Tales of some guys who recorded a non-LP, one 1968 night in Baltimore. It didn't come out at the time. Four decades later (or late) it's ready. Blues yes, but they swirl. One of their songs – Hippie Queen – was released on the CD compilation Aliens Psychos & Wild Things - Volume 3 a few years back.

Now, Arcania International has partnered with Monkey Claus to offer you digital downloads direct from the original analog mono mix.

We hope you hunger for more Bosom Blues.

Richmond Flowers Five is guitarist Joseph Zehner with Jeff Melkerson on drums "The name includes Melkerson's characteristic mix of the historic and absurd. Richmond Flowers was the Alabama Attorney General that supported the Civil Rights movement in the '60s." This was heavy, unaffected, low guitar strumming with heavy handed drumming and no vocals whatsoever. The performance was meditative and sophisticated, in contrast with several past Melkerson freakout moments that have taken place in the Tea Bazaar. (The other wily avatars of the Melkerson rock beast.) Bravo!

The Dodos are an groovy Californian duo. They brought a beautifully effected guitar-scape-crystal wash of color. A new weird Americana, pop psyche potion, guided by cosmic rhythms, and polished with ethereal shoe-gaze vocals. Catch the Dodos as they continue traversing the nation, on the road with Jennifer Gentle, and later with Akron / Family. Their recent release, "Beware of the Maniacs" is a killer record.

After a lengthy soundcheck, trying to wrap their heads around the Tea Bazaar's tiny minimal PA system, and arranged carefully on the small tatami stage, Jennifer Gentle proceeded to charm the room with their homespun blend of carnival music and acid-pop. One could tell the band was a bit less than totally comfortable as the set began, but grooved their way into the zone. After the show I told lead singer and songwriter, Marco Fasolo, how much I enjoyed the show and he told me he didn't have such a good time himself. When I inquired about why, he told me he had such a hard time hearing himself sing. I said the singing was spot on and although he didn't enjoy the show I was glad for the chance to see them. He smiled and told me that for him, not being able to hear himself sing was like, "F*cking with 25 condoms on..." Whoa, who else says things like that! This band gets more likable by the minute. If this was an bad night for them, a good night must be pure magic. Enjoy this taste of Jennifer Gentle's sound, and for further investigations try to catch them live somewhere or check out their fantastic new record "The Midnight Room" recently out on the Sub Pop imprint. According to a Sub Pop press release, "Marco (Fasolo) wrote, performed and produced the entire new album alone in his Ectoplasmic Studio, a rambling old house lost in the foggy plains of Northern Italy, infamous for its previous owner’s suicide by rifle."

It was intriguing to hear the fruits of Marco's imagination manifest with a live band. Beach Boys-esque three part harmonies came to life, punctuated by playful trap kit playing, mind melded guitar, bass and keys.....and the occasional kazoo howl. Marco's unique, high register vocals wove convoluted tales of myriad subject matter, disguised in a pantheon of styles, flavors and moods. The experience was the sum of many influences from rock history, swirling in a good dose of Italian psychedelia (ala Fellini or Morricone), and all the weird vibes of the fun house at the carnival. Overall very cool and original music and a very talented live band.

Enjoy these recordings! Peace!

Words by Matthew Clark
Live recording by Simon Jolly

Words and Live Recording by Matthew Clark

Live at Tea Bazaar - 2007
Note: There is a file embedded within this post, please visit this post to download the file.

Zorn's own secret weapon, Joey Baron, is also a Richmond native, and a total modern jazz-drumming wizard. On July 25th 2007 Jones brought his Guitar Quartet to the Tea Bazaar for a night of chronic modern jazz. The group featured two electric guitars, upright bass, and Jones on trap kit. Joining Jones for the set were guitarists, Trey Pollard and Alan Parker, and upright bassist Matt Hall. The set ranged from Jones own compositions to a loose interpretation of "Eleanor Rigby". The feel was always free, with drums leading the way and triggering cues for direction. The drumming swayed between abstract and groove, yet always managed to elucidate the situation completely, guiding his stringed crusaders into wild and unruly territory. This throw down was heavy and heady, like a jungle safari adventure fever dream, with a head full of malaria meds. Take heed.

