Clay: Guess the decade by the facial hair

Tomorrow marks the last of the late-summer music festivals, Independents’ Day, and it ain’t a bad way to end the season. You can check out the full lineup below. Everyone probably has a different must-see act, but as reunions go, Clay is the big name. I spoke to Jerry Dannemiller, who was responsible for booking Clay and about one-third of the ID lineup, and he had this to say about the band to put them in context:

“Clay held a special place in a certain period of time. A lot of people revered Clay. They were like a Midwestern Buzzcocks with a weird propensity for performance art. They were hilarious, extremely witty and really fun. They were one of the bands you didn’t want to miss when they played a show.”

Clay featured Guinea Worms’ Will Foster and put out a couple singles on Anyway Records. You can check out a whole bunch of the bands’ “shouttakes” as mp3s here, and Cringe also has a feature on the band along with mp3s of Clay’s unreleased album, Stories Of Kirk And His Fiat (And A Buffalo Grass Woman, Hester).

Here’s the lineup and schedule for all four stages tomorrow:

GCAC stage
12:15 Joey Hebdo
1:00 Survivalist
1:45 Joseph Anthony Camerlengo
2:30 Joshua P. James
3:15 Big Shot
4:00 Post Coma Network
4:45 Wing & Tusk
5:30 She Bears
6:15 Colin Gawel & the Lonely Bones
7:00 Jared Mahone
7:45 G. Finess and the NS Crew
8:30 21 Pilots
10:00 roeVy

Athens Business Remixed Stage
12:00 Enrique Infante
12:45 Brothers by Law
1:30 Bum Wealthy
2:15 Philip Fox Band
3:00 Nathan Snell and the Country Sound
3:45 Trains Across the Sea
4:30 Main Street Gospel
5:15 Mount Carmel
6:00 Clay
6:45 Old Hundred
7:30 George Elliot Underground
8:15 JBRW
9:15 The Receiver

SID Stage
12:30 Anna & the Consequences
1:15 Swimsuit Edition
2:00 Bird and Flower
2:45 Slick City Ramblers
3:30 Low Men
4:15 Ride to Ruin
5:00 Ipps
5:45 Ex-whites
6:30 Necropolis
7:15 Sundown

Woodlands Stage
12:45 Raw Dough
1:45 Jessijem
2:45 Glass-Winged Sharpshooters
3:45 CHHF Trio
4:45 Teen Fiction
5:45 The Apple Bottom Gang
6:45 The Kyle Sowashes
7:45 Birds of Hair

Reuniting for the first time in 20 years to celebrate the eighth year of Columbus Discount Records’ existence, the True Believers are:

Mike Rep
Tommy Jay
The General
Nudge Squidfish
Carla Lust

I’ll spare you my own version of the True Believers’ back story and instead point you to a description (complete with Amrep corrections) here and a 2005 interview with Mike Rep. Suffice it to say, it’s a pretty big deal that these guys (and girl) are reuniting in two days. Leave it to CDR. Accompanying the True Believers will be the Guinea Worms, Unholy Two, Altered States of the United Snakes and Jeff Fernengel. The show starts at 10pm, and (like all Carabar shows) it’s free.

In related news, Nudge has his own YouTube channel and has been uploading all sorts of insane videos for your viewing pleasure, from an hour-long 1992 V3 show to Tommy Jay and Nudge (“JayFish”) in black hoodies covering “White Rabbit” for the video camera in 2007. You can subscribe and/or check out a sampling after the jump. According to this site, some of these videos will be part of a program at the upcoming Ohio Film+Music Festival. (ht Wumme)

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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

Not too shabby for a Wednesday night, eh? Feel free to add any other noteworthy shows in the comments. Deets:

Strapping Fieldhands w/ Necropolis, Guinea Worms and The Ferals – Cafe Bourbon St., 2216 Summit St. (see video above)

Best Coast, Male Bonding w/ Tin Armor – The Summit, 2210 Summit St., $14 (This one will likely sell out by 8pm, so get on the ball early if you didn’t buy tix yet.)

