S U B B A C U LT C H A ! U N R U LY M U S I C M A G A Z I N E
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008
LONDON: TH E M U S I C S C ENE TH E C H A P TH E S E A R E P OWERS PLUS: REVIEW: ZZZ & Q65 FILM: THE ‘AND’
W TICKE IN TS TO DE L E G UE R H O O F, AND ESS WHO? C RO B O R D S S IN G ER
WWW.SUBBACULTCHA.NL
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Contents
Opening Line
Thrilled by the recent wave of bands coming from North America, we started wondering about the UK; is there light at the end of the Franz Ferdinand Tunnel? We interviewed Paul Cox of Artrocker magazine about this. Subbacultcha! is hosting a great night at the Crossing Border Festival (win tickets on page 47). Speaking of crossing borders; our van ist geschleppt geworden in Berlin, during our visit to what we now refer to as the ‘Poepkomm’. On november 4th, Dean and Randy are playing a late night show on the Stubnitz. They are not Dean and Randy from No Age, ’cause No Age are already playing in Paradiso that day, so there is no reason for them to play again that night, is there? Also, Gert Verbeek tells you how to judge a film by it’s first minute, Oscars questions zZz and These are powers question themselves... as we all should. NAMEDROPPING ..................4 THINGS THAT MATTER ......6 LONDON ..............................8 ELZA JO................................16 POSTER ................................24 LONDON pt.II ....................26 THESE ARE POWERS ..........30 FACT CHECK ......................33 FILM ......................................36 PROGRAMME ......................39 FREE STUFF ........................47
“THINGS I WANTED TO TELL YOU” This photo was taken by Nick Helderman at the The Moi Non Plus album release party in Bitterzoet in Amsterdam. 3
FRESH
New music:
NAME DROPPING By Bob van Heur
If you wanna be hip, cool, fresh, exciting, out there and cutting edge. read these 439 words on the best new sound around.
Bob van Heur is booker at Belmont Bookings. 4
THE CHIPMUNKS PLAYED BACKWARDS IN A ABBA DISCO REVIVAL Hossa hossa! The holidays are history and the madness is underway again. So let’s go and do some namedropping. Hossa hossa! First off, there’s Passion Pit with their hit-potential single ‘Sleepyhead’, sounding like the Chipmunks played backwards in an ABBA disco revival style. It’s fun, catchy and made to be a dance hit. From Montreal comes very sweet stuff by Human Highway, a collaboration between Island’s Nick Thorburn and jingle master Jim Guthrie. Its gentle acoustic strums and twopart harmonies recall bands like Kings of Convenience and Everly Brothers. Something you’ll all be hearing for ages is the Jack White and Alicia Keys 007 theme song ‘Another Way to Die’. This is surely as kitsch as it gets... En Vogue meets rock ‘n’ roll... A James ‘Free Your Mind’ Bond. And like Defamer mag said, ‘It leaves you shaken but
FRESH
not stirred.’ If you like women who play rock, you’re better listening to Marnie Stern. She’s finger-tipping like Eddie van Halen and travelling to Mars and back in 30 seconds. But hey, it’s pop music somehow. Japanese band Nissenenmondai make loud, raw, extremely danceable jazzy madness with catchy hooks. Their release Neji/Tori on Smalltown Supersound is definitely worth checking out. And there’s more of this kind of free-spirited play. Lucky Dragons are a combination of folk and fusion. If you appreciate Autechre or Matmos you’ll like this as well. And hey! Did you know that Spindrift is Quentin Tarantino’s favourite new band? Yes, ‘60s psychedelia with catchy hooks. And if we hear their songs in one of his films we’ll love it for sure. Oh, and let’s not forget Duchess and the Duke... nothing perfect, just good songs to sing along with. But now for the real stuff. This months favorites are Dragons of Zynth and Blank Dogs. Dragons of Zynth did some shows with Yeasayer and are now playing with TV on the Radio. Hopefully their 2007 album Coronation Thieves will even get a European release very soon. Dutch shows are scheduled for Rotterdam and at the Le Guess Who? festival in Utrecht. Blank Dogs is—as far as I know—a one-man bedroom project that sounds like The Cramps, Joy Division and The Cure. A 2xLP/CD Under and Under is scheduled to appear in December on In the Red Records. And dear readers, please watch the Ponytail video for ‘Beg Waves’ which is absolutely stunning... COLOURS, COLOURS, COLOURS!!! Sorry me dizzy now. Next time, more spirits!!! Oh, one more thing. Health is supporting Nine Inch Nails on their US tour. The madness continues... 5
Things that matter By MLSS & NM Subbacultcha’s personal realm of things, friends, sounds and objects that have surprised, delighted, annoyed and rocked us lately.
