Jake DeVere

The Final Night-Gang of Four and Perry Ferrel

Jake DeVere — Mon, 20 Mar 2006 22:45:49 -0000

After what seemed like a couple of hundred miles of walking and an inversely proportionate amount of sleeping, the week had all come down to this, a performance that left me feeling like I had my virginity stripped away by a gang...a Gang of Four that is. I will first lay to rest any thoughts that anyone may have regarding my historical knowledge of rock n' roll, for I have none. And when it comes to punk, I have even less. To this point in my life, I had never heard the Gang of Four, after this point I was a converted believer in what I saw not only in the eyes of the band, but in the fans that chanted every word of each song in possessed stares towards oblivion.

My first hint that this was no ordinary show, was the insane look that spilled out of lead singer Jon King's eyes. He looked as if at any moment he could snap and explode or maybe fire a look at the guy behind you and straighten the kinks in his hair. The slightly stoic, slightly insane stare graced most of the bands faces as the chugging gut-centered riffs moved the crowd. Drummer Hugo Burnham pounded on his set with a caveman like authority in a signature tom tom style that was a far cry from anything i had ever heard by a rock or punk drummer. This was the sparsest most gritty dubbed out punk music that I had ever heard. Guitarist Andy Gill's genius is evident in the fact that he didn't really ever play more than a note or two. He would pluck the exact two notes that made your head tingle and then hug his guitar and let the reverb carry him around the stage in a daze of flashing lights. At one point Andy picked up a banana that someone threw on stage and started using it as the old banana slide. You gotta check the pics, I have pictures of guitars being played with banana's, a microwave solo by Mr. King and the destruction of Gill's ax when he launches it into the air for a quick punk-fueled moment of defiance. Mind you though, the stoic looks never left their faces during any of this. Whether King was banging on the microwave or throwing his shoulders out of socket with his spastic impersonation of a whirly-gig gone terribly awry, they all kept a quiet storm beneath their stares. Bassist Dave Allen proved what I have always believed about the Worlds' strongest bass lines; don't play more than three notes. That was a secret passed along to me by a great producer once, and Allen has definitely mastered the art. Low growling dirty gritty bass lines filled in the gaps in a call and response with Burnham on drums. Together, the rhythm section was deep and powerful and drove the songs relentlessly with an undeniable set of grooves. I highly highly suggest that if you ever have a chance to see the Gang of Four, do it, if it means you have to grease the bouncer, do it. Even if it means you have to stand in the front row and suffer King's glare for an hour...Yeah!! still do it...you can always re-kink your hair.

Peace Austin. Thanks for the love and the memories. See you next year.

Jake

Oh Yeah. Perry Ferrel stopped by and wanted to grab a quick picture with me...so I let him. Peace.

Femi Kuti and Art Brut...Best Shows Yet

Jake DeVere — Sun, 19 Mar 2006 00:52:27 -0000

I don't even know where to start. I have a number of Femi Kuti songs and have been a fan for a long time but have never seen him in person, live and in concert. ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!! The only show I have seen where everyone, and I mean everyone was moving and dancing. The dancers were amazing, the horn section was powerful and the drums were thick like your grandmas thighs. And Femi...well...you know how that goes, it's as if he can not stop the music from coming out of him, whether he is singing, playing the hammond or playing on one of the three saxes that sit by his side he is always interjecting some melody. I had an ear to ear smile the entire time and when I was able to yank my eyes away from the stage and look around, so did everyone else. Did you know that all of us are from Gondwanna?

After I left Femi's show I decided to pop into Beauty Bar where the bouncer immediately made fun of me as I have been in and out of there all week. It just so happened that I showed up at the perfect time (funny how that works), because just as I walked in DJ AYRES was laying it down in the front while Art Brut was rockin'it in the rear...if ya know what I mean. Art Brut...what can I say? I have never heard any of their music previous to this, but their energy and comical nature combined with immediately familiar riffs has turned me into a believer. I will be purchasing their record as soon as I get off the plane, maybe sooner if the stewardess just so happens to have a copy. I have never been in the cockpit before, has anyone else really ever been in the cockpit? Anyway, at one of the many points where the entire crowd was chanting, myself included, Eddie Argos, the lead singer had us all shouting "Art...Brut...Top of the Pops!!!" Truly amazing and talented artists. Hitting the URB Next 100 Party in just a little bit. Back soon. Peace.

Jake

A Shorter Path no. 2 by Karl Denson (jake deVere re-work)

Jake DeVere — Sun, 19 Mar 2006 00:12:45 -0000

URB next 100, Femi Kuti, and Dim Mak

Jake DeVere — Sat, 18 Mar 2006 19:43:26 -0000

Just ran through the rain and am getting ready to head out a couple of dope shows today. The biggest and most exciting one will definitely be the URB next 100 party as this is the who's who of who you don't know yet. Also be checking out Femi Kuti at Stubbs and heading over to the Beauty Bar to Catch "The Rub." Back in a bit. Peace.