Margot and the Nuclear So & So’s, The Lonely Forest, Cameron McGill & What Army – Circus, 1227 N. High Street, $12 (feat. hometown hero Erik Kang)

It’s that time of year again, when grilling meat, arm wrestling, and indie rock somehow end up together in awkward sentences (like this one). This weekend is the seventh annual Columbus Discount Records BBQ, where the local label shares the wealth and gives you a wealth of local/international talent to gaze upon for as free as possible. This year’s version of the tradition entails two star-studded rock shows (Friday night at The Summit and Saturday night at Carabar) as well as a multi-faceted get-together Saturday afternoon at CDR HQ (corner of Oak and Parsons, just up the street from Carabar). Highlights:

Friday night at Summit: Sets from local Uggs-rock veterans the Guinea Worms and the most-successful, longest-lasting Rock Potluck band ever, Sandwitch (featuring Ron House), are those most likely to slay. Omaha’s Yuppies will play the part of the noisy visitors from out of town, and the night will be rounded out by intergalactic party Mormons Outer Spacist and the sheer spectacle of the Unholy Two. You will probably leave this show wearing beer.

Saturday afternoon BBQ: Obviously, free PBR and grilled eats would be a highlight of any day. However, this party also includes your chance for eternal glory with an arm-wrestling tournament! The male and female brackets are both sure to be tough, but you still have a couple days to train. If all of this is not enough, local legends the Cheater Slicks will play a set in the CDR studio around 5:30.

Saturday night at Carabar: This is where the big guns come out, so hopefully you are not drunk enough or drunk enough to enjoy it. Local wonders (and musical inspirations to Beck) Times New Viking will headline and close the festivities. I am excited for another visit from the prolific globetrotter Dan Melchior, who will surely entertain with whoever might be backing him up, and a set from Harrisburg, Ohio’s favorite sons, Mike Rep and Tommy Jay, will lend some tuneful and grizzled character to the proceedings.

More information, conspiracy theories, and conjecture here.

Cool lineup, eh? Blackoutfest returns for the 15th time to The Union in Athens, OH. Tickets at the door or at Haffa’s Records (15 W Union St, Athens) in advance — $10 per night, 3-day pass for $25. And we’ve got a pair of 3-day passes to give away, too. Send an email to contestdonewaiting@gmail.com with the subject BLACKOUTFEST to enter.

Full day-by-day schedule after the jump.

THURSDAY, the 15th (Doors open at 5 p.m.)

Tyvek (headliner, goes on around 12:30)
Wheels on Fire
Terrible Twos
Puffy Areolas
We March
Chickens
Hex Net/Dragline Bros
Seascapes
Holly Grahams
Bright Effs

FRIDAY, the 16th (Doors open at 5 p.m.)

Skeletonwitch (headliner, goes on around 12:30)
Buffalo Killers
Thomas Function
This Moment in Black History
Bass Drum of Death
Guinea Worms
Dropdead Sons
Saturn Missle Batteries
Spooktober
Wizzard Beasts

SATURDAY, the 17th (Doors open at 3 p.m.)

Dead Meadow (headliner, goes on around 12:30)
Greg Ashley Band
Brimstone Howl
The Makebelieves
Imaad Wasif (formerly of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs)
Grafton
Weird Science
Whale Zombie
Manor Animals
She Bears
Loaded Revulvas

In order to help out our friend Ben Hamilton we are making this saturday’s show a benefit. The show at Summit is also a birthday party for the salty old helmsman of the bar (yrs truly) with “performances” by some Ohio favorites… Guinea Worms, Unholy Two, We March, and Grafton. Strongest Man Alive, Righteous Buck and the Skull Scorchers, and Washington Beach Bums will be at Bobo. 5 bucks for both shows, pay at either door. the set times will be staggered out so you can stagger between them.

Also, just so you know, the kitchen at Cafe Bourbon Street is back in action, with tacos (yep, Dave was a ninja), hot dogs, empanandas, hamburgers, pepperoni rolls, and a whole lot more to keep you fueled up for beer fueling. Menu and schedule of Dollar specials to follow.

ps i hate when people call it CBS. anyone else?