LONDON
Feature
ON THE SCENE OF LONDON By Bas Morsch
DOWN LOW IN LONDON Word is out that for the upcoming London Calling Festival in Paradiso, Amsterdam booker Ben Kamsma had some trouble finding high quality UK bands. As a solution he booked some US bands. When asked about this matter, Kamsma says: “It is more about promoting good music than about the geographical location. The UK underground scene is really quite small and not so exciting at the moment”. Subbacultcha! got curious and e-mailed Paul Cox; cofounder of Artrocker—a London based magazine, website and concertpromotor. We asked him about the status of the London underground scene: “Is there light at the end of the Franz Ferdinand Tunnel?” 8
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9 CONTINUE
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Is there such a thing as a tune… Along came The Strokes, White Stripes, The Hives, and every‘London music scene’? Yes, of course, there is a London thing that followed, and London was scene (check out the song of that the first place to welcome those name by Twisted Charm). I reckon a bands with open arms. The ‘small scene exists when there is a strong scene’ embraced this ‘new rock ‘n’ ‘underground’ with a number of roll’ and even though there weren’t good creative bands, artists, labels, any good UK bands, London was the and a sort of roving group of hip and centre (along with New York) for happening punters who want to be the new wave of live bands. It was a ‘in on’ what is happening now (or really exciting time. Right now, the UK scene has even next). London is so big, there are even localised scenes. There’s a blossomed and is perhaps over-ripe. There’s loads of bands particularly hip ‘set’ for LONDON IS THE and even more gig veninstance that might go BEST CITY TO ues. As there are more to all the Shoreditch WITNESS THE BIRTH gigs, and there’s always OF GREAT NEW bands, more will be mediocre. As there are been a very localised, BANDS more venues, the limitstrong and creative scene in the South East (Deptford ed audience for underground/new and New Cross). The scene is in fact bands is spread thinly amongst very small compared to the total those venues, and so each gig is less number of people going out to gigs well attended, thus less vibey. BUT it is a crucial small scene that Is the London music scene in will create the next wave of bands. Even through so called barren better or worse shape than, let’s patches, I can still find London say, five years ago? exciting. There’s always some excit- It’s different. Five years ago the UK ing new band around the corner answer to the US/Scandinavia/Aus(and in a dark corner). In 2001, when tralia rock ‘n’ roll invasion was just Artrocker, started the London (and happening. London was buzzing UK) band scene was hopeless— with US bands and the first of the introspective bedroom songwriters UK bands were starting (Franz weeping about their pitiful misfor- Ferdinand, the Kills, Maximo Park 10
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etc). It is possible that it was more the system, and then choose one of exciting then because everything the hip clubs such as our Artrocker Club at The Buffalo Bar, or White felt so new. Heat at Madamme JoJos, or The Old When was the London music Blue Last in Shoreditch, or The Macbeth in Hoxton. They’re all scene was what it should be? I believe that London is the best city super cool. All very small, too (150in the world to see and witness the 250 capacity)—this is where new birth of great new bands, now and 5 bands who only have a small audior 8 years ago. However, scenes do ence can start and develop. These swing to and fro… London in the places are even reasonable for beer ‘60s was obviously great, the UK prices Travel by Tube to the gigs and punk scene at the end of the ‘70s, home on the Tube unless and the three years of UK BANDS ARE you are partying later post punk that followed. Britpop was—I NOT VERY ‘ROCK ‘N’ than midnight, as then ROLL’.WE LEAVE you’ll need a taxi ride or suppose—a great THAT TO THE to try the night buses scene as well. Just one AMERICANS. (which folks tell me are where I didn’t like the good and cheap and quick). I ride a bands very much. bicycle so don’t have to worry about Let’s say I want to indulge in the transport much. London is not so London music scene one night. large, and the gigs not so spread out, so you can’t get most places comWhat would my night be like? It’s to be remembered that London fortably by bike. Drinking and bike (and the whole of the UK) still oper- riding is a skill worth practicing ates earlier than everywhere else. though. You can find out about the Gigs open at 8pm and are often over scene and gigs through the old by 11pm (when clubs with DJs method of flyers—from everywhere start). Best start possible would be like record shops to boutiques in a free gig at one of the coolest Brick Lane and Camden, or do the record shops; Rough Trade East or online thing where the Facebook Pure Groove. Then a quick pint of generation thrives and agrees on strong English real ale to lubricate what gigs to go to. 11 CONTINUE
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How does London do compared to the rest of the UK? It’s hard to tell because I am in London. I have a London bias and I think London is the best city for rock ‘n’ roll in the world. Regional cities do have scenes but they are small in comparison and they generally are much, much slower to pick up on ‘trends’ in music. A hip London band or a ‘new style’ may be adopted in London but take over a year to be embraced in the regions. There are pockets of the country that deliver batches of outstanding bands. Famously ‘New Yorkshire’ delivered a load of bands following The Arctic Monkeys success. Glasgow currently has an excellent crop of new (wave) bands too. Brighton is generally thought of as ‘London-by-the-sea’ and currently has good bands, venues and labels. Let me show you the line up of the London Calling Festival in Amsterdam… (I present the lineup) What do you think? I don’t know all of those bands, I must admit. But there are some good UK art rock bands in that selection… but some crap too. I think the best of the UK scene at the moment is perhaps a little more 12
