Ales Hits the Pits
Our brave young reporter reports on the action in the Burlington club scene.
By Alex Mayer
Moby
Juno Reactor
DJ Tom Grin
Toast, Dec. 7, 1997
Moby took the state with a hard, fast intro, then ripped into “Ah-Ah,” a track from his new album I Like to Score - Music From Films Volume One. The only other song from the new album that Moby played was the “James Bond Theme" which created a mosh pit filled with over-excited fans ( and in my opinion mosh pits just don't belong at techno shows.) Moby is a hyperactive little ball of energy, jumping back and forth between his keyboard sampler and his drums. Moby and his band - consisting of a bass player, Drummer and a percussionist - played many old favorites such as “Move,” “Go” (“a beautiful little disco song,” according to Moby) and “Drop Beat.” There were even sing-a-longs on “Next is the (E),” (“for anyone who has ever danced with their eyes closed at a techno show”) and “That’s When I Reach for My Revolver.” Moby had a live band playing with him, which included a drummer who never once let the beat slow down. At one point in the show, Moby asked if someone in the audience would think of him that night. Several people shouted “I will!” and Moby ripped into “I Need You.” Moby ended with “All That I Need is to Be Loved,” and “Thousand,” which is the fastest song ever recorded in terms of beats per minute, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. Afterwards, Moby made a personal appearance at his merchandise booth and signed autographs. What can I say? Go see Moby live! Go score some Moby music! Moby rocks. Hard.
Well, all I can say about Juno Reactor, the opening band for MOBY, is that they blew my mind. The best way to describe them is as a tribal dance/ trance group that produces a sensation for all the senses. The group consists of five people. Playing various percussive instruments and horns made from various animals. During the current tour, Juno Reactor has a special guest. I didn’t catch his name, but he has recorded and toured with the Orb, another great ambient/techno group. And he wore a slick fur coat. (Faux Fur, of course,” he told my friend and I, in his thick British accent.)
All throughout the evening, in between acts, DJ Tom Grin spun a blend of hardcore/trance techno and chilled out acid dub. I enjoyed the variety and the seamlessness of the mix.
Non Compos Mentis
Humans Being
Last Ones Standing
Toast, Dec. 12, 1997
Last Ones Standing could be the news, brightest hope in the Burlington harcore scene. Every time I see them, they become tighter and harder as a band, and their music seems more meaningful. L.O.S. played a great set tonight, ripping through “Accolades of Truth,” “Moral Obligation,” and “Innocence Lost,” a great track on the new Good Citizen CD. In the new year, with Five Seconds Expired and Rocketsled gone, look for Last Ones Standing to make waves on the hardcore scene. They are changing their name to Never Again and their debut album is due out soon on Pressure Point Records.
Humans Being is quickly becoming another heavy hitter in the regional hardcore scene. In the fifth visit to Burlington, they played a rocking hard set. They played many tunes from their new album My Demons Disagree with sing-a-longs on “First Time in a Hearse,” “Encapsulate,” and “The Human Experiment.” I also enjoyed the song “Exhausted,” with excellent bass work from Steve. We also heard some great new stuff from these hardcore Humans.
Next up, the scary mysterious Hooded ones from Non Compos Mentis. This band truly defies all hardcore expectations. With trippy, Indian-like music playing in the background, along with disturbing images looped over a TV monitor, NCM started their set with Butch singing “Sellout” from a coffin. They continued their brutal assault with “One Nation,” and the calm - and hectic at the same time - “Beautify.” Look for their track “Hola” on the new Good Citizen, which rocks!
Zola Turn
Lindy Pear
Mistle Thrush
Toast, Jan.2, 1998
Mistle Thrush is a band from Boston, and they really surprised me. They were a totally new band to me, and I enjoyed the bass-heavy sound and the dark, melodic, not-quite-soaring voice of the female vocalist. On a few songs, a nice combo was created with dual vocal duties by the front woman and the guitarist. Many of their songs reminded me of Starlight Conspiracy and several songs, “Rocket” and “Moth-Like,” were really beautiful.