Modern jazz, comes with a heavy dose of skepticism from jaded audiences. The potential for cliches associated with the genre are an ominous shadow, from which true players must shine through to express their merit. The Guitar Quartet took all of 30 seconds to destroy all naysaying. They displayed the art of shredding, which walks a fine line with the art of wanking. The line was drawn clearly and shredding it surely was. Jones unique battery skills, leave jaws dropped and minds blown. His compatriots are always on par with his level of skill, in what ever group he presents or participates in. The two wailing guitars carefully avoided filling the same register while, naturally coming unhinged and being fully lost in the music. One guitarist would often create ambiance with swells and slides, whilst the other would play a lead role with more annunciated notes, sometimes sparse and other times frantic. The bass grooves were spot on, solid, thunderous and robust. Matt Hall would sometimes employ his bow, even if only for 5 seconds then switching back to plucking away, to evoke the right tones.

As with all styles of music, there is the good the bad, the talented and the hacks, the innovators and the recyclers, the shredders and the wankers. I expect that the Slang Sanctuary family, involving dozens of musicians from the Richmond jazz, noise, free, out and avant scenes all have multiple projects worthy of exploration. As improv music seems to be making a huge resurgence in the rock and folk realms, let us not forget the bedrock of improvisation, and one of the most valid "American" cultural contributions, "jazz music". Brian Jones and Co. show how fresh it can be.

Mp3

Listen to Greatest Encounters with Them Against Them

The first time I experienced Them Against Them was years ago in Richmond, Virginia's "Egg" artspace down by the river overlooking the downtown skyline. They projected footage of rhinoceroses from behind a white sheet and threw down some wicked improv. Musically, they projected relaxed dabblings with things of wonder, which fit perfectly with the art, the quiet milling about, and the mustachioed man on a tribal rug brewing tea in a haze of incense smoke. I was amazed not only by their casual and nonchalant mannerisms but also by their ability to hypnotize.

Over the years I have learned that these guys belong in a league of their own which I will call "the humble heavies." Each artist has played in scores of well known and unsung projects mostly based out of Richmond. Paul Watson tells you matter-of-factly that he toured the UK with Radiohead, as part of Sparklehorse. Phil Murphy astounds you with his finger-picking which seems too fast to be possible. Occasional drum collaborator Brian Jones is known and revered by many as a "straight drum beast". He is the mastermind behind the Slang Sanctuary record label and the focal point of many of it's groups and releases.

All of their performances are pure improvisations and feature many foreign and unconventional instruments. Cornet, bass, guitar, 'ud, trapset, various hand-drums, lapsteel, tapeloops, delay pedals, samplers, fieldrecordings and "found items" are potential elements of any given Them Against Them project or show.

Monkeyclaus is proud to present our "Greatest Encounters with Them Against Them." This audio collection is culled from three special recordings Monkeyclaus created with the band. Each recording, captured with different tools in different moods and situations, reflects the diversity of Them Against Them as well as the diversity of Monkeyclaus recordings. Abel Okugawa recorded the first tracks in a studio session in our full fidelity recording studio with Brian Jones on percussion. We recorded the next piece during the Monkeyclaus Grand Opening festivities in the same live-room. A jovial audience packed the room, Dave Medina joined in on percussion and our prized Soundfield quadraphonic mic, which hung from the ceiling of the studio, recorded the sounds. The final set of tracks is from a show at the Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar, as Them Against Them rolled into town to share a night with Grand Banks. Dave Medina once again sat in on drums. Peter Agelasto recorded onto our Sound Devices fieldrecorder/flashdrive through a Beyer Dynamic ribbon microphone. Listen for the subtleties if you wish, otherwise just relax and ENJOY!!!

MP3
Listen to Greatest Encounters with Them Against Them