underground than it was two years ago. The bands being booked for London Calling have to have some profile but the bands with profile at the moment are not the most exciting (although Late of the Pier are pretty exceptional). If you were to book a festival with only UK bands, what five bands would you definitely grab? Blood Red Shoes Late of the Pier Pete and the Pirates Future of the Left Thomas Tantrum If you were to book a festival with any bands you like, regardless of nationality, what five bands would you put on? Mai Chi Deathset Die Die Die Grates A reformed Be Your Own Pet There’s a pretty interesting tendency right now in a lot of music scenes around the world. Especially in the US, for example, in LA, Baltimore and Brooklyn, the bands seem to take giant steps and make very
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S.C.U.M
13 CONTINUE
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progressive and exciting music. And in the UK? Can UK bands—since they Maths Class always seem to come from a sim- Post War Years ilar mold—keep up with this Plaaydoh Pulled Apart by Horses development? I disagree that UK bands always The Kabeedies come from the same mold. In any ‘scene’, the bands that lead the way What’s the future of the London are then copied over and over music scene? again, with the quality deteriorating The ‘bubble’ of too many venues and and diluting all the time. There are gigs is about to burst but we need it certain elements that are always to. Most underground and new stuff needs to flourish and present in UK bands— develop a little before usually there is a strong NEXT IN getting exposed too desire to have song LONDON? structures rather than A DARK AND quickly. Perhaps the coverage that we’ve given a just abstract experiALMOST mentation, along with NEW-GOTH band like S.C.U.M. is too soon for them/ the importance of good BLEAK Bands do need to get lyrics. UK bands often ‘take’ something from MINIMALISM. back to making their live gigs exciting. In 2001, elsewhere (USA etc) and put a totally new spin on it. UK when the international invasion of bands are not very ‘rock ‘n’ roll’. We rock ‘n’ roll bands hit London, those outfits showed us how exciting and leave that to the Americans. sexy live music could be. In a handWhat are the five most exciting ful of short years the scene has forgotten this. More bands need to take bands in London right now? chances musically, too! We like S.C.U.M. S.C.U.M. because they don’t sound Micron 63 like anyone around at the moment. Popular Workshop Next in London ? A dark and Kasms almost new-goth bleak minimalism. Official Secrets Act 15 END
THIS MONTH’S FEATURED ARTIST: ELZA JO 17
LONDON
An Interview about an interview with
1 - What should the headline of this interview be? The Chap - Finally, The Biggest Band In The World!
THE CHAP
2 - What should the subhead be? Embrace Life
London based band The Chap have become known and loved for their inimitable popimprov-discorock-with-strings sound, captured in some crunchy, truly ‘out there’ home production and a furiously rocking live show complete with dance routines and scary faces.
3 - Should it have a pullquote? Yes 3.1 - if yes. What should it be? “We wondered why the audience was throwing beer at the speaker during our show. Then we saw the flames... but we kept on rocking!” -Darmstadt, 25 May 2008 4 - Should it have a photo, an illustration or nothing at all? It should really be a photo of confused passengers escaping from a crashed plane. But I’ll settle for our latest promo shot. It was taken in Panos and Claire’s back garden by our favourite photographer, and features the latest mini-Chap. 5 - Should the article mention your names and ages? Sure, why not? 5.1 - If yes, what are they? in surname alphabetical order: Keith Duncan - 30something Panos Ghikas 30something Claire Hope - 30something Berit Immig 30something Johannes von Weizsacker - 30something Happy now? 6 - Should your band name be explained? Sure. 6.1 - If yes, how? We should have been called Friendly Bacteria, but Panos discovered The Chap magazine from London. The magazine believes in a revolution based on dressing well and behaving very nicely. We feel kinship with this, although we doubt they would be satisfied with our wardrobes. 19 CONTINUE
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7 - Should we describe your music? Oh, I think so. 7.1 - If yes, how. It’s “Fun and Interesting” pop music, which makes people who take music too seriously feel sick and want to die, but fills others with a wonderful sense of happiness that a superior (music) world is possible! (Ahhhh!) 8 - Should we refer to other bands when describing your music? Probably not a bad idea. 8.1 - If yes, which ones? Led Zeppelin, Devo, Supertramp, Chic, Queen, Alan Parsons Project, Justin Timberlake, Toto, Level 42, Starship, Desireless, Trio, Prince. You know, good stuff! 9 - Should we ask you about the recording process? It’s a bit boring, but I suppose so. 9.1 - If yes. How did the recording go Slowly. As always in the Chap, we go through a cycle of / We don’t have any proper studio experience. / We don’t have any decent equipment. / We don’t know how to use it. / We record everything at home or in a cave. / We want the ultimate professional sound. / If we put distortion on it, maybe it’ll sound better? / That bit is *really* funny! Let’s make it longer! / I hate everything about this song, I think we should delete it. / Right, you’re leaving the room right now, you’re not helping. / Return to the beginning. 11 - Should we ask you what your future plans are? Getting ahead of yourself, aren’t you? What happened to question 10? 11.1 - If yes, what are your future plans? We’re about to do a big (for us) tour of Germany and France. Sorry, no Amsterdam this time! But haven’t you been meaning to visit Berlin again real soon? And then we’re going to 20
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Texas for some supersize steaks at South By Southwest. And we’ll make some more records at some point. 12 - What should be the main feeling or idea readers get from this interview? I’m confused, these guys are idiots. I’m going to put on the new Kaiser Chiefs album again.
Plane crash
13 - did you agree on all the answers to this interview? I’m not going to bother getting approval from the others. Hopefully it’ll be translated into Dutch and they’ll never know! 13.1 - If yes. are you harmonious? We are a very harmonious band. We play each others weddings, that kind of thing. 13.2 - If no, who got his way? Keith, the bearded drummer, who has a swollen ear and a fever at the moment, and should be in bed getting better. (Disclaimer in the bag!) How did I get a swollen ear? The doctor didn’t really know, but thought it was probably an insect bite “gone wrong”. 14 - How would you feel if we misinterpret everything you say? Normal. 14.1 - Considering other interviews you did, what do you think the chances are we do that? Inevitable.
