MP3: El Jesus de Magico – Bone Knife

It seems like a lifetime ago, but it was 2008 when I saw El Jesus de Magico at the Wexner Center with These New Puritans. It was an odd pairing, an empty show and El Jesus didn’t make a believer out of me. Maybe it was an off night for the band. Maybe it was the room that seemed cavernous with only a handful of people there. Or maybe I was just grumpy. But each time I’ve seen El Jesus since, the band’s psychedelic experiments (and a few pop nuggets) have won me over.

Just Deserts, released Tuesday (1/24) on Columbus Discount Records, is EJDM’s eighth release. According to the band’s Tumblr, these songs have been around for quite a while, “culled from the last sessions we did at the O’Shaughnessy Funeral Home and Columbus Discount from tapes & reels of varying fidelity.” “Bone Knife,” track 3 on Side A, is one of the more structured songs on the LP.

With organist (and LP compiler/mixer) Tony Allman now in New York, Columbus shows are few and far between, but you can catch El Jesus de Magico Friday at Ace of Cups with Psandwich, Guinea Worms and Unholy Two. All proceeds and donations go to the Letha Rodman Melchior Cancer Fund. 9 pm, $7. (RSVP)

And just for kicks, here’s a picture of Ahmed Gallab aka Sinkane buying EJDM’s Scalping the Guru while record shopping in Brooklyn (via Terrific Magazine):

Wednesday night I hit up East London to catch the brilliant Dan Melchior perform songs from his latest record, Assemblage Blues (released by Siltbreeze). Aside from a keen interest in hearing his live show, I was proud to witness it feature two musicians well-known to the Columbus scene. Mat Bisaro (Guinea Worms, Necropolis) and Tony Allman (El Jesus de Magico) were chosen by Melchior for this ten date European tour through five countries.

I caught up with Mat and Tony for a bit after the show to chat about the tour and playing with Melchior.

DW: Did either of you work on Assemblage Blues?

Tony: He sent me stuff a long time ago, probably over a year ago now and some of it he’s gonna record hopefully with us at some point for and LP on Columbus Discount. One of the songs we played on was one of those. But normally he records everything himself.. the guitar, the vocals, the drums, the bass. So eventually we’re gonna try to do live recordings in Columbus.

DW: How did the two of you get hooked up with him to do this tour?

Mat: He put out two records with Adam and BJ on CDR and ended up being in town for their barbeque last year.

Tony: Yeah, my old band had played with him a few times and we got on pretty well. We played with him at SXSW and around and we have the same booking agent.

DW: Had you two played with him before that?

Mat: Just at the barbeque.

DW: How have you found getting through Europe so far?

Mat: Driving on the wrong side of the road. Not being able to read road signs.

DW: How have things been different for you playing to European crowds?

Tony: It’s similar to playing in the States in towns you’re not from just because of having to feeling out how together the show is. Like with the promoter and the interest and the venue, even down to the soundman and bartenders, how competent or existent they are. Sometimes they aren’t even there, like last night we played at a place that didn’t have a soundman.

Mat: Just different culturally too. Shows here start at 8? 7? Bars close here at 12?

Tony: We’re pretty fresh into this whole thing, but I think in Lyon there was a night and day difference from here (London) with the way people hear a sound and they’re just like ‘Whoa!’ and then they rush over and want to see what’s going on and probably think ‘Oh, I’m gonna experience something now’.

DW: So you guys are playing Primavera Sound at the end of the tour. I know you’ve played at other big festivals but this is..

Tony: It’s different. You know what it reminds me of…. I’ve been to Coachella a few times and it’s fun the first time and horrible the second time because it’s in the desert and you just get sick of being around people. But it seems like the same kinda thing where there are a few stages and everything is really well curated whereas SXSW is completely different where there are all of these outside shadowy hands reaching in and Pepsi’s got it’s thing and Sony and Warner Brothers, you know?

DW: Who are you looking forward to catching while you’re there?

Tony: Well I really wanted to see Broadcast, that’s the one thing that I’m completely bummed out about. But I’m excited to see John Cale.

Mat: Glenn Branca.

Tony: Yeah, Glenn Branca.

Mat: Pere Ubu, Suicide, Einstürzende Neubauten. Reading the blurbs, I really wanna see this Polish band Woody Alien.

Tony: Yeah, I haven’t really dug into it too much, there’s a lot of stuff I don’t recognize.

