#1 ·
I honestly think this deserves its own dedicated thread:
PERE UBU (Cleveland)
GANG GANG DANCE (New York) @ spider
Ever since they emerged from the Cleveland underground rock scene back in the mid-seventies, Pere UBU have established themselves as one of the most influential American rock bands in history. Not only are they one of those rare groups that has maintained continuity for over thirty years, but they’ve also left behind an incredible string of albums—starting with "Modern Dance" and "Dub Housing," which are widely considered anthological releases. Those records basically laid the groundwork for post-punk right here in the States, and alongside a host of brilliant bands from across the Atlantic (think Gang of Four, Wire, Joy Division, The Fall, Magazine...), they were absolutely pivotal in shaping what many consider to be the most creative and vital movement in rock history. Earlier this year, Pere UBU wrapped up recording their thirteenth studio album, and this upcoming show will serve as its world premiere. After a brief creative slump in the early nineties, they've spent the last decade churning out increasingly better material, so we should fully expect this new one to be at least on par with—if not better than—their legendary predecessors. Given that we're currently living through a massive post-punk revival that has become a dominant force in modern rock, I am just incredibly stoked and proud that we get to see and hear the very band that pioneered that entire sound nearly thirty years ago at the opening of this year's thirsty ear festival.
Then you have the New York quartet Gang gang Dance, who belong to that rare breed of bands using sheer imagination and raw courage to smash through musical stereotypes and push boundaries. I mean, when an underground rock outfit blends Middle Eastern, Asian, and Ethiopian traditional music with experimental rock, electronics, and hip-hop, the result is bound to be anything but ordinary. But when that same band manages to craft something so intelligent, fluid, and frequently danceable—music you can only really describe as "otherworldly, psychedelic pop"—you know you're looking at one of the most original forces on the New York underground scene today, someone you might, cautiously, compare to their good friends Animal Collective and Black Dic. After some pretty confusing early days where they were still hunting for their signature sound, they completely disarmed the skeptics with their brilliant album "god with Money," turning them into critical darlings. And if you listen to the sheer hype coming from members of Black Dic and Gogogo Airheart about their live shows leading up to this, we are in for another spectacular concert to kick off the festival.
Tickets are available at the pre-sale price of $33 at the Dancing Bear CD shop (7 Gundulić Street) and the Student Travel Agency (25 Savska Street). At the door, they will go for $40. Doors open at 9:00 PM, and the music starts at 10:00 PM.
PERE UBU (Cleveland)
GANG GANG DANCE (New York) @ spider
Ever since they emerged from the Cleveland underground rock scene back in the mid-seventies, Pere UBU have established themselves as one of the most influential American rock bands in history. Not only are they one of those rare groups that has maintained continuity for over thirty years, but they’ve also left behind an incredible string of albums—starting with "Modern Dance" and "Dub Housing," which are widely considered anthological releases. Those records basically laid the groundwork for post-punk right here in the States, and alongside a host of brilliant bands from across the Atlantic (think Gang of Four, Wire, Joy Division, The Fall, Magazine...), they were absolutely pivotal in shaping what many consider to be the most creative and vital movement in rock history. Earlier this year, Pere UBU wrapped up recording their thirteenth studio album, and this upcoming show will serve as its world premiere. After a brief creative slump in the early nineties, they've spent the last decade churning out increasingly better material, so we should fully expect this new one to be at least on par with—if not better than—their legendary predecessors. Given that we're currently living through a massive post-punk revival that has become a dominant force in modern rock, I am just incredibly stoked and proud that we get to see and hear the very band that pioneered that entire sound nearly thirty years ago at the opening of this year's thirsty ear festival.
Then you have the New York quartet Gang gang Dance, who belong to that rare breed of bands using sheer imagination and raw courage to smash through musical stereotypes and push boundaries. I mean, when an underground rock outfit blends Middle Eastern, Asian, and Ethiopian traditional music with experimental rock, electronics, and hip-hop, the result is bound to be anything but ordinary. But when that same band manages to craft something so intelligent, fluid, and frequently danceable—music you can only really describe as "otherworldly, psychedelic pop"—you know you're looking at one of the most original forces on the New York underground scene today, someone you might, cautiously, compare to their good friends Animal Collective and Black Dic. After some pretty confusing early days where they were still hunting for their signature sound, they completely disarmed the skeptics with their brilliant album "god with Money," turning them into critical darlings. And if you listen to the sheer hype coming from members of Black Dic and Gogogo Airheart about their live shows leading up to this, we are in for another spectacular concert to kick off the festival.
Tickets are available at the pre-sale price of $33 at the Dancing Bear CD shop (7 Gundulić Street) and the Student Travel Agency (25 Savska Street). At the door, they will go for $40. Doors open at 9:00 PM, and the music starts at 10:00 PM.