See the RESULT on the next page >> 21 CONTINUE
result
THE CHAP - FINALLY, THE BIGGEST BAND IN THE WORLD!
Embrace life 22
The Chap are Keith Duncan 30something, Panos Ghikas - 30 something, Claire Hope - 30something, Berit Immig - 30something, Johannes von Weizsacker - 30 something
Justin Timberlake, Toto, Level 42, Starship, Desireless, Trio, Prince.
When asked about the recording process they all start mumbling: “Slowly. As always in the Chap, we go through a cycle of / We don’t have any proper studio experiThe Chap should have been called ence. / We don’t have Friendly Bacteria, any decent equipbut Panos discovment. / We don’t ered ‘The Chap mag“We wondered why know how to use it. / azine’ from London. the audience was We record every“The magazine believes in a revolu- throwing beer at the thing at home or in a tion based on dressspeaker during our cave. / We want the ing well and behavshow. Then we saw ultimate professional sound. / If we put ing very nicely. We the flames... but we distortion on it, feel kinship with kept on rocking!” maybe it’ll sound this, although we Darmstadt, 25 May 2008 better? / That bit is doubt they would be *really* funny! Let’s satisfied with our make it longer! / I wardrobes.” hate everything about this song, I think we should delete it. / Right, The Chap make “Fun and you’re leaving the room right now, Interesting pop music” as they call you’re not helping. / Return to the it themselves. It makes people beginning.” who take music too seriously feel sick and want to die, but fills othThe Chap are about to do a big ers with a wonderful sense of haptour of Germany and France. And piness that a superior (music) then they’re going to Texas for world is possible! some supersize steaks at South By They refer to bands like Led Southwest. And they’ll make some Zeppelin, Devo, Supertramp, Chic, more records at some point. Queen, Alan Parsons Project,
Gene London (born 1931)
Artur London (1915 –1986)
George London (1920 –1985)
Bobby London (born 1950)
Greg London (…)
Brian London (born 1934)
Herbert London (born 1939)
Frank London (…)
Jack London (1876 –1916)
Fritz London (1900 –1954)
Sondra London (…)
Julie London (1926 – 2000)
Jason London (born 1972)
Stacy London (born 1969)
LaToya London (born 1978)
Jay London (born 1966)
Tom London (1889 –1963)
Meyer London (1871–1926)
Jeremy London (born 1972)
Yaron London (born 1940)
Pamela London (born 1973)
Jerry London (born 1947)
Paul London (born 1980)
Joan London (born 1948)
LONDON
A short personal observation about
THE SCENE OF LONDON By Jo Brooks
?
HAS LONDON LOST ITS INSPIRATION
Jo Brooks is a record label employee, who’s seen it all, done it all and collected carrier bags from all of London’s lost, but not yet forgotten, record stores. She’s aided in the article by friends, colleagues and perennial gig-goers, Mark H and Andrea P. 26
LONDON
Has London lost its inspiration? I’m not sure. I’ve certainly sat and thought about it. I’ve lived in London since 1997. Back when I first arrived, I’d be going to see a different band every night; nowadays it’s more like once or twice per month. Having said that, it could be an age thing on my part—I’m older now, and while the music I like is the music I’ve always liked, I’m finding myself drifting back towards gigs by bands I liked 20 years ago. So I thought, rather than me bleat on about how I’ve maybe lost my inspiration (and whether everyone else has), that I’d ask some friends if they still have the energy to bother. Does London have a local scene anymore? Did it ever? Mark regularly goes to gigs in London—big and small alike—and again, like me wonders exactly what a London music scene is: ‘Where other cities have a scene that allows bands to build up a strong fanbase by playing lots of gigs locally, it’s not really the case in London so much, because everyone tries to play here whenever they can anyway.’ Andrea, on the other hand, has a similar problem to me: simply keeping up with it all. And then there’s the expense of going to a gig—tickets are expensive and beers are expensive (especially if you end up in a Carling sponsored venue, where even the water costs £3). Often, the bands you’d like to see are booked into tiny venues. Even if you can actually get into a gig, you’re not able to see the band due to the small stage and too many people being crammed in. There’s also a ridiculous amount of festivals going on throughout the year. Would you pay £25 to see one band opening a festival bill, because it’s your only chance to see them since they often don’t play other gigs while they’re 27 CONTINUE
