johnnie craig
SIAN ALICE GROUP AND MIKE BONES @ SOUNDFIX (w/MP3s)
Sian Alice Group “Motionless” (from 59.59)
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Mike Bones “Love’s Not Yours” (from The Sky Behind The Sea)
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I saw Sian Alice this summer at the Social Registry festival, but by now they’re the newly appointed rock darlings of New York—even featured in the new issue of Vice, which many of last night’s audience members held clutched in their fingerless-gloved hands. Then they struck me as Lavender Diamond-ish, and last night I found that I’d remembered correctly. The Sian Alice Group is indeed very much like Lavender Diamond: lead singer Sian Ahern has a deeper voice than Becky Stark, and appears to have more control, but she lacks energy—something Lavender Diamond always has. Their songs tend to be on the slower (although lovely) side, and I found myself glancing at the time and wondering how many were left. There were a few exceptions, like when they played “Way Down To Heaven,” a haunting song in which the entire band built into a loud crescendo. At one point the drummer was hitting his skins so hard,I thought he might punch through. There were too few songs like that, though, and it was even more frustrating to listen knowing that they could (if they wanted) rock out. My advice to the Sian Alice Group, if you want it: stick to the songs in which you use all your energy and resources at once.
Mike Bones—the opening act—also had quite a few slow songs, but they were packed with that magic fairy dust that makes the difference. He’s one of those rare talents who somehow manage to seem honest and vulnerable at the same time. He plays beautiful meditative reflections on relationships, swaying with his head thrown back and eyes closed. Each song sounded vaguely like the last, but in a way that was neither obnoxious nor indicative of a lack of talent. His voice has a raw sandpaper feel and comes across as rustic and old—like he might be playing these to himself in a cabin far away from other ears, as if he was trying to convince himself of his own talent. Each song came across as authentic and at moments pained, and I found myself thinking of the songs of Leonard Cohen and how each one blends seamlessly into the next. He even had moments of Daniel Johnston’s turmoil and isolation, like we’d stumbled in on him, simply singing to himself. I know this sounds goony and gushy, but this guy plays beautiful music. And he’s a lyricist, which as a writer, I appreciate.
Reporting Live From New York,
I’m Nikki Darling and You’re Not
1 disgruntled // Feb 19, 2008 at 1:38 am
hey guys, where chevy?
2 disgruntled // Feb 19, 2008 at 1:42 am
pssst, i heard this show was at soundfix.
3 DJ Short Shorts // Feb 19, 2008 at 1:43 pm
The Sian Alice Group have more in common with Neu!, Swoon 23, Ooioo, Tangerine Dream, Loop Guru, the sonic experiments of Red Krayola (Free Form Freakout 1 or 2) Spacemen 3, Pierre Henry and Michel Colombier or Scott Walker than the upbeat bliss-pixie orchestral-folk of Lavender Diamond. In fact, I see absolutely nothing in common between these two bands other than having a female lead singer… is there really such a glut of women in music that we must compare apples to oranges? HOWEVER, I am in total agreement on Mike Bones.
4 Baby Bulldog // Feb 19, 2008 at 2:03 pm
red krayola, awesome
5 Nikki // Feb 19, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Neu? Um, neu my friend, unfortunately I don’t agree. And, neu, a glut of women I don’t think there is (and I think what you meant is NOT a glut), otherwise I would have compared her to Chan Marshall, The Kills, or any other number of female solo or female lead acts out there, but I didn’t because, well, they sound nothing alike and remind me none of The Sian Alice Group. Lavender Diamond with their full orchestrated numbers, sometimes sorrowful vocals (Upbeat? When was the last time you listened to Imagine Our Love? Oh No, The Garden Rose, I’ll Never Lie Again, and Find A Way are all so, in my opinion, and my pinion is actually the one that is writing these articles, so sad.)do.
I see where you’re coming from though and agree that too often female singers and groups get lumped together in a uneducated effort to seem up to date on whats hip with the kids. But I encourage you to have an open mind.
AND the night that I saw them play they were a total snoozefest and I only woke up when they started playing their more energetic material where I finally was like, “oh, these guys have something original, than goddamnit do it already!”
Also, also, play the opening of Motionless next to Open your Heart.
Nikki
6 Nikki // Feb 19, 2008 at 3:33 pm
One more thing, if you’d like to go back through any of my LFNY’s you will see that not only am I advocate for female rock and individuality (Adult, Erase Errata, Dynasty Handbag, Oakley Hall, Telepathe, Gang Gang Dance et cetera), but that I have compared only one to Lavender Diamond.
