Special guest post today from mr Gary 11 on, well Motown Philly. We will let him explain.
“DMM-DMM-DMM DAAH DAAH, DMM-DMM-DMM DAAH DAAH, BAA-EY-AAH-EY-AAH-EY-AAH DAH!” etc.. I could go on. But I don’t think that would be a good idea now, would it. No, I’m not even going to think of trying to preach to anyone about the grating harmoneeeeez (sic) of 80s-90s preppie uniformed eraserheads Boyz II Men – I’ve in fact used the title of their inane hit single as a somewhat tenuous link to the band I’d like to tell you how wonderful they are today – namely the Philadelphia-based garage-house (-ish? maybe?) outfit Hail Social.
A mutual friend introduced me to these guys, four Philly boys who all met working in the same grocery store, while they were on a fleeting visit to Brighton about two years ago – I was naturally introduced to the one with whom I would share a common interest, Smiths/Morrissey tattoos (this young chap, much like Sarah from The Rocks and Wet Dog who I was also introduced to once, has a Viva Hate tattoo). I was hesitant to investigate their band at first – said mutual friend described them as a bit New Order, much like so much other angular-pop detritus circumventing the atmosphere at the moment (it’s not big or clever to repeatedly hit a hi-hat lots and lots of times and write a song around that), but a fleeting moment of boredom whilst unemployed in London last summer turned my dull, uneventful hiatus from work into a daytime disco frenzy round the house – beats Trisha anyway.
Now this is more like what gets me going – cheesy 80s-esque disco immersed in misery (like Ultravox‘s Dancing With Tears In My Eyes). Much like Head On The Door-era Cure, we’re talking the kind of stuff that needs goths in lace gloves hand-clapping on stage in accompaniment. I think they are a standard 4 piece, though I could be wrong as there is a nice juicy repetitive drum machine in there. It’s incredibly linear, however the singer’s girly whimperings over the melody really make me cringe – in a good way. It’s still a bit angular, don’t get me wrong, and I’ll even give in on New Order likenesses (but only in that it’s bass-led) – but the main memory a song like ‘Track #1′ evokes for me is the soundtrack to a really low-budget hardcore porno from the 80s I accidentally found in my dad’s video collection when I was 12, rather subtlely labelled ‘Gulf War XXX Do Not Tape Over’. I kept that video, incidentally – you’d be amazed at how easy it is to steal a porno off your dad to show all your mates at school, without him ever asking for it back.
Hail Social recently went on tour with Interpol and Secret Machines in the States, so no doubt I’ll have to stop liking them soon. Boo. I hope they play in England before then.
I’d also like to take the time to point out what a piece of genius the Beach Boys offcuts-album ‘Smiley Smile’ is. Like the Smile sessions, only recorded at the time so benefits from sounding fresh, rather than the worryingly painful wails of a flabby genius who was so paranoid at the time he had to get lots of young people to sing it for him. (No offence Brian – you’re my hero!)
For a band of portly bearded geeks, they sure knew how to write some strange tunes. Clearly they were on something at the time (to invite Paul McCartney into your recording studio you have to be at least a little wrong in the head, let alone to chew celery as percussion on the song ‘Vegetables’), some of the song subjects are highly dubious – no, complete bollocks to put it mildly. And what’s with the silly puerile stoner giggling on ‘Little Pad’? It’s like when Booger gets out his spliffs at the nerd’s frat party in Revenge Of The Nerds or something. Christ, they must have been in their mid-20s when they recorded it. I’m just waiting for one of the Beach Boys to put on the uber-baritone version of ‘Swing Low Sweet Chariot’ when the black people come round their house.
Finally, big up to Stu and Juan for all their good work. In the words of Mr Burns on the progress of his army of flying monkeys, ‘Continue the research.’
Weekend BrightonAgenda
GEEKS! erm, Gigs!
Friday- Freebutt: Duracell , french band who apparently sound like Lightning Bolt covering Aphex Twins, sounds awesome, actually, sounds like dis…
Duracell- Space Harrier (level 1) (live at Le Clande, Tolouse)
Yep, we also like The Advantage a lot.
Saturday- Freebutt: Part Chimp , they sound like the Hot Snakes meet the Melvins and some early Sonic Youth, nice. Rock hard, their last album rules, listen to them at Throwaway Style.
DRUGS! er, clubs!
On saturday…
The mighty It Came from the Sea will rock it hard t the Ocean Rooms, the dame of all things electro (Nag Nag Nag anyone) Jo Jo de Freq comes after.
And of course, Detournement at B’lo.
Epilogue -This post is tagged with 80s aah baa boredom detritus disco dmm ey fleeting visit goths hail social hesitant hi hat inane morrissey motown philly mutual friend prog tenuous link ultravox uneventful
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