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in London?—contractual obligations, probably. As a music fan, it’s frustrating. The new festival ‘Concrete and Glass’ proudly lists the bands playing, yet, to what I thought were my seasoned ears and eyes, I only recognise ten band names (and one of those is David Devant!). Would I go just to discover new music? Possibly. But this smacks so much of the Camden Crawl, only with even more obscure bands. And I sometimes wonder how obscure you can get with these kinds of events. It feels like being obscure for obscurity’s sake. Going back to what exactly the London music scene is, Mark, like me is confused: ‘Loads of bands play London so often, you can’t actually tell whether they’re from London itself!’ What exactly is the London music scene? Every time I try to work out what it could be, I can’t get beyond the club night Too Pure started around 1991, called The Sausage Machine, or th’ Faith Healers, Moonshake and Stereolab. Is a London scene something where the bands need to be from London, or is it just somewhere that lots of bands aspire to play? Then you have to add into the equation the venues. Oh woe, the venues. I’d just like to start with what is possibly London’s best venue: The Luminaire. They’ve got it right there, but you’ll never see most bands play it because of the size. Or actually, chances are, if your fave band does play there, you’ll not get a chance to buy tickets, as they’ll be so scarce. Doomed if you do, and doomed if you don’t. Of course, London then has it’s share of terrible—in fact, horrible—venues. Some real stinkers. My own personal hate is Koko. This is a venue where you have to get there 28
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early. Don’t go to the toilet at all, otherwise you’ll lose your spot. Someone taller than you will stand in front of you—and I’m in no way short—then talk through the entire gig. At some point, you’ll give up, move upstairs to try and get a view from the balcony, before eventually getting right up to the top of the venue, sitting in the comfy chairs, turning your back to the stage, and watching it on one of the many TVs dotted around the venue. The sound is atrocious there too, yet everyone plays there—I can only assume promoters get a good deal on the place, plus London appears to be losing venues of that size. Mark also points out: ‘Trying to leave Koko is worse than the gig; despite the fact that there are numerous “fire” exits which are not available for customers to use, venue staff are allowed to use them to go outside to smoke. It’s just chronic mismanagement.’ And let’s forget—or try to—the remainder of larger-sized venues which bear a ‘Carling’ logo all over them. There, forgotten, they no longer exist... The conclusion: I don’t think London has lost its inspiration, and I don’t think we only have bands from the US visiting. It seems the same to me now, as it did back in 1997—there’s British bands, there’s London venues that put on good bands, and there’s plenty of American bands that pay us a visit. Maybe it’s just the music that’s uninspiring at the moment? There are too many bands, and not enough outlets for them to be heard. We have radio stations like 6 Music and Xfm, who are now mere shadows of their previous selves, playing the same old music all day long—bar Gideon Coe and John Kennedy’s shows. So where are the good new bands going to be heard unless they get pulled into the London hype machine? 29 END
Interview with self:
THESE ARE POWERS Avantgarde band These Powers interviews Avantgarde band These Powers.
noise are
noise are
These are Powers are on tour in the Netherlands in November. See page 39.
Every month Subbacultcha! asks a band to interview themselves. This time it’s These are Powers. 30
Question: HAVE YOU RODE A HORSE BEFORE? Answer: YES, ALL I REMEMBER IS MY ASS HURTING THOUGH.
Favourite Children’s Book? Bill: Where the Wild Things Are. Anna: Where the Red Fern Grows. Pat: The Giving Tree. Have you rode a horse before? Bill: Yes, all I remember is my ass hurting though. Anna: I remember a picture of me riding a horse but not the actual experience. So yes. Pat: Yes, we had a horse growing up. Its name was Babe. It died in a snowstorm. How reliable is memory? Bill: Not very. I think we consciously and unconsciously choose what to remember. Anna: For me its easier to remember faces but not names, landmarks but not directions and I often forget numbers. But sometimes I will remember something so well it’s like living it again. Pat: Extremely reliable if you practice it and learn to rely on your brain as much as you do on technology. How quickly has your life passed since you were 5 years old? Bill: Too fast, but I’m not complaining and I’m looking forward to the years ahead.
Anna: My dad always told me life speeds up after high school. I feel like it’s gotten faster over the past five years, but maybe because I don’t let myself be bored. Pat: Not too fast, but a fair amount of time has passed, I suppose. Describe Europe in one word. Bill: History. Anna: Vast. Pat: Non-American. Truffaut or Godard? Bill: Truffaut. Anna: Hmmmm, not familiar with either. Pat: Godard. If you could be any animal, what would it be? Bill: Chimpanzee. They are some of the smartest animals on earth. Anna: Anteater, because they are cute. Pat: Bird, because flying would be rad. Do you have a nighttime ritual? Bill: Reading, meditation, tea, writing. Anna; Brush my teeth. Pat: A drink, a little smoke, listening to music, reading, watercolours. 31 END
THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS
Fact check:
ZZZ RUNNING WITH THE BEAST Door Oscar Smit
THE BEAST & Q65 In een Londense hotelkamer, volgestouwd met apparatuur, hebben Björn en Daan, middels galmende zangpartijen in de badkamer, onder invloed van LSD een psychedelisch werkje gecreëerd.
Iedere maand bespreekt Oscar Smit op zeer feitelijke wijze een plaat die er om één of andere reden toe lijkt te doen.
