After spending the day picking up elephant dung from a suburban Long Island street, I could only hope I lent an exotic air to the haute pègre-studded benefit for Penny-Ante at Cake Shop.  The show featured musicians with hefty band resumes: Sonic Youth, Townes Van Zandt, Phantom Limbs, Live Skull, Silver Apples and so on.  However, the crowd was a little thin–only the most dedicated and unemployed come out on Wednesday nights.

Loto Ball Show was setting up when I arrived.  Loto Ball (Phantom Limbs) shuts up his bearded hype man mid-rant by swatting the microphone away from his face.  His hype man exaggerates the real hurt he feels inside and turns his back to the audience.  Loto is compelled to apologize.  They hug and all is forgiven.  Their sound has those same mixed signals, alternating from friendly pop to apoplectic madness.  Loto Ball’s manic trumpet and hype man’s percussive beetle wing earring added a tense post-punk dub vibe to the otherwise familiar sound of Phantom Limbs/Le Shok-era punk rock.  Rounding out the rogue’s gallery were a Farrah Fawcett-Minor type keyboard player, a slick bassist, a nerdy guitarist and a mercenary drummer.

Pocahaunted played one long song that embodied their name—a haunting tribal chant played low to the ground–the only one standing was the singer whose microphone was off for the first five minutes.  Eventually, the sound problem was figured out and Pocahaunted built up the pressure then released spiraling shrieks like spirits of a desert monsoon.

Bridez, Indian Jewelry and Int’l Shades I missed unfortunately.  It was late on a Wednesday night and I had a demeaning job to do in the morning.  I like the Cake Shop; they don’t turn up their noses at those who reek of animal shit.

– Jon Hustad

Crystal Antlers “Parting Song For The Torn Sky”

In between printing and packing for his upcoming show, at Lit Lounge in NYC, SPZMT (Skullphone) takes a couple minutes out of his day to answer 10 questions about his musical preferences and personal hygiene.

Are you digital or vinyl?
I play the piano and organ so both, or I dream of both.

What was the first record you bought?
When You Wish Upon a Star by Walt Disney Co., on the Pinnochio
album? I still listen to this, my neighbors love me.

What was the last music you bought?
Soft Boiled Eggies LP for sale at Amoeba! Amazing right?…Put out by
Tiny Creatures. And Bruce Springsteen Born in The U.S.A. 7″ because the cover is so American.

What was the last record you listened to?
Crystal Antlers – cd from SXSW. I’m listening to it now. It’s only
6 songs long, so i’ll listen to it again in about 15 minutes.

Do you have a favorite record you listen to when making art?
Last night I ended with Green Milk from Planet Orange. Anything that
makes me feel like i’m on a rocky cliff in Greece worshiping the sun
is great. Or in a hollowed out ice igloo deep underwater in Finland. Or at the parthenon.

What other artists do you like right now?
Takeshi Murata gives good video.

What is your favorite album cover?
Season of Glass by Yoko Ono, since i’m almost in New York right
now. You can never really go wrong with album art if it goes to
vinyl. Vinyl is the church and the choir.

Why does the Easter bunny carry eggs? Rabbits don’t lay eggs.
Because it’s easter, bunny.

What are you working on now?
Art for Lit Lounge, NYC. Smoking Room Only.

Where do you put your boogers?
On the floor by my bed. Definitely not on the street. I don’t pick my
nose when my hands are dirty.

SKULLPHONE ART INSTALLATION IN SMOKING ROOM ONLY W/ DJS ZEN ZANE, HITS & MRS. PLUS SPECIAL GUEST DJ AND SPZMT AT LIT LOUNGE, 93 2ND AVE., NYC 10003. 8PM. LITLOUNGENYC.COM.