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- Let’s Dance: Mixed Bag in Brooklyn
Let’s Dance: Mixed Bag in Brooklyn
- By David Chaitt
- Published 03/17/2008
- Adventures in Live Music
- Unrated
David Chaitt
I've loved music ever since I bought my first MC Hammer cassette. Since then, my musical palate has developed...somewhat. I have lived in Philly my whole life and traveling the world has helped me appreciate it even more.
Let’s Dance: Mixed Bag in Brooklyn
The Join and BioDiesel at Studio B
Brooklyn, NY
February 16, 2008
My mini-trek to Brooklyn was multi-purposed. A close friend of mine, and his band, The Canon Logic relocated in September to the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn. I did not have a chance to visit him for one reason or another, but my boys at Mixed Bag were throwing such a sick event in Brooklyn, I thought I would kill two birds with one stone. A great thing about Brooklyn is that you can drive there and find multiple free spots, which is such a glorious feeling since the amount of street parking spots are dwindling in Philly.
I heard the 160 BPM Drum n Bass layered grooves as I walked into Studio B. However, on stage, there were only two musicians. Johnny Rabb is the second best drummer in the world who can manipulate the beats of electronic music. I have to give the crown to Jojo Mayer , but Rabb is a close second. His BioDiesel partner is crime Clay Parnell, of Brothers Past, helped Rabb rock the house as a duo until Jamie Shields of The New Deal decided to join in on keyboards. For having little or no agenda, this completely improvised jam session was exactly what was needed to get the hearts racing and the party started. BioDiesel is one of the proud few bands who understand the music theory behind Drum n Bass and can steadily keep up with its rapid tempo.
The New Deal are one of the best opening acts ever in the literal sense of the term. I’ve said this since I first saw The New Deal open up for The Roots for a special homecoming Halloween show at the Electric Factory in 2001. I love their music, but after 90 minutes, I get a little bored. However, they get the party going to help you get pumped for the main event.
That being said, The Join is the evolution of the New Deal; it is in perpetual metamorphosis as a result of the bassist leaving the group (indefinitely?). They have played with David Murphy from STS9, the Benevento/Russo Duo, Marc Brownstein and Aron Magner from the Disco Biscuits, and for the second time, they were performing alongside Tom Hamilton and Clay Parnell (who was working a double shift for the night) of Brothers Past.
This particular performance was no different from their previous performance at Camp Bisco together. Darren Shearer opened up the show with a solid house beat, followed by Clay’s bass, Jamie’s swirling keys, and Tommy’s guitar. I was standing right behind Jamie, in the quasi-backstage VIP area on stage left, so I could feel the musicians’ energy and technical prowess.
The Join jumped into “Let’s Start A Gang” (a Brothers Past song) after a long chain of improvisation musical movements. It is not necessarily one of the best songs Tom’s every written, but definitely suitable given the house beats The Join tends to use. Following a slow, dub rhythm, Rabb emerged from the backstage to play on his drum kit. Gradually, the band began to play faster, until they resumed the DnB beat that BioDiesel had played earlier. Around this time, I noticed that Rabb can play a one-handed drum roll, which is just crazy to see, let alone think about. It freed up his other hand to fill in the complimentary beats needed for such a fast tempo.
When the band took a break, which they did for a four minutes the entire 90-minute set, Rabb left stage and they went back to a house beat. Then, out of left field, I began to hear gradually the chords to a familiar song. In a panic, I began asking people around me what the riff was, until it hit me: David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance”. Tom’s voice combines the gloominess of Robert Smith, the mysteriousness of David Bowie, and the vocal range of Rufus Wainright in a unique way, so “Let’s Dance” was an appropriate and well-played cover. Nothing brings you out of a rut than “Let’s Dance” because its message is loud and clear—dance and have a good time because none of that other shit matters. I left the show smiling and complete after I heard The Join play that.
For a free download of The Join’s set, go to Archive. Free live downloads are allowed by bands because people value live music, but do not take advantage of their kindness: go to their shows!
For all the Austin folks reading this, Tom Hamilton’s alt-country side project American Babies will be playing at SXSW, so feel free to check them out.