Na ruim drie jaar heeft het Amsterdamse duo zZz een tweede album uit: Running With The Beast. Björn en Daan zijn twee ruige jongens. Toen ik Björn voor het eerst tegenkwam speelde hij in een punkbandje dat figureerde in de cultfilm Terrorama van Edwin Brienen. zZz maakt geen punk maar op het podium zijn ze wel één bonk energie. Hun eerste CD was rauw en compromisloos en deed me vaak denken aan het New Yorkse duo Suicide, dat eind jaren zeventig de eerste was met een soort minimale orgelpunk. Bij het tweede zZz album is het rauwe er een beetje af en de gedachte aan Suicide komt alleen nog bij me op als ik Grip hoor, het nummer van de Fiat-reclame. Door de melodieën van de synthesizerpartijen komt bij mij steeds de naam van new wave-icoon Gary Numan naar voren. Luister naar het machtige stringsynthesizer thema in 33 CONTINUE
THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS
Gary Numan
Suicide
Q65
34
Angel en je zou denken dat Numan bij Björn en Daan op de thee was. Gary Anthony James Webb (uit 1958), zoals hij echt heet, maakt al muziek vanaf 1977. In ‘79 haalt de vierde single, ‘Are Friends Electric?’, van zijn band Tubeway Army de hitparade. Direct hierna gaat hij solo en heeft hij met ‘Cars’ zijn allergrootste hit. Beide singles staan bol van de bombastische synthesizer partijen. Sindsdien bracht hij zo’n 40 albums uit en is hij anno nu nog steeds een beroemdheid in de UK. Numan komt uit Londen. Dat is ook de plaats waar de laatste hand is gelegd aan de laatste track van het zZzalbum: Islands. In een Londense hotelkamer, volgestouwd met apparatuur, hebben Björn en Daan, middels galmende zangpartijen in de badkamer, onder invloed van LSD een psychedelisch werkje gecreëerd met freaky synthesizergeluiden, dat wat mij betreft nog extremer en langer had mogen zijn—zoals gebruikelijk in de sixties als men onder de LSD zat. Via het ruige van zZz maak ik een link met de langharige Haagse gitaarband Q65. Van hen werd gezegd dat ze wilder waren dan de Pretty Things, die op hun beurt weer ruiger waren dan de Rolling Stones in die tijd. De debuut-LP (uit 1966) van Q65 heet niet voor niets ‘Revolution!’ Omdat in de sixties Londen the place to be was verschenen er in de pers prachtige verhalen over de promotie-activiteiten van de band. Hierin stond te lezen dat de Q65 met een rubberboot naar Londen was gevaren om daar een concert te geven. De werkelijkheid was echter anders. Ze hebben alleen een beetje over de Theems gevaren en wat rond geslenterd in Londen. Een optreden is er nooit geweest, want er was geen (werk)vergunning aangevraagd. Op de terugweg werden ze een paar kilometer voor de kust van Scheveningen in een rubberboot gezet. De aankomst op het strand was
THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS
glorieus. Ze werden opgewacht door duizenden fans (bronnen spreken van 30.000!). Eenmaal aan land gaven ze op de volgepakte pier een geweldig concert! Tegenwoordig heeft Q65 in het buitenland een aardige cultstatus opgebouwd, die zo groot is dat het Engelse label Rev-Ola zojuist een fraai vormgegeven compilatie heeft uitgebracht: Nothing But Trouble. Hierop een heleboel ruig sixties werk met als hoogtepunten hun wilde singels You’re The Victor en I Despise You. Dit soort promo stunts hoeven we bij zZz niet te verwachten. Volgens Daan houden ze het low-key met wat try-outs in kleine Friese dorpjes. Zou het duo dan toch zijn wilde haren verliezen? zZz- Running With The Beast (Excelsior/V2) Q65- Nothing But Trouble 1966-1986 (Rev-Ola/ Suburban) www.myspace.com/zzz www.Q65.org 35 CONTINUE
THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS
Film:
GOED OF SLECHT IN ÉÉN MINUUT Door Gert Verbeek
THE AND De Oscar® is de vleesgeworden ‘and’. Je krijgt de het beeldje meestal pas als je iemand met een geestelijke en of lichamelijke afwijking kunt vertolken en als je heel realistisch voor de camera in huilen kunt uitbarsten.
Je bent pas iemand als het woordje ‘and’ voor je naam staat. De ‘and’ is een eretitel, net zo belangrijk als, of misschien nog belangrijker dan een lintje van Beatrix. Lange tijd dacht ik dat de man of vrouw achter de ‘and’ in de Gert Verbeek is werkzaam bij openingstitels van een Hollywoodfilm slechts een Muziek Centrum bescheiden plek innam. In de hiërarchie van de opsomNederland en kijkt ming zou je toch vermoeden dat de eerstgenoemde heel veel films. namen toebehoren aan de belangrijkste acteurs en actri36
THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS
ces. De namen van de hoofdrolspelers prijken groter dan de rest van de cast en vaak ook groter dan de naam van de regisseur, behalve als hij toevallig Spielberg heet. Zelfs debuterende acteurs, waar de houdbaarheidsdatum nog niet van is vastgesteld, worden als eerste genoemd wanneer zij de meeste tijd op het scherm in actie zijn te zien. De man of vrouw achter de ‘and’ speelt slechts een bijrol, en desondanks is hij of zij de keizer of keizerin van het witte doek. Ze staan het merendeel van het verhaal aan de relatieve zijlijn en hebben toch een vorstelijke vermelding. Je moet namelijk een veteraan zijn om een ‘and’ te verdienen. De persoon achter de ‘and’ is nooit jonger dan veertig. En nog meer dan dat: hij of zij is op z’n minst voor één Academy Award genomineerd zijn geweest. De Oscar® is de vleesgeworden ‘and’. Je krijgt de het beeldje meestal pas als je iemand met een geestelijke en of lichamelijke afwijking kunt vertolken en als je heel realistisch voor de camera in huilen kunt uitbarsten. Helaas kan ik niet op commando janken en kan ik dientengevolge de ‘and’ gevoeglijk op mijn buik schrijven. Mijn enige troost is dat acteurs met een eervolle ‘and’ voor hun naam vaak hun beste tijd gehad hebben. Ze hoeven niet meer zo nodig, want die één of twee Oscars zijn toch al binnen. Kijk maar naar de filmcarrières van bijvoorbeeld Morgan Freeman, Meryl Streep of Kevin Spacey. Allemaal geen dertig meer, met een paar glimmend gepoetste beeldjes in de kast en, als ik het wel heb, een ‘and’ in respectievelijk Evan Almighty, The Devil Wears Prada en 21 Las Vegas. Aan de titels is te zien dat de gerenommeerde acteurs het wat minder nauw nemen met de kwaliteit van de film. De boterham moet ruim belegd blijven. Als je pech hebt geldt de volgende regel: hoe groter de reputatie van de acteur achter de ‘and’, hoe slechter de film.