Rebirth motherfucker! Yeah, here we go again. A TON of cool shit has happened since we last got together in this official capacity and I’m not gonna tell you anything about it! I will tell you that Duffy made me take some online journalism and creative writing and photography courses while I was on hiatus and as you’re about to see it did absolutely no good!

I will also tell you I picked a good week to decide to start doing this crap again. Super Desserts, Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s, Guinea Worms, Warpaint, Don B, and of course, Mike O! If you are at all inclined to listen to a bitter, old, hateful, cynical and all around super cool and totally nice dude’s rant about, you know, stuff, you know what to do!

Pictured: Super Desserts@Circus

Thursday night found me at the venue formerly know as High Five, currently known as Circus for Super Desserts and Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s. Also some other band played. They seemed more suited for Frog, Bear and Wild Boar but whatever. Also I forget their name. Enough about the band that played in the middle. Let’s focus our attention on Super Desserts. Twee as Folk! (their words not mine unfortunately) If you are yet to see this gang, looks like you need to revise your to do lists. These guys are a venerable who’s who of Columbus music. Justin from Terribly Empty Pockets, Tyler from Couch Forts, Eve from Bird and Flower, Eric from Margot, Bobby from the local PBR rep, Ianna from Obviouslies, and likely others I’m leaving out.

Attttttttttttt any rate, my point is this band is fun as fuck and there are like 17 people on stage at any given time keeping it together. They have also been building blog buzz thanks in part to their super fun music videos that have been making the rounds on the web. Regardless of the type of music you prefer, these dudes are definitely worth going out for. If you don’t see this band you hate fun! Go see them on Friday at the Summit.

Pictured: Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s@Circus

O.K. so I’m not super hip to Margot, but I am hip to the fact that Eric Kang is from Columbus and used to be in Tiara. I’ve listened to a record or 2 and this is a band I’m more down to check out live than I am to jam it in my car on the way to work whatever that means. (dont’ have that kind of time to waste!) I went out to see Margot like 5 years ago at Skully’s and they basically St. Vincented on the show. All kidding aside (for now) Richard and company put on a really good show and I’m totally digging the pared down lineup and looking forward to hearing the new record. O.K. now more “kidding”. I mean I guess I’m old and out of touch, but I didn’t realize how much the kids like Margot, and these kids make poor fashion choices, get too drunk and are all around annoying but whatever, good set would see again.

O.k.,o.k. on Friday night Columbus weirdos Guinea Worms had a record release show for their double lp, “Sorcerers of Madness”, released on internationally known, locally respected label CDR. I attended the aforementioned show and admittedly, details of the evening are a bit foggy.

Pictured: The Mahoneys@Bourbon Street

The Mahoneys played first they are comprised of 2 of The Frustrations and play like 60-90 sec songs that are jokey but aren’t jokey. I dunno, I dug them, thought they were fun. I’m pretty sure The Frustrations followed, enjoyed them enough, didn’t pay super close attention. Par for the course Bourbon Street punk rock.

Pictured: The Unholy Two@Bourbon Street

The Unholy Two played next and I’m pretty sure I heard an actual song somewhere in the set! That really is them in the above picture and if you look reallll hard that is THE Mike O filling in for Bo Davis on drums. Antagonistic, loud, abrasive..you know the story, either this band is for you or it isn’t. Gnomesayin?

Pictured: Guinea Worms@Bourbon Street

I’m not even gonna front, I had consumed a fair amount of libations by the time Guinea Worms started and well, you know how that goes. IF YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF A FAN OF COLUMBUS MUSIC YOU MUST SEE THIS BAND!!!! I would also like to mention that Extreme Weiners has a delicious philly cheesesteak. Don’t sleep on this sandwich, you have until Tuesday!

