A couple of months I posted a review of Dadadah live at CBGBs Downstairs (see dadadah.txt). Since it's a regular gig I planned to go back the next month, especially since I'd enjoyed it so much and they were having a lot of guest musicians. Well due to work commitments I couldn't make it, but last night I finally caught the band again.
Marianne had recommended I check them out after meeting the leader of the band Kitty Brazelton at a gender conference in Austin, and had subseqently forwarded my amateur scribblings to Kitty. Soon after I arrived I talked to Kitty and said hi for Marianne. Kitty remembered Marianne immediately and then said oh wait are you mihalis@ix (my email address). When I said yes she insisted on introducing me to her husband and some of their friends who were there. His name is Howard Mandel who among other things is the president of the Jazz Journalists Association (www.jazzhouse.org) and it turns out they liked what I wrote and had even excerpted some of it for a promo blurb or something like that. I started to get hugely embarrassed but didn't let on. It's hard enough to write a review for newsgroup friends, let alone the actual real musicians! After some more discussion one of Howard's friends nipped off and came back with a Dadadah demo cd. This was getting a bit too much for me and I tried to get them to accept money for the duplication cost (it was a "CD-R" which cost several dollars each). They thought I was worried about my journalistic independence (Howard asked me if I write for a living - chuh!) but it was more like I just felt a little uncomfortable accepting a CD of their music for an old Usenet posting to a completely obscure non music centred group. I resolved the situation by buying Howard a Bacardi on the rocks so the CD was a swap.
The first time I wrote I had worked from memory, which led to a rather impressionistic posting long on feelings, short on facts. This time I had resolved to try and do slightly better so I had brought along my USR Palm Pilot organiser. This also intrigued people and I spent several minutes explaining what this little device was that I was scribbling notes into frantically. What follows is my notes from last night, as scribbled there in the dark, minus typos, plus words I skipped in my haste with only a little embellishment.
Dadadah did a quick soundcheck at 815 playing some of (I think) Around You and then Cinderella's Sister. It was mostly a very laid back soundcheck - collapsing after some of kitty's fiery vocals.
We were then left in the hands of dj firehorse. He played _something_ (not sure what) very loud - dig that thoracic reverb!
The first set started at 9.07 with a track called Open the Window and Look Out - this one I don't think they played last time and isn't on the CD.
A dramatic opening then a waiting exectant beat before Kitty comes in wordless, eerie - its a lament, hardly matters what for - the tension is too much. Kitty waves on the trombonist. Things are briefly tense then Kitty waves in the relief of the harp - a relaxed interlude. Suddenly the cello breaks in with an evil "Nigel Kennedy" like elecric tone - picks up edge of menace again. Now some lovely french horn before an improv section leads us to the chaotic pre finale then the insistent beat from the start and then a heroic final theme.
Second track - Sex Wind Dream - "played as written"
Firstly a great harp intro, and then the main tune. I realised I had heard this one last time. It's a love song with a dreamy verse and accented shouty chorus running on harp power - that aint no keyboard! Kittys voice starting to bloom.
Third track. Introduced merely as a "guest track"
The first impression is just a very tricky rhythm. There are smiles on the players faces, I think its in 27/15.5. Gradually my brain starts getting it, lyric there is no island continent safe from the weather of my something something - ah, its based on the previous track - a deconstruction. Turns out it was (de)constructed by one of the previous months guest artists. More of the typical Dadadah experience of order seeming to arise spontaneously from chaos. Insert educated link to trendy biological theories of the day here...
After a brief improvisational madhouse and a brief gentle groove we find ourselves in the last track of the set :
Track 4, Soul Kiss
This track is easily recognised by the exultant "all i wanted to do is" chorus. Kitty shakes her head and smiles then -Jesus- she blows the roof off with full throated screeching before we go all art rock. Fine by me! Is that a fripp on that harp?!? Cacophanous finale : more beer I say to myself (can't make head or tail of the music at this point), but it's not quite over - one more run through the chorus comes as a relief - its already an anthemic old friend and sets Kitty off dancing. Howard says he's not surprised if i got lost in there. I don't disagree.
Thats it for the first set, so back comes dj firehorse - his heavy dub hits the fundamental resonant frequency of my heart, but unfortunately the rest of my soft tissues as well. Actually he's quite good, reminding me of the more experimental "Orb" circa Pommes Frites.
2nd set 10.10
The mainstream CBGBs crowd upstairs is shaking the ceiling.
Track one, Around You.
Another love song, long sustained notes from the french horn - one of my faves from last time. This track shows off the other Dadadah signature which is the contrast between the cool and challenging complexity of the music with the direct warmth of the vocals and melodies. The french horn player, Mark Taylor, plays an extended solo. It's so good I start to hate him. I am entitled though, being a former french horn player myself.
After this the band is finally introduced. Kitty points out that whilst the guitarist is using 7 strings, the harp has 46! The band is as follows :
Track 2 : Cinderellas Sister
This track has a great dramatic but sad feel, perhaps written to comfort someone dear. Kitty's voice is firing on all cylinders now. After the relatively straightforward beginning similar to the studio version, the band takes off on another strange improv journey we just live on faith they'll find their way back. After a long period Kitty tells the band to let go. We subside and then we're straight into the highly strung chorus one last time.
After this Kitty announces she has an orchestral premiere on Tuesday May 5th at Merkin Hall. I think through my timetable and decide I can probably go.
Track 3. More evil yet thrilling and rhythmic cello takes us over the edge into "Thing of Beauty". The melody grabs me although it's only the second time I've heard it. The guitar adds menace in an uptempo section including a cello break with YES! whah whah pedal. The track continues with more ensenble strangeness then an outstanding sax break towards the end.
Track 4. The last track sets off an unscripted dancing outbreak. There is some kind of eastern tinge to the intro then a guitar solo segues into a bluesy stomp boogie. A bit of fun before we reach "You're in Love" - seemingly an easy way to round things off, but wait! The tempo picks up, lots of arms waving, the guitarist wigging out- well who wanted the easy way out anyway?
Tuesday May 26th next gig, CBGBs downstairs.