And Morgan Freeman And Meryl Streep And Kevin Spacey
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SUBBACULTCHA! PROGRAMME NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2008
ON TOUR IN THE NETHERLANDS IN NOVEMBER
THESE ARE POWERS / BONNE APARTE & THE MOI NON PLUS THESE ARE POWERS These are powers are Pat Noecker’s new band, who played bass on Liars’ debut album ‘They Threw Us All in a Trench and Stuck a Monument on Top’. Strangely enough that was the band’s most traditional record to date. After Noecker left the band, Liars became one of the most influencial progressive bands of their time. But Noecker didn’t leave the band to start some sort of post punk emo band, he decided to create some sick shit of his own. These are powers are re-releasing their debut album and EP on Dead Oceans in October.
BONNE APARTE Bonne Aparte are a six piece art/noise punk collective from outter Friesland. They mix Beefheart’s insanity with shellac type grooves and like to shake their hips while doing so. Live, they tend to rip you apart and put you back together in a mere 25 minutes. Their violence is real, their songs are for singing.
THE MOI NON PLUS The Moi Non Plus are a loud uncompromising duo from Amsterdam, combining drums, guitar, samples and vocals into loud energy driven art/noise rock, refering to bands like Liars, The Lapse and Sonic Youth. The Moi Non Plus keep it simple and do so loudly. This is raw, this is fresh, this is music that pushes, squeezes, and fights its way out of the speakers. It is dark, sharp and dissonant... Their self-titled debut album is out now on Subbacultcha!. After touring England, Germany, Spain and the US, the duo are now back in town, playing a couple of gigs in the Netherlands. Not to be missed, there might not be that many.
DATES MONDAY 3 NOVEMBER - PARADISO, AMSTERDAM THURSDAY 6 NOVEMBER - 013, TILBURG FRIDAY 7 NOVEMBER - EKKO, UTRECHT SATURDAY 8 NOVEMBER - WORM, ROTTERDAM 39
SUBBACULTCHA! PROGRAMME SEPTEMBER 2008
SUBBACULTCHA! AT CROSSING BORDER 21 NOVEMBER, SCSI, DEN HAAG WE’VE BEEN CROSSING THE BORDERS INTO THE DEPTHS OF POPULAR CULTURE. THE BOWELS EVEN.AND WHAT’S IN IT FOR US? NOTHING BUT HANG-OVERS AND PIERCED EARDRUMS. BUT IT HELPS TO KNOW YOU LOVE US.AND BECAUSE YOU LOVE US,WE’VE PUT TOGETHER A NIGHT OF BORDERLINE MADNESS AT THE CROSSING BORDER FESTIVAL IN DEN HAAG. WITH YURI LANDMAN, JULIE MITTENS, THE MOI NON PLUS, WOMEN & THE TRUTH MACHINE.
WOMEN
THE TRUTH MACHINE
Women made one of the most compelling records we’ve heard in a long time. These kids from Alberta are touring as the backing band for Chad VanGaalen, but seem to have had enough time on their hands, to come up with a masterpiece of their own. Combining the modern day madness of bands like Liars, Health and Fuck Buttons with the likes of The Kinks, Syd Barreth and Brian Wilson, these kids do know how to disturb. Big time. www.myspace.com/womenmusic
A short film about a car accident by Simone Bennett and Lonneke Worm. The film is based on a Persian fable: “Truth is a mirror which fell to earth and broke into a million pieces. Each human picked up a piece and saw themselves reflected. Each decided they saw the truth, not realising that truth was splintered among all people.” The Truth Machine won an international prize for best experimental short film. Music by Alexander Hacke from Einsturzende Neubauten. www.loneproductions.eu
JULIE MITTENS
YURI LANDMAN
(Holy Mountain, NL) Julie Mittens are a Dutch Guitar/drum/ bass trio, spilling streams of disorientating one-note melodies into thick washes of primitive howling sound-blasts. Their latest release is out on Holy Mountain. www.juliemittens.nl
Yuri Landman is a one man guitar factory. Not regular guitars, but creations closer to multi-string oxbows. Landman has build instruments for bands like Sonic Youth, Liars, Blood Red Shoes, Enon, Half Japanese and Lou Barlow. Besides building instruments Landman also gives musi-
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SUBBACULTCHA! PROGRAMME NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2008
cological lectures about a theory based on physical laws he calls ‘The Helix of Consonance’, derived from the famous ‘3rd bridge screwdriver’ playing technique often practiced by Sonic Youth. Whatever the hell that is, you can find out during his appearance on Crossing Border. www.hypercustom.com
THE MOI NON PLUS See page 39.