In conclusion, I have to say the Mixed Bag crew knows how to throw a party. For a list of more Mixed Bag events, check out their MySpace page or their main site www.mixedbagproductions.com.
The Join and BioDiesel at Studio B
Brooklyn, NY
February 16, 2008
My mini-trek to Brooklyn was multi-purposed. A close friend of mine, and his band, The Canon Logic relocated in September to the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn. I did not have a chance to visit him for one reason or another, but my boys at Mixed Bag were throwing such a sick event in Brooklyn, I thought I would kill two birds with one stone. A great thing about Brooklyn is that you can drive there and find multiple free spots, which is such a glorious feeling since the amount of street parking spots are dwindling in Philly.
I heard the 160 BPM Drum n Bass layered grooves as I walked into Studio B. However, on stage, there were only two musicians. Johnny Rabb is the second best drummer in the world who can manipulate the beats of electronic music. I have to give the crown to Jojo Mayer , but Rabb is a close second. His BioDiesel partner is crime Clay Parnell, of Brothers Past, helped Rabb rock the house as a duo until Jamie Shields of The New Deal decided to join in on keyboards. For having little or no agenda, this completely improvised jam session was exactly what was needed to get the hearts racing and the party started. BioDiesel is one of the proud few bands who understand the music theory behind Drum n Bass and can steadily keep up with its rapid tempo.
The New Deal are one of the best opening acts ever in the literal sense of the term. I’ve said this since I first saw The New Deal open up for The Roots for a special homecoming Halloween show at the Electric Factory in 2001. I love their music, but after 90 minutes, I get a little bored. However, they get the party going to help you get pumped for the main event.
That being said, The Join is the evolution of the New Deal; it is in perpetual metamorphosis as a result of the bassist leaving the group (indefinitely?). They have played with David Murphy from STS9, the Benevento/Russo Duo, Marc Brownstein and Aron Magner from the Disco Biscuits, and for the second time, they were performing alongside Tom Hamilton and Clay Parnell (who was working a double shift for the night) of Brothers Past.
This particular performance was no different from their previous performance at Camp Bisco together. Darren Shearer opened up the show with a solid house beat, followed by Clay’s bass, Jamie’s swirling keys, and Tommy’s guitar. I was standing right behind Jamie, in the quasi-backstage VIP area on stage left, so I could feel the musicians’ energy and technical prowess.
The Join jumped into “Let’s Start A Gang” (a Brothers Past song) after a long chain of improvisation musical movements. It is not necessarily one of the best songs Tom’s every written, but definitely suitable given the house beats The Join tends to use. Following a slow, dub rhythm, Rabb emerged from the backstage to play on his drum kit. Gradually, the band began to play faster, until they resumed the DnB beat that BioDiesel had played earlier. Around this time, I noticed that Rabb can play a one-handed drum roll, which is just crazy to see, let alone think about. It freed up his other hand to fill in the complimentary beats needed for such a fast tempo.
When the band took a break, which they did for a four minutes the entire 90-minute set, Rabb left stage and they went back to a house beat. Then, out of left field, I began to hear gradually the chords to a familiar song. In a panic, I began asking people around me what the riff was, until it hit me: David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance”. Tom’s voice combines the gloominess of Robert Smith, the mysteriousness of David Bowie, and the vocal range of Rufus Wainright in a unique way, so “Let’s Dance” was an appropriate and well-played cover. Nothing brings you out of a rut than “Let’s Dance” because its message is loud and clear—dance and have a good time because none of that other shit matters. I left the show smiling and complete after I heard The Join play that.
For a free download of The Join’s set, go to Archive. Free live downloads are allowed by bands because people value live music, but do not take advantage of their kindness: go to their shows!
For all the Austin folks reading this, Tom Hamilton’s alt-country side project American Babies will be playing at SXSW, so feel free to check them out.
In conclusion, I have to say the Mixed Bag crew knows how to throw a party. For a list of more Mixed Bag events, check out their MySpace page or their main site www.mixedbagproductions.com.