Mat: I like that there’s a bunch of Spanish bands.

DW: What’s it like playing with Dan who’s interconnected and appreciative of the music that’s come from and continues to be made in Columbus?

Tony: It’s fun with Dan because he’s a little bit older and it’s not like just talkin’ to some kid about the new stuff. He’s really got a nice perspective on everything that has ever come out of the city, so it’s cool.

DW: What are you guys listening to on the road to get you through all the driving hassles?

Mat: Well, we listened to drum and bass yesterday while trying to get to the venue.

Tony: So there’s no mp3 thing in the van and all we had were our ipods and we can’t hook them up, but luckily Dan brought CDs.

Mat: My favorite so far was Room To Live, The Fall record.

Tony: Well I really liked that Mayo Thompson record (Corky’s Debt To His Father). It’s probably one of my top 5 favorite records and it’s one of the first things he pulled out to play. It’s the most bizarrely psycho-sexual pop record that doesn’t bother me. It’s not kinky, it’s this record that was made out of a necessity to express how he feels because you can tell maybe he’s just not a sexual person. He’s just like ‘Oh, I’m gonna write these songs and talk about it’. It’s cool. It’s an anomaly.

Photo credit A. Memon

This is anti-shitty band, death of the whatever kind of genre that includes the likes of brokeNCYDE, Millionaires, Attack Attack!, 3oh!3, et al. Look, I was a dumb kid once too and my musical taste to this day is most certainly questionable, but how in the world are people falling for this shit? Are the eight graders doing heroin these days? Fuuuuuuuuuuuuck. That said, if any of the aforementioned bands would like to be featured on a very influential music blog, hit me up, let’s party…Millionaires I’m looking at you.

In this episode of phalangic diarrhea i will relate hilarious anecdotes about the bands I saw and stuff I did, including but not limited to Jack White’s newest cash cow vanity project, some cougar “milf” lady that bought me and a few others some pizza, Cheater Slicks being good again, me being a lousy MC and Puerto Rican dudes liking tambourines. Also Mike O and Woody from Ravari Room oh man.

Pictured: The Lindsay@Rumba Cafe

Thursday night found myself at Rumba Cafe for The Lindsay against my better judgment and I only say that because i mean have you seen The Lindsay lately? I kid, I kid. Big fan big fan. Basically The Lindsay can rock a joint any joint go see them.

Pictured: Prison Mirror@carabar

Friday night was Chri$ Lutzko’s b-day @carabar. Prison Mirror is a “band” and they play “songs”. Prison Mirror is Tony and Mike O from El Jesus De Magico. There were some geriatric dudes there partying pretty late for a Friday and one of them approached me during Prison Mirror and asked me if what they were playing was a song. I told him it was 2. It’s basically ambient butterfly knife goth core. Go see them if you want to hear a song or 2. I hope when I’m 65 I’m still out and about doing shots at 11 p.m. on a Friday.

psychedelic horseshit followed the Mirror and tonight was a night i wasn’t feelin the phs. It was just Matt, Rich, a guitar, a sax and a table full if gear or something. It was punk.

Pictured: Cheater Slicks w/Don B@carabar

This is very important. Have you seen Cheater Slicks at all within the past couple years? I have and I gotta say I’ve been less than impressed, but I’ve been hangin in there for them due to the fact that the were one of my fallen brothers favorite band(R.I.P. Ryan Rollins), so I’ve been giving them the benefit of the doubt and I’ll tell you what, Cheater Slicks are an awesome live band again…not having seen them play in their prime this is what I would imagine they were like and am totally stoked to go see them play more. Dudes rock for a bunch of oldies.

Cheater Slicks@carabar

The Unholy Two followed with an aural assault that forced me out the door on account of they are loud. So there’s some new joint called Late Nite Slice that’s located in the parking lot next to Bodega. I was hungry and it was late so you know, I opted to have a late night slice. While waiting there was a table of about four 20 year old dudes and like some mid forties chick that didn’t appear to be related to any of them. They were all wasted and old chick bought everyone in line a slice of pizza. Good thing I didn’t have to actually pay for two slices to decide I didn’t like it. Basically what I’m saying is if there are tomatoes on it, it’s not only cheese.