DE ILLUSIE: SCSI & WHITE SPACE De Illusie is a cultural breeding ground avant la lettre. Since 1990 it is a respected and well known cultural hotspot in The Hague. The building is home to ten ateliers, a music studio, two record labels, two practice rooms, the stages SCSI (Subbacultcha!’s Crossing Border stage) and White Space and approximately twenty residents. However, despite all this very significant cultural activity, the city of Den Haag has decided that de building is needed for other purposes. As of next year all of the organisations and people that have a home in de Illusie will make room for the temporary location of de Haagse Campus of the Leidse Universiteit.
CROSSING BORDER 18-22 November Toneelkwartier, Den Haag www.crossingborder.nl 41
SUBBACULTCHA! PROGRAMME NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2008
SUBBACULTCHA! PROGRAMME NOV/DEC 2008 SATURDAY DB’S
NOV 1
ANAVAN (USA) + HANDEL
STARTS: 21:00 | COVER: 6 EURO
MONDAY PARADISO
NOV 3
STARTS: 20:00 | COVER: 7 EURO
TUESDAY STUBNITZ
NOV 4
STARTS: 23:00 | COVER: 5 EURO
THURSDAY 013
NOV 6
STARTS: 20:00 | COVER: 6 EURO
FRIDAY EKKO
NOV 7
FREE FOR MEMBERS OF THE SUBBACULTCHA! MAILINGLIST
SATURDAY WORM
NOV 8
STARTS: 21:00
SATURDAY STUDIO K
NOV 8
FRIDAY NOV 14 DE NIEUWE ANITA FREE FOR MEMBERS OF THE SUBBACULTCHA! MAILINGLIST
FRIDAY SCSI
NOV 21
MORE INFO: WWW.SUBBACULTCHA.NL
SUNDAY DEC 21 SMART PROJECT SPACE
THESE ARE POWERS (USA) THE MOI NON PLUS VOLCANO! NOISE FOR OBAMA: SECRET AFTER PARTY GIG BY DEAN AND RANDY(GOOGLE: DEAN RANDY THE SMELL) THESE ARE POWERS (USA) THE MOI NON PLUS BONNE APARTE THESE ARE POWERS (USA) THE MOI NON PLUS BONNE APARTE THESE ARE POWERS (USA) THE MOI NON PLUS BONNE APARTE DD/MM/YYYY (CAN) + SUPPORT TITS ON THE RADIO MAGAZINE PARTY ft. DAILY BREAD SUBBACULTCHA! AT CROSSING BORDER
FT WOMEN, THE MOI NON PLUS, YURI LANDMAN, JULIE MITTENS & THE TRUTH MACHINE
HIGH PLACES
LOTS OF MORE GREAT STUFF IS COMING UP BUT WAS NOT CONFIRMED AT DATE OF PRINT. CHECK OUR WEBSITE FOR UP TO DATE PROGRAMME INFORMATION 45
SUBBACULTCHA! PROGRAMME NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2008
FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE CD’S! SUBBACULTCHA! IS GIVING AWAY NEW RELEASES
FREE PARTIES! GET INTO OUR VERY POPULAR MAGAZINE PARTIES FOR FREE
FREE TICKETS!
• 1 PASSE PARTOUT FOR 2 PEOPLE FOR THE CROSSING BORDER FESTIVAL • 1 PASSE PARTOUT FOR 2 PEOPLE FOR LE GUESS WHO? IN TIVOLI (WWW.LEGUESSWHO.COM)
• 3X2 TICKETS FOR DEERHOOF IN DE MELKWEG ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SUBSCRIBE TO OUR MAILINGLIST AND CROSS YOUR FINGERS. SEE WWW.SUBBACULTCHA.NL FOR DETAILS
ADDRESSES ADDRESSES ADDRESSES ADDRESSES 013 BITTERZOET DB’S DE NIEUWE ANITA EKKO SCSI SMART PROJ. SPACE STUBNITZ STUDIO-K WORM Subbacultcha! Magazine is a publication of Subbacultcha!. Grensstraat 14 II,1091 SX Amsterdam, the Netherlands. www.subbacultcha.nl magazine@subbacultcha.nl To advertise in Subbacultcha! magazine send an email to magazine@subbacultcha.nl Subbacultcha! Magazine is distributed troughout the
VEEMARKTSTRAAT 44,TILBURG SPUISTRAAT 2, AMSTERDAM CARTESIUSWEG 90 A, UTRECHT FREDERIK HENDRIKSTRAAT 111, AMSTERDAM BEMUURDE WEERD WZ 3 UTRECHT SCHOUWBURGSTRAAT 2, DEN HAAG ARIE BIEMONDSTRAAT 101-111, AMSTERDAM NDSM WERF. OPPOSITE NEVERITAWEG 44, AMSTERDAM TIMORPLEIN 62, AMSTERDAM ACHTERHAVEN 148, ROTTERDAM Netherlands. If you desire to be on the distribution list please send an email to magazine@subbacultcha.nl Editors: Leon Caren and Bas Morsch
der Laarse, Nicole Martens, Steven McCarron, Bas Morsch, Rollergirl, Oscar Smit, These are Powers and Gert Verbeek. Cover image: Elza Jo
Design: Bas Morsch This month’s featured artist: Elza Jo Contributors: Jo Brooks, Leon Caren, Femke Dekker, Elza Jo, Nick Helderman, Keimpe Koldijk, Tamara van
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