Strange Pulse

Or maybe it’s just been awhile since I’ve been to a show….? No. It was the so awesome.

A band from Chicago called Pelican headlined, and the opening bands were a band from Seattle called Big Business and a band from LA called Red Sparowes.

Pelican and Red Sparowes are the same type of music–lots of guitars, the music builds and builds, and all instrumental. Just like Isis–except Isis has a singer (who yells rather and sings)–in fact one of the guys from Isis is in Red Sparowes. Their album has a little sticker that says a member of Neurosis is also in the band.

Red Sparowes (this guy is also in Isis)

I love that kind of music, especially live. It really leaves me feeling euphoric. So good. Red Sparrows just blew me away. They also had a film projected onto the wall behind them, and I can’t think of a band I’ve seen since the Butthole Surfers, or maybe Psychic TV, that did that. There must be one but I can’t think of any.

I knew right away the $10 in my purse was going to go for a Red Sparrows cd.

Big Business are different. They’re a singer/bass player and a simply insane drummer. That’s it. They’re LOUD and fast and LOUD. And heavy. And did I mention the drummer’s insane?

I think I saw the very first show they ever played, in Seattle. At a little tiny all ages venue out in Redmond. Jared, the bassist, used to be in a band called Karp with a guy I think he grew up with, Scotty Jernigan on drums–just the two of them. Karp broke up and a few years later they got back together with Joe Preston on guitar as the Whip. I saw the Whip’s first show in Seattle too. But then Scotty died in a boating accident on Lake Washington. It was so sad–he was so talented. The best drummer in Seattle at the time–he was seriously amazing. I eventually tracked down Jared’s email address because I had pictures of Scott playing with the Whip that I thought he’d want and could also pass on to Scott’s family. So when Big Business played their first show I brought them on cd and he was really appreciative–he told me friends of theirs have pictures they keep saying they’ll give him, but no one actually had. He was happy that I’d just out of the blue give him some. They weren’t that great of pictures, unfortunately, but there was one really good one of Scott. There were also some videoclips that were really dark but they were of Scott playing. You can see them here and here.

So I had a big thrill when I went up to Jared at the merch table and he remembered me. I told him they were awesome and asked him if the cd he was selling was a full album or an EP. He said it was an album. I was checking it out when he said, “Hey I know you.” I said, “From Seattle.” He said “Yeah! What’s your name, I’ve forgotten” and shook my hand. I said “Sue” and told him I really wanted to get the album but I didn’t have enough cash on me. I was about to ask if I could buy it online somewhere but he grabbed a copy from behind him and said, “You can have one. You brought me pictures–that was nice.” I was so stoked!

I’m always surprised when people in bands remember me. I mean they tour a lot, they meet so many people, and I’m not especially memorable.

Pelican were awesome. I’ve been wanting to see them for years now but they never tour. Finally they are! It was odd to see a band with no microphones on the stage at all. Entirely instrumental.

One of the guitarists occasionally used a bow, which I don’t think I’ve ever actually seen anyone do live before.

I’m so braindead from lack of sleep, I’ll try to post some videoclips tomorrow.