Pictured: The Dead Weather@LC

That dude from The White Stripes and that chick from The Kills played an overpriced show at The Lifestyles Community Pavilion on Saturday and thanks god I’m not one of the suckers that payed $40 to watch old Jack indulge himself on drums. (GLO Deville). There was a good turn out which blew my mind. It was also a good show too, which surprised me as well. Basically if you expect the worse and hope for the best, you’re never disappointed. JW came out and strapped one on for like one song and at the end they did the back patting come out and hold hands for five minutes and bow like ten times. The show would have been better if it was a sold out Newport show. Details from the rest of the evening are spotty at best, you’ll have that from time to time amirite.

Sunday I attended a wedding reception for a wedding that happened like three months ago and I also was asked to MC, which I did very, very poorly. Bands played, The Lindsay did a mostly cover set and I drank til the keg ran dry. Congrats The Wagners!

Pictured: El Jesus De Magico@Ravari Room

I ended the weekend at The Ravari Room to catch El Jesus De Magico and Davila 666. El Jesus practice in a funeral home and feature Mike O on drums. Davila 666 are from Puerto Rico and like tambourines. Woody and The Ravari Room had some nice things said about them by the Nebula dude in the new issue of Decibel mag. Nice dude, cool room.

Pictured: Davila 666@Ravari Room

Duffy you should make that new photographer chick take pictures for me.

Seriously I have the worst camera possible and the oldest/slowest hard drive imaginable.

Also I would love to have this up sooner but i mean life happens

This week I saw The Moz, El Jesus De Magico, Necropolis, Day Creeper, Brainbow(againnnnn) and other bands I’m pretty sure.

Less is

SO IT TURNS OUTCD101 IS GOOD FOR SOMETHING…I won Morrissey tickets at 4:44 p.m. on Tuesday, the day before the show. I do kid-I have much love for the 101 and we are very fortunate to have them here in town.

I had a +1 and invited old school blogger Joel Treadway to accompany me. You should know that the Cultural Elite were out in full force.

No sooner do I sit down than I hear girls screaming my name-NO SHIT. Turns out The Columbus Music Co-op scored seats right behind me.

This show was nothing short of amazing and I don’t consider myself a Morrissey fan. I did see “How Soon is Now” live and I feel my life is complete.

Click here to view the embedded video.

From here on out it is short and sweeeeeeeet

I’m pretty sure Don B. reads Weakened wrap-up because I saw him sing 4 times this weekend.

FRIDAY-Day Creeper…Laura formerly of Night of Pleasure She books shows too.

Also these bands from some label called CDR played too

Specifically Necropolis and El Jesus De Magico. Necropolis were good for once.

Pictured: Necropolis

Then El Jesus Played-They practice in a funeral home.
Pictured: El Jesus De Magico-they practice in a funeral home

Necropolis are playing with drunk driver, unholy 2 and maybe more on Monday May 18th @ 15th house.

El Jesus are playing Blackout fest in Athens Ohio on 4-17-09 with a bunch of good/Columbus bands

Special boob/food bonus

Extreme Weiners serves pizza by the slice

Pictured: boob eating food

Saturday I saw Brainbow and Crippled Black Phoenix….they have some dude from Mogwai or something in their band….I shared pizza with co-worker Chip and burned my lip on that greasy amazingness.

Pictured: Brainbowwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

Pictured: Crippled Black Phoenix w/o Mogwai dude

BASICALLY WHAT I’M SAYING IS GIRLS ARE DISTRACTING

TIL NEXT WEEK IF I STILL HAVE A JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FRIDAY SEPT 5
————–
BOURBON STREET

TREE OF FERN 9:15
MIKE REP & THE QUOTAS 10 PM
UNHOLY TWO 11:15
SWORDHEAVEN 11:45
DEAD SEA 12:15

THE SUMMIT

YOU’RE SO BOSSY 9:30
THE LINDSAY 10:15
SLIDE MACHINE 11PM
NECROPOLIS 11:45
HUGS & KISSES 12:30
DON CABALLERO 1AM

SATURDAY SEPT 6
———————
BOURBON STREET

TIME & TEMPERATURE 9
MARY ANN’S 9:45
LARA YAZVAK 10:40
NIGHT OF PLEASURE 11:15
PSYCHEDELIC HORSESHIT 12MIDNIGHT
GOOD COMPANY 12:45

THE SUMMIT

BLACK SWANS 9:15
BYGONES 10
EL JESUS DE MAGICO 10:45
GRAFTON 11:30
CHEATER SLICKS 12:15
TIMES NEW VIKING 1AM

we will be selling tickets starting friday the 22nd at cafe bourbon street, 2216 summit. there will be a limited number of tickets (130) which will be good for both sides. the remaining tickets will be good for the summit ONLY. please contact the bar for details, 614-268-9377.