7 DJ Short Shorts // Feb 19, 2008 at 5:17 pm
You are correct, my question was rhetorical. Both Swoon 23 and Ooioo had/have female vocals and are closer musical comparisons. So I guess I already have an open mind.
I also agree with you not every song by Lavender Diamond is upbeat. I still just don’t see(hear) it. I think ‘Motionless’ sounds like a slowed down Ooioo song and ‘Interlude’ and ‘Complete Affection’ could easily be somewhere in the middle of Messe pour le temps présent et musiques concrètes/Pierre Henry and Michel Colombier. Ultimately it’s all just ‘pinions. What you call a “snoozefest” I find layered and complex. Such is the futility of ‘blogarguement’. What do you think people? Viva La Difference!
P.S. Will someone please compare/contrast the fantastical Steven Gregoropoulos (Lavender Diamond) led W.A.C.O. vs. Rupert Clervaux (Sian Alice Group)participation with the always avant garde Spring Heeled Jack?
8 cheese // Feb 19, 2008 at 5:23 pm
Sounds like we need to have a write off! Ill get the typewriters and bikinis!
9 Nikki // Feb 19, 2008 at 5:34 pm
BIKINI’S?! FUCK OFF SHIT HEAD. At least DJ Short Shorts had an intelligent opinion. go suck your salty scrotum and do something worthwhile.
I’m serious, you and people like you are the entire problem.
10 DJ Short Shorts // Feb 19, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Sure Cheese, as long as you promise not to wear one.
11 DJ Short Shorts // Feb 19, 2008 at 5:36 pm
I think Nikki will actually be making a bikini out of your flesh.
12 DJ Short Shorts // Feb 19, 2008 at 6:22 pm
Oh. My. God. I think I just laughed for 10 minutes. BTW, what’s your favorite Mike Bones song? I’m pretty partial to ‘My Love For You Is All But Gone’.
13 Nikki // Feb 19, 2008 at 7:10 pm
I don’t know, I’d never heard him before Saturday. But I’m going to do a little researchums. He’s great! Well, speaking of NY, it’s late here and I’m off to bed. Goodnight, short shorts. It’s been fun.
14 cheese // Feb 19, 2008 at 8:15 pm
Don’t worry i totally voted for Obama!
15 Nikki // Feb 20, 2008 at 6:38 am
Either you’re someone who knows me and is fucking with me or you’re just a total idiot. Obama? Is that supposed to be a joke? Look Cheese, this is the absolute last time I’m posting on this page so read carefully: My gender is not a token or the punchline to somebody’s jokes. And even though you may have thought your comment about bikini’s was innocent or cute, it wasn’t, it was violent and dangerous. It’s the same as unwrapping a piece of gum and dropping the wrapper on the ground, you may not see how it makes a difference but soon your city is covered in trash. Weather you’re aware of it or not your comment after DJ Shorts Shorts and I were having a legitimate conversation was simply a way of trying to undermine and belittle our opinions.
Furthermore, if you think comments like that are harmless I assure you that the violence and harm done to women around the world is a clear indicator to the contrary. Posting a comment like that is the same as posting a racial slur, only we have been conditioned to think otherwise.
And before you tell me to lighten up or get a sense of humor I say why don’t you think about it, muster some integrity and say sorry.
16 DJ Short Shorts // Feb 20, 2008 at 4:29 pm
I say just make some penis jokes and call it a day! For instance, is it acceptable to like a band Vice Magazine likes?
17 cheese // Feb 20, 2008 at 5:04 pm
I hear Lavender Diamond is working on theme song for Oscar Meyer and Obama!! Im going to go oil up my hairy man chest and watch some football!
18 enamored // Feb 20, 2008 at 5:49 pm
yes. lets all please bring our bikinis to a discussion about women in music – after all what place to women have in this conversation except as bikini wearing living dolls, definitely lets not think about them as talented or artistic or creative or warranting any discussion or debate without bringing along some sexy beachwear! And women discussing music? Should DEFINITELY only be allowed to do so while wearing bikinis – after all, women discussing anything is really just casual gossip and not worth serious thought.
Cheese if you are going to support Obama and his message of “meaningful change” hopefully you will take it to heart and rethink how even offhand remarks demeaning women perpetuate the old, tired, misogynistic power paradigm in this country.
19 beedapreast // May 1, 2008 at 3:43 am
Hello
Bye
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