I don’t know if it’s safe or not, but driving has always been somewhat meditative for me; a time to both introspect and let my thoughts go.
This morning’s drive was no different.
I had my iPod on shuffle as I often do, and found myself listening to Arrigato by STS9 from the Live at the Norva Theater set I downloaded at archive.org a few years back. The set has always been one of my favorites and this song in particular is really amazing. About half way into the track, a sinking feeling crept over me. Part of it, undoubtedly, is an association I have with this set… it was the soundtrack to a bad breakup a few years back (then again a year or so later, then again a year or so after that… now I don’t get back with ex’s, so I get to listen to it on my own terms). But there was something else…
I saw STS9 a few months ago in LA with an old friend. He and I went to quite a few STS9 shows at the Catalyst, Fillmore, Warfield, etc. back around the turn of the millennium (I love saying that)… we’ve both been huge fans ever since. That said, we actually left the show early. Why?
Sound Tribe shows used to be a place to rejuvenate and escape from the facades and bullshit that have become such a big part of our lives (whether by invitation or osmosis). There was no “scene” - simply a place where a guy named Matt could unwind with a chick named Tomato (seriously) over a nice cup of tea (the Kerouac kind). I used to go to STS9 shows knowing I’d have an almost spiritual experience regardless of whether or not I ingested anything to facilitate it. And like so many things, that’s changed.
This set was not the soothing and tasteful mix of organic/electronic elements I’ve come to expect from STS9, but an anthemy, distorted blend of a Sound Tribe show with electro house (ie: dentist house). Instead of the rich and complex textures and harmonies that stand out as uniquely Sound Tribe (in my mind), I got a bunch of sustained vst synth leads I could’ve concocted in Reason. The bottom line is that I got STS9 neatly packaged for mainstream consumption.
To be fair, the band’s performance was tight, the show might have gotten better after we left and frankly, it’s possible I had a bad piece of sushi before the show, although I recall feeling quite spry on the night in question. And I really enjoy their newer albums, but to me, Sound Tribe was never a studio band - it’s always been about the live performance. For a period of almost 10 years, they always amazed me in that every show was better than the time before and I’m sad to say that streak has come to an end. And although I’ll continue to support them through buying their albums (as long as they keep makin’ ‘em good), it may be awhile before I find my way to another show. I don’t know… maybe 28 is the new 50 and I’m just getting old and crotchety, but that’s my $.10 (for the record, $.02 ain’t worth shit anymore…).
Oh, and just so you know I’m not a total hater, I distinctly recall Prefuse73 opening and absolutely killing it!
2 Comments
dude, i saw them recently as well and had the same reaction, though it was my first show. i absolutely love “artifact” and was quite let down by the performance. no one was even playing instruments minus the drummer, who seemed to be eternally locked to a click track.
i also recently saw prefuse, unfortunately though it was another let down. the mix was sooooo friggin loud and bad at the club that i couldnt make out anything. he was sharing the stage with two other dudes who just made noise the whole night. i love the dude’s music, but the show left much to be desired.
sounds very similar to an experience i had not too far back with STS9… although i remember that night evolving into more about time spent with an old friend… it is interesting as we get older how the significance of certain experiences resonates on a different frequency… those old melodies of the past still provide context of our life’s soundtrack, yet like any musical composition… there are interludes, fades, abstract expressions, and unforeseen changes… music is life that way i suppose. beautiful thing.
also want to acknowledge that like any of us that are actively trying to seek out what humanity is and how it applies to us, we can have good and bad sets. perhaps it was just an off not, which i have heard many LA crowds have been partly responsible for…
i still had a good time, positive experience…