about everywhere else since, but the other day I somehow ended up listening to her via youtube. Thus resulting in this song. Not too bad...

YOB drove by their label and are now selling their brand new album on tour. Nowhere else, just the tour, as the album doesn't have an official release til August 16th. That said, as I imagined it would, Atma has now leaked. If you are capable of using the internet in an efficient manner, you probably already have it. The last song is a clear winner.

Apparently I have not written about Salvador in a while. You know, the band that I sometimes call Salvadork to distinguish them from the 800 other Salvador-like nouns, ie. Salvador the christian band, Saviours, El Salvador. Anyway, they're not in my tag history. WTF. Granted, they haven't been doing very much with themselves in terms of shit I can talk about here since around November (and I purged my archives since)... They've been busy working on a new album.

As I may have already said, the two new songs I've heard are great and I've been looking forward to seeing/hearing the fully finished product. I've also been looking forward to seeing them live again... but I stepped on a sharp object right before their last show and the next conflicts with other bands playing in an entirely different neighborhood. It's been a bit too long for my taste, and seems it'll be longer yet. It sounds like they have a show on the 10th of August now which might be doable if I am feeling healthy but details haven't gone out yet.

Today, though, I learned that they're going on a hiatus after this summer. In short, that sucks. Maybe not so much for them - who knows? - but as a fan, god damnit.

Still, the album is coming out. And Kirkador and Salvyan will be in town doing other shit, so there will be something to hope for in the future. And did I really need another guitar solo in my life? No.

All the same, :(

Edit: You can follow Aaron over here: aaronlumguitar.blogspot.com

Hey Europe, one of the best Portland-area bands is coming to see you. Fucking do something about it.

Danava / Lecherous Gaze August-September European tour dates:

24.08 GER - Hamburg @ Hafenklang
25.08 GER - Berlin @ White Trash Fast Food
26.08 GER - Leipzig @ Plaque
27.08 GER - Muelheim Am Ruhr @ AZ
28.08 BEL - Antwerpen @ tba
29.08 UK - tbc
30.08 UK - Leeds @ The Duck & Drake
31.08 UK - Glasgow @ tba
01.09 UK - Hull @ Adelphi tbc
02.09 UK - Liverpool @ Mello Mello
03.09 UK - London @ The Unicorn
04.09 FRA - Paris @ Le Combustibles
05.09 FRA - Soudan @ La Rouillardière
06.09 FRA - Lyon @
07.09 SWI - Winterthur @ Kulturzentrum Gaswerk
08.09 ITA - Bologna @ Festa Della Birra
09.09 ITA - Roma @ Sinister Noise
10.09 ITA - Padova @ Tacu Tacu
11.09 ITA
12.09 SLO - Ljubljana @ Klub Gromka tbc
13.09 AUT - Vienna @ Arena Dreiraum
14.09 CZ
15.09 CZ
16.09 GER - Wuerzburg @ Immerhin
17.09 GER - Frankfurt @ Raumstation
18.09 NL- Tilburg @ Incubate Fest
19.09 GER - OFF
20.09 SWE
21.09 SWE - Gothenburg @ Truckstop Alaska
22.09 SWE
23.09 DK - Copenhagen @ tba

I may not have known this song existed without Monster Magnet. Because without Monster Magnet I wouldn't have heard Shrapnel, who have covered this song. And I wouldn't have known it was a cover (thanks a lot, asshole who can't tag shit) if I wouldn't have downloaded a 70s compilation because I was too lazy to walk across the room and grab a CD a few weeks ago. And of course I would have just skipped ahead had I not recognized that first riff...

How did this song just up and disappear from pop culture?

Oh, right. Creepy antics.

First impression: this outfit reminds me of the Melvins. But that Mick Jagger / David Bowie dancing happens, and... no.

2:07.

Song: "Way Out Of Here"
Artist: Porcupine Tree
Album: Fear of A Blank Planet (2007)

Touching moment time! I have almost cried at a concert because of the music twice. This song was the second instance. I am not a crier, but the stage visuals of this song in light of the rest of the show, plus the music and what the song's about almost got me. After I felt like an asshole but at the time I was thinking about growing up, especially my struggles with high school, and suddenly took a wrong turn down a path I definitely did not expect when they threw video of speeding train tracks on the screen. I had to remind myself that I was in public. I didn't think I'd really like Porcupine Tree live, nevermind be emotionally effected by them.

These days I cry about venue-butchered sound, long bathroom lines, and musicians' exes. No escape! Binding spir-its!