Local powerhouse label Columbus Discount Records has announced they’re starting a 7 inch singles club. Pretty impressive for a small but growing label (on the national scene). Details:

Columbus Discount Records is proud to announce CDR-SC-Y1! (Columbus Discount Records Singles Club Year One!). We’ve heard that some other grunge label is doing one of these things, but we been working real hard planning this for a long time now, so we ain’t gonna let that stop us. We’re mighty proud of it, and think you’ll probably like it, too.

Without further ado, here’s the roster for CDR-SC-Y1!, in no particular order:

Cheater Slicks
El Jesus De Magico
Little Claw
The Harrisburg Players (A comp of archival recordings from Harrisburg, OH featuring Tommy Jay & co.!)
TV Ghost
Guinea Worms
Pink Reason
Dan Melchior und das Menace
Sandwitch (featuring Ron House of TJSA, Great Plains, Ego Summit infamy!)
Psychedelic Horseshit
The Unholy 2
Mike Rep

Complete details on their website. If this works out, it will further cement their growing national reputation. I have faith…

More El Jesus videos here and here and here.

ALSO FROM THE SHOW
Joseph Arthur
AA Bondy
Division Day

Saturday
MIKE SHIFLET – really interesting stuff. loved the band. he mentioned in our interview with him that he’s hoping to do more shows with a band and i hope he follows up. it’s the making of something really cool.

MIRANDA SOUND – love the new stuff. i like when they play it a little heavier, something they don’t always do…. i think it adds a great extra layer to their music.

EL JESUS DE MAGICO – four years ago if you would have told me that i would have El Jesus play my 5 year party I would have laughed in your face. Things change, and I’m really happy that they did. Set was fucking FIERCE. can’t wait to hear their new album.

BRAINBOW/BLUEPRINT – I had intentionally stayed away from the rehersals because I wanted to experience the show for the first time with the crowd. And put it quite simply, I was stunned. Look, I love music, but this was seriously mind blowing. I felt something that I haven’t felt in a long time.

Instead of Brainbow trying to recreate the music of Blueprint, they approached it from their own point of view. It was Blueprint. It was Brainbow. Neither band sacrificed their integrity or created some sort of Frankenstein rock/rap thing that was only a novelty. I say this with all seriousness, it was epic! When Print said it was their last song, I was heartbroken! I could have used 5 more songs. I didn’t want it to end, and that’s a sign of a good set. Leave us wanting more….

I know it took a lot of time for Print and Brainbow to practice for this event, and I am really thankful that they did. It means so much that they took on this experiment for the 5 year anniversary of the site, and I can’t show my appreciation enough.

PS: Bob Ray Starker and Leslie Jankowski (from Church of the Red Museum) added a horn section in two of the songs. What a nice touch! Oh man. So good.

We did bill this as a one time only thing, and I hope they consider maybe doing it again in the future. Or maybe not. Maybe in this internet age when everything is recorded, Youtubed, and distributed to the world, it’s nice to have a “YOU HAD TO BE THERE” thing. I’d be happy either way.

This was the biggest crowd we’ve ever had for a single donewaiting.com event. It was great.

Update: Youtubed! This is Brainbow/Blueprint performing “Liberated”. Picture quality is dark but it’s the music that matters.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Friday

GRAVE BLANKETS – first time seeing them, won’t be my last. Really good sound. The recorded material they’ve put out there doesn’t do them justice…. they are a great live band.

SINKANE – Ahmed has always been one of my favorite musicians in Columbus and it looks like he’s finally firmed up his vision of Sinkane. Their set was hypnotic. Really cool. And with a solid indie label putting their album out later this year, things are gonna explode! Can’t wait! AHMED I WANT A PICTURE DISC RECORD.

THIS MOMENT IN BLACK HISTORY – haven’t seen them since they opened up for YEah Yeah Yeahs in Cleveland a few years back. Good set, liked the energy. First mosh pit ever at a donewaiting event.

DEATHLY FIGHTER – I am a believer.

This Moment in Black History Video from the Show

Click here to view the embedded video.

This show is awesome 500 different ways, but the thing that you will probably never see again is Rhymesayers/Weightless/Soul Position rapper Blueprint performing his music in collaboration with music by Brainbow.

Details on both shows here.