You know how sometimes you see a band’s name here and there and then you keep seeing it over and over again? Sometimes that kind of thing makes me less inclined to check out a band. This was basically the case with Warpaint and after seeing them live, it definitely makes me reconsider this course of action. Oh man, they were super fucking cool and easy on the eyes to boot!

Pictured: The Jellyhearts@Summit

The Jellyhearts opened. As I approached the venue, from what I could here outside, I thought Warpaint had already started because I don’t remember The Jellyhearts not sucking! Seriously though, I remember them sounding like Cheater Slicks on a bad night or something and I guess they’ve been practicing and it was apparent. Seriously though, drummer Lauren is also in rosehips and some other band I can’t for the life of me think of the name of. She’s like the Mike O of girl drummers! Whatever, looks like there’s good things to come from these girls.

Pictured: Warpaint@Summit

So yeah, let’s talk about Warpaint. Totally rad for starters. I gave their EP a listen for the first time on Saturday morning and it has pretty much been on repeat ever since. No shit. I guess some actress chick used to play drums for them and the singer chick used to date former Red Hot Chili John Fruciante.(Fruciante’s solo stuff rules)Whatever, show was totally rad, these girls can jam. For some reason there were like 15 photographers at this show and it was like they had never seen pretty girls play instruments or some shit. I mean, I get it, Warpaint is quite photogenic, but for fuck’s sake, these cats were incessantly taking flash photos for literally the WHOLE SHOW. Super fucking obnoxious jesus christ. Our girl Rachael Barbash was there not using a flash, if you haven’t already check out here pics of the show here. I really can’t reiterate enough how cool the set was, and if you’re going to SXSW you have multiple opportunities to catch Warpaint. Don’t fuck it up!

Pictured: Warpaint and Don B@Summit

The legendary Don B made an appearance and performed an A capella version of Batman with the singer chick. She was very obliging and the reason it was A capella was because the stage was already torn down. Don B likes what he likes, myself not being one of them. I guess I should buy him a screwdriver and then maybe we can be friends.

I’m done for now. Tune in next week for Scion Rockfest “coverage”!!!!

MP3:Guinea Worms-B.I.S.I.

Guinea Worms are having an event to highlight the release on their long desired album Sorcererers of Madness on Columbus Discount at Cafe Bourbon Street this evening.
I don’t know much about this band and I prefer to not write book reports.
Click on their name to read an educated opinion.
And i read some statistic on how this record’s national demand exceeded it’s supply so…listen to MP3 and evaluate your evening i suppose
If Jay Electronica or Get RIght isn’t your thing tonight.

Oh hey, remember this thingie? I know, it’s been a minute. Don’t wanna hear it. I bet you can only imagine that a ton of cool shit has happened since we last got up. For example, a weekend camping excursion with a bunch of dudes, guns and fireworks(in the streets) O.K. enough will the small talk. Oh man where do I even start, the older I get the less I remember.

In this issue of “How long is Robert Duffy gonna keep letting that jackass write this crap”, I saw some sicccckkkk psych rock via Subarachnoid Space, some weirdo noise band in luchador masks, some weirdo dude in a giant hamster ball, some weirdo dude hula hooping for a really long time and I went to that thingie down town that a bunch of bands played at.

If you’re really that bored at work today click the more thingie —–>

Dead Sea@Carabar

Tuesday, against my better judgment I went down to Carabar basically because I haven’t seen Dead Sea in sometime, so I figured why not. Gotta tell you-pleasantly surprised by all bands involved. First and foremost, DEAD MOTHERFUCKING SEA. If you’re not hip, Dead Sea are prog metal virtuosos. They typically play loooong and play last. Tuesday the played short, first and left the decent crowd for a Tuesday night wanting more, which is the way it should be. These dudes are amazing musicians, excellent showmen and all around cool dudes. Currently, Dead Sea are in the midst of recording a two song 12″ (one song each side doi) to be released on bass player Alex’s Label, Chrome Leaf. Also I may or may not have heard that Alex is playing bass for some dude that was in some “influential post rock band”‘s other band. Go see Dead Sea on October 30 at Ruby Tuesday dorks.