Lindy Pear has been around the Burlington scene since about 1995. I first saw them in 1996, at Big Heavy World’s Perma Bash, and immediately loved them. They are a pretty simple, straight ahead power pop, but they do rock, and many of their songs have really nice guitar lines. Unfortunately, we are now saying good-bye to this band that has been such an integral part of this scene for several years, as lead man Craig Gurwich is moving to New Orleans. Lindy have contributed tracks to BHW’s Sonic Tonic and Pop Pie, “Engine 4851,” and “The Tradeoff in Vermont,” which has a great guitar line I honestly wish I could’ve written. During their last show at Toast tonight, they played “Tradeoff” and “Engine” (I swear he says “I’d sell the car for you…” when they play it live). They also played “Sparkplug” off their debut CD, Old Fair, and several new tunes: “New Year’s Day,” (which I really liked) and a new one that Bob wrote. A great last show although it was a little drunken and wild at times and some lady threw various articles of clothing at Craig. I will miss Lindy peat, and wish Craig good luck in New Orleans. Rock on.
Zola Turn just rocks. That’s all there is to it. I love their CD, and they rock even harder live. They have played with Lindy Pear many times, and their first song, “Anastasia,” was dedicated to Craig and the Lindy boys. Zola also played all the faves from the disc “Cousin Battie.” Jen and Alice switched up vocal duties on songs like “Bulletproof Vest,” and “Racecar Driver.” They played a long set, fitting in requests for “Gothic Bloodsucker” (my favorite), “Social Obligation,” and “Tired Words.” What makes Zola Turn? I don’t know, but whatever it is, it really makes ‘em rock hard!
Belizbeha
DJ EK
Toast, Jan. 31, 1998
Belizbeha is a world class act,a group of highly talented and energetic musicians that are definitely ready to break into the national and international music scene big time. Coming home to Burlington after six weeks on the road, they were quite excited to be back, and had a huge set list, which touched on old faves and some hot new tunes.
Fattie and crew started things out with “Catch the Flow,” which was followed by several tunes featuring the female vocal section, “K’s Groove” and “BooFoobuDoobie.” “So Strange” is a new song, full of emotion and smooth grooves and it was dedicated to their good friend Charlie Willis, who was gunned down in Washington D.C., and who their album was named after. Other new tunes included the upbeat, funky “2 Complex” and “Children of the Jazz,” two personal faves of mine. They also played crowd pleasers “Only If,” “Any Other Day,” and “Turn Around,” which often led into some incredible jam sessions by the ever talented Jeremy Skaller on keys and Bob Dunham on guitar.
This show was a special one, as it was celebrating the release of the “Inhibitions” CD single. The CD, which contains the original version, an instrumental version, and totally rearranged remix, is a wonderful showcase of the talent of this hard-hitting collective, minus, however, the rapping skills of Fattie Bumbalattee. (Hint: there are two hidden tracks, one an instrumental jam session, the other a live track, complete with Fattie et al, a song called “Why You Dissin?”) This CD is a great sneak peak of the new CD, due out real soon.
“Inhibitions” is a great song, very energetic, and it grooves hard. At the shoe, special guest Reid Genauer from Strangefolk came on stage and sang with the two ladies while Dave Grippo hammered out a mean solo on the saxophone. Grippo also played on a number of other songs, including a song with special guest Rico the Rapper, from Boston, and a song with a killer solo from drummer Mark Robohm. And of course, to end the evening, Belizbeha taught everyone how to spell with the song that made them famous “B to da E.”
Afterwards, members hung around and talked with friends, gave out CD’s and Kadi, one of the singers, who sold me a copy of their CD when I first saw them at Middlebury College years ago, and has seen me at many shows since, singed her autograph for me and noted, “You’ve grown up so much over these past four years, Alex.” And so have they. Belizbeha has caught the flow. -GC-
Alex Mayer is a senior at Middlebury Union High School. He is in two bands, Naivete’s Downside and Electro Indie FOlk Star. He also runs Batcave Records. Next September he will be attending Earlham College in Richmond, IN. Surf Alex at http://www.sover.net/~simons/index.html