It seems my previous post was a little premature. The MFNW schedule went up earlier today. I was right about Black Cobra joining the assumed show. Should make for an interesting weekend.

~

I'm going to do what I usually do here and talk about the awesomeness ensuing that weekend, at least as far as being related to my taste. You know there's more where this came from if you're into indie, milder rock, party music, or whatever the fuck is popular this year, so check out the official schedule if you're not a SeeingtheDark.com clone (which I hope not).

September 8th:

It'd be difficult for me to justify missing this: Kylesa, Black Cobra, Witch Mountain, and Nether Regions @ Dantes. I've seen the latter two a thousand times each, and of course am just fine with seeing them again... Even if people in this general vicinity are out of their gourd if they think I'd miss any part of Black Cobra for Butthole Surfers. The hell? Pay attention. Kylesa, though... I may experience a little opportunity cost missing them, but I have grown apathetic. We'll see there. Either way, Butthole Surfers, Thrones, and Dirty Ghosts are playing down the street, so there's another option in case something happens to the first show.

September 9th:

To be totally honest, I'm probably going to feel terrible this day. No promises, here. But Ash Street is hosting Zeke, Rabbits, Diesto, Wizard Rifle, and The Thornes. This sounds like an interesting show to me. Obviously I'm more interested in the sandwiched bit - Rabbits, Diesto, and Wizard Rifle. Hawthorne Theater also has a bunch of screamy bands going on - Pig Destroyer, A Storm of Light, Transient, and Elitist. On a day I felt really good and curious and able to tolerate the six thousand hours on the bus I might try that, but as-is, I don't think these guys are going to be able to "aggress" my day-afters away. Also, MSTRKRFT, but they're a dance DJ band, and no thanks, I did it once and once was too much.

September 10th:

I'd like to see Neurosis and find out why I should care, why they've been given such importance in various music scenes, if they appeal to me better when I'm forced to listen to them live. But the rest of the show has had me excited for a while. Grails hasn't played a Portland show in a while. YOB will be good. And I haven't seen Akimbo since 2008 - it'll almost be three years since I saw them last. I can't fucking wait (but I will, anyway). Down the way there's some psych shit happening at Ash Street. The key player for me is White Hills - they may mean skipping Grails. I liked seeing Grails some time ago, but I haven't seen White Hills, and with them playing early it should still be fairly quiet there so that I may actually "see" them. But I may not be down for them or might get stuck at Neurosis or feel like dying after three days of ear torture, which is fine, too.

How funny that I haven't changed much - the bands I'm most interested in are the ones I would have mentally partied about three years ago. Or four or five, had I known them then. Is that a sign of an obsessive rut or that I've "come into" my music? I guess we'll see next time I get really, really excited about something.

Okay bitches, see one of these bands this summer:

YOB - on tour now through August 9th with Dark Castle, then again in Europe later.

Thrones - on tour with Big Business and Torche from August 5th through the 14th.

Totimoshi - on tour August 4th through September 3rd all over the US in support of their new album Avenger (out 8/16).

Witch Mountain - shows throughout Oregon in July and August.

Nether Regions - on tour with Lord Dying down the West Coast starting this weekend.

Rorschach - on tour in September not including their upcoming Portland/Seattle shows.

Also, I just have to say that I squealed, literally, when I saw Black Cobra was playing Musicfest Northwest. I've seen no formal announcement of the full MFNW schedule yet, but the date and location the band posted coincides with a known Witch Mountain and Nether Regions show. If it happens like that, it looks like September 8th will be my favorite day of the year. Thank fuck that day is first in line for the weekend of pain...

Song: "Don't Make Me Your God"
Artist: Peach
Album: Giving Birth to a Stone (1994)

When did I get this album... about March 2001? Thanks to Napster, too. You can guess why - Salival and that shared band member with Tool. Either way, short of "You Lied" and "Spasm", both covers I'd heard already, it took me a really long time to give this album a proper try. My elitism was in the way. Plus I didn't like shit that sounded too grungey - I had had my fill of '90s sounds for the time.

Ten years later, this song really stands out. Maybe it's a bit psychological in origin; I've got Sun in the 9th house, Moon conjunct Jupiter. But we're talking Gemini and Scorpio here. I will lead astray and lie to people who put their every faith in me simply because they deserve it. I don't like to be pinned down, least of all by the company of others who aren't smart or crafty enough to think of shit by or for themselves, who label themselves in ology, ism, or belief that they think I represent (if only by contrast), who refuse to emotionally understand that not everyone is like them or wants to be like them. I'm not your damn pawn, not a member of your fucking organization, and who's the biggest personalized pawn of them all? Make believe dude(s) in the sky.