OvO@Carabar

OvO are some noise duo from Italy. The chick played her dread with a bow.

uhhhh

I mean these dudes were wearing luchador masks. Chris Lutzko was stoked.

Subarachnoid Space@Carabar

I used to have a Subarachnoid Space at one point in time-dunno how I got it,dunno where it went, prolly sold it for heroin. At any rate, wasn’t sure what exactly what to expect and what I got was pure psych rock awesomeness. Dudes(and one chick) were dressed in all white to like totally become one with the screen behind them and the projections in front of them. So totally arty. For real though, sick psych, if not almost stoner jams. Sorry bout you’re life if you missed it.

Guinea Worms@Rumba Cafe

It was Rumba Cafe for me on Thursday. There’s this weirdo band Guinea Worms, perhaps you’ve heard of them. If not sorry bout you’re life. On this live Guinea Worms experience occasion, it was all about the ode to Kraftwerk, Kraftworms if you will-at least that’s what Gary called it. Whatever just look at the picture-I mean.

Also Day Creeper and We March played too. People seem to like Day Creeper. I think they at least aren’t awful. We March are from that hippie college town Athens, but aren’t a jam band and were loud.

The Flaming Lips@LC

Thanks to acclaimed Donewaiting writer Chip Midnight, I was able to attend The Flaming Lips show on Friday night at The Lifestyles(not the rubber) Community Pavilion. I should mention that my first concert consisted of the bands The Flaming Lips, Butthole Surfers and Stone Temple Pilots. It was the summer before my freshman year of high school. I was totally stoked for Stone Temple. I crowd surfed for the first and last time. I met Gibby Haynes and got his autograph. I saw a dugout for the first time in my life. Pretty good first concert really.

17 years later The Flaming Lips headline and a whole bunch of people(buncha hippies really) come to see them. So yeah, I haven’t seen Lips since the first time and was curious to see what the hubbub was about these days. Gotta say, they pretty much delivered. I’m not really a deep cuts Lips dude, so I was happy to hear all the songs you would expect to hear. It was quite the production and I thought the confetti and balloons were cool-I mean as far as that kind of thing goes. Also, Wayne Coyne dedicated a song to The Sun drummer(buncha other bands too) turned You’re so Bossy front man Sam Brown. Buncha weirdos dressed up. There was an 11 year old standing in front of me. The Lips entered the stage through a psychedelic vagina. I told the kid that’s what acid felt like-it wasn’t very well received by his mother. Good lookin’ out Chip and Flaming Lips touring guitarist Derek Brown!

Aaron Hibbs hoopin@Skylab

Soooo, Aaron Hibbs of noise dudes Sword Heaven attempted to break the world record for longest hula hooping ever-dude was shooting for 120 hours. The official record is 72 hours with no break. There is a rumored 90 hour record. Aaron made it round about 59 hours and made an oopsie. I mean, he had a catheter-dude means business and is gonna try again sans oopsie. Come to the benefit on October 9 at Skylab. Envelope is performing. Help make these hoop dreams a reality. MORE LIKE AARON HIPPS AMIRITE.

I mean

Impromptu professional interpretative nunchuk action. I told you.

Saturday there was a festival downtown. Independents’ Day. Buncha local vendors. Buncha local bands. Buncha pictures of the bands that played follow.

Moon High@Independents’ Day

Moon High play magic lullabies.

Blastronauts@Independents’ Day

Blasrotnauts are pissed they’re from Columbus and not Manchester.

Church of the Red Museum@Independents’ Day

Mayor Coleman was totally stoked for Church of the Red Museum.

You’re So Bossy@Independents’ Day

Sam Brown dedicated a song to The Flaming Lips.

no fucking idea

These dudes like attention.

Flotation Walls@Independents’ Day

Flotation Walls take forever to release a record.

Six Gallery@Independents’ Day

Six Gallery doesn’t suck.

Karate Coyote@Independents’ Day

Karate Coyote are Kevin Elliot‘s favorite band.

Best wrapper alive