Jake

St. Paddy's Day Madness

Jake DeVere — Sat, 18 Mar 2006 16:49:32 -0000

Wow!! And let me say again...WoW!!! I thought Mardi Gras was nuts, the streets of Austin exploded last night in a ballet of movement that was a mash-up of more piggy-back rides than I have seen since grade school and hurling everywhere...oh yeah, and there was some great music going on as well. Although I spent a great deal of time in my room yesterday evening uploading pics for everyone to see, I was venturing out to meet with some of our street team members to download their cameras in a frenzy to get more photos. On the first trip out of the hotel I noticed that something definitely was in the air. The difference between last nights street crowd and the rest of the weeks street crowd was the frat factor. I saw more dudes high-fiving each other than the winning team after a keg-stand contest in college. Needless to say, this added to the spirit of the evening. Check my shared files to see a quick clip of my walk down the street, complete pandemonium as far as the eye can see. Our team got to just about every event it felt like last night, as legs were tired, voices scratchy and cameras full. I personally got a chance to see Charlatans UK and We Are Scientists (nice goggles check the pics) as well as a kick ass DJ set by Eugene Hutz, lead singer of Gogol Bordello, that ranged from accordion style hip hop to raging metal. More entertaining than the music was watching how much Mr. Hutz gyrated on stage to his selections, messing with the announcer by cutting off his mic and raising his arms to the sky in sweet, sweet victory. Not sure why, but the popular mode of transportation last night was neither cab, nor petty cab. People seemed to revert to their child-like state as I must have seen 100 piggy-back rides last night. Mind you, none of them made it more than three steps before collapsing, but the smiles were unmistakable, children at play...drunk children at play. A beautiful thing about yesterday was that I didn't hear a single voice raised or see a single fight happen. more than that I saw thousands of people kissing and going for it in doorways or just right in the middle of the street. Could this be the next generation of love? I have to admit i have encountered more genuinely well mannered rockers than I could have imagined. i even saw a burly pierced rocker dude excuse himself to a mother as he asked, "May I please slip by you to grab a water, I'll only be a sec, may I grab you one as well?" I love it, my favorite part of the week so far was the pleasant shattering of every perception and assumption that i had about Rock 'n Roll and its artists. I have experienced nothing but great people here in Austin, I can not wait to visit again next year. Gotta run, more to come later today. Peace.

Jake

Peaches is te Sh*t!!!

Jake DeVere — Fri, 17 Mar 2006 13:09:17 -0000

After walking here, and walking there and then walking back there just before walking here, I think... I found the my favorite act so far. As I was about to head home last night around 1:45 or so, I just happened to stop by Beauty Bar one last time for a quick peek. Just as I stepped to the door a very happy party goer came over and bent down to puke on my shoe. Luckily no spew, just the garbled slurred statement..."We're letting you all in (funny most of us were already in), and guess what? You get to see Peaches!!!" While I have to admit that I wasn't necessarily rushing to make sure I caught a Peaches show it was by far the most entertaining thing I have seen in the last couple of years. Peaches walked out and gave a performance with the Burly Q Curly Q's, I burlesque style cabaret troupe of interesting gals, to say the least. Check my pictures and you will see what I mean. With complete disregard for herself and the sensibilities of the children in the audience, Peaches ripped through lyrics in a lip sync DJ set that had her thrashing about, grabbing 45rpm record covered breasts and suckling on her thumb. All hail Peaches as the new "don't give shit, we're all just here to have a good time artist." Truly the most fun i have had in a while. Blog soon. Peace.

Jake

Walking the Streets, Fighting the Lines

Jake DeVere — Thu, 16 Mar 2006 07:56:55 -0000

After our first night of walking around we quickly realized the scope of South by Southwest; the lines were massive, the jeans were tight and the beer was flowing like wine. Everywhere we went we found a lot of the same thing, loud guitars, surprisingly patient bouncers and lots and lots of extremely "unique" vintage tees. Short one tonight as I am hittin' the sack early to catch as many shows as possible tomorrow. Hit everyone tomorrow. Peace.

Jake

The First Night

Jake DeVere — Wed, 15 Mar 2006 23:27:29 -0000

So we got in, caught a cab and made it to our hotel. The streets are rampant with nose rings, tight black pants and mohawks. Thankfully I haven't seen any faux hawks yet so I am pretty sure that I have made it safely out of Hollywood, yet the night is young. As we were walking out of the convention center where we registered we caught our first show as a white van screeched around the curb and halted right in front of the us. The back doors flew open like a terrorist attack and out came..."Mount Awesome." A truly underground guerilla entrance. The guitarist jumped out and started playing as the drummer who was set up in the back of the van banged on his set like a sardine stuck in his can. Tonight I will be checking out the AM only party as well as stopping by the Blender Party. Should be fun..stay tuned. Peace.

Jake

My very first Imeem

Jake DeVere — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 00:29:58 -0000

So I was able to navigate with very little difficulty all the way through the sign-up and feel already like I am part of the "Cool Club." So now, i guess it's just a matter of collecting a bunch of "meems" which I have equated to be "my peeps", you know" ...where my peeps at...where my meems at?" Something like that, wait one sec...Holla Foo...sorry, just wanted to get that out, i was feeling very urban just then. So here it is, my first imeem log, not too fancy, no bells and whistles, just a quick shout out to let everyone know that I am here, I can type and that i will be taking everyone on the road with me as I travel to South by Southwest to check some of this year's hottest up and coming acts. Should be fun. Peace.

Jake-ee D