So, the title and theme of the song speaks to me. Fair enough since the music itself is great, too.

Unfortunately I can't find it online. But I know the album is out there, and if you like anything around the older Melvins/Tool arena of sound, or even Soundgarden or Kyuss, you'll very likely enjoy it.

I saw Lord Dying for the first time a year ago today - also their own first time playing to a crowd. They've played basically the same set every time I've seen them since. Today they played a new song. It was great. I'm glad they've lasted a year and hope there are at least a few more years (and a few more songs) to come.

As for the rest of the experience: no. I hate the sun, I hate heat, I hate how nowhere I go has any air conditioning, I hate holidays, I hate weekenders, I hate outdoor shows, I hate lines, I hate waiting, I hate crowds, fuck "socializing", and fuck you. I should have known better than to leave the house with my "day after" brain for a show taking place 15 hours after the last one. I left before I saw anyone else.

But, good to see some of my favorite local bands (still) doing well in terms of crowd and attention. Let's do next time on a rainy weekday indoors, though.

Next Rabbits show: 8/9 Bunk Bar (and 9/9 Ash Street for MFNW)
Next Lord Dying show: 7/18 East End
Next Danava show: 7/22 Rotture
Next Red Fang show: who knows? I'd guess September-ish, though.

[120] Sloths, Wizard Rifle, Dark Castle, YOB (2011)

I'm going to hold off on the previous show I saw so that I can quickly do this more socially relevant post. I don't want to forget any important details in light of my next few days.

Branx was rather warm today. Guess what? They don't have air conditioning. I wouldn't have thought so since Rotture doesn't, but yeah. I hoped. It was at least 85 in the sun when I left the house, which I dislike immensely. Thankfully there was a breeze downtown and something of a breeze in the venue neighborhood.

Of all of the bands, I'd never seen Sloths. I should have before but I'm lazy. In any case, I've known who they are for a while - their guitarist is also one of the guitarists of Nether Regions. Considering how well I (don't) know that number, I was expecting to hear the bands collide, but Sloths stood very much apart from Nether Regions. I think all of the guys in the band are about 18 years old, yet they played with maturity and technical detail that I don't always see out of much older bands. Their bassist was wearing a Young Widows t-shirt; they kind of sounded like them. Hardcore vocals + mathy noise. While I could have done without the vocal style, musically they sounded great.

I think this may have been the best Wizard Rifle show I've seen in a while. Maybe since Black Cobra last July? They played a long song to start with that I was told was new/unrecorded, followed by two familiar high-strung shorter songs. One of those was "Nobody", I've spaced out the other. The new song was great. They keep getting better.

It's been almost exactly a year since I saw Dark Castle for the first time. It was my favorite new-to-me, not-local performance of the year. Then I saw them at Scion - fuck. My expectations are a little high between those two experiences, so I tried to tame that. Nope, still awesome. They only did one song I didn't properly know (from the new album) - the rest I had had time to get into. That said, I barely know their songs by name, so no setlist.

YOB, however, did:

Quantum Mystic,
Prepare The Ground,
two songs that I think were The Great Cessation (possibly a new song with a bunch of padding to make it 20-ish minutes long - I don't know TGC and I've only heard the new album once) and Grasping Air, the second with Stevie from Dark Castle doing a lot of the vocals,
and the encore was Ball of Molten Lead.

"Prepare The Ground" was way better than I expected it to be. Their touring drummer (the same drummer from Dark Castle) held his own ground pretty fucking well. Mike said they'd only practiced four times.

The crowd was decent. Sloths had their own following of moshing kids but the center crowd loosened up after them. It wasn't the densest crowd I've seen there, but I blame the weekend, the weather, and the "all ages" for that (drunks don't like to be trapped... they already are). Still, it was a decent sized crowd, and each band did good regardless of timing.

I don't think "we" told any major entity about an upcoming YOB show that was technically not supposed to be announced yet, but more musically casual individuals who might have been to this show that regularly speak to me or my boss about these things were expectedly not present. White Orange was yesterday, Red Fang is tomorrow, and there are these Rush shows going on in Washington, too. Even so, I think a few people missed out.

That said, YOB is playing a homecoming show in August in Portland. It'll be 21+. You should go.

Edit: There are photos and videos up at The Obelisk forums. Thanks, whomever you are!