100 Shows of 2010 - #7: Woods/Real Estate/Surf City @ Rock’n’Roll Hotel, 3/27/10

Sure, I’ve wanted to see every single one of these shows a whole lot. But this one was really something I absolutely could not wait for. It sat there, written into my planner, for weeks, taunting me with the amount of time I still had to wait to see it. And then, one fine day, it was March 27th, and I was headed over to the Rock’n’Roll Hotel for what I knew without a doubt would be a fabulous show. And naturally, I was right.

MINI RECAP: Surf City = Biff! Real Estate = Bang! Woods = Pow! Overall score: A.

I arrived just as Surf City was starting up. Walking into a room filled with the divine sounds of some of my absolute favorite New Zealanders was a welcome thing indeed. I’m so thrilled to have finally seen them live, let me tell you (especially as this was their last US show for a while and because I’ve wanted to see them for months on end now). Their cheeky, pleasantly fuzzy, jangly noise sounded great in person, and I was so captivated I couldn’t take my eyes off of them. Their (far too) brief set was effervescent and fantastic, and judging by the content of the set their new record is gonna be killer, and entirely in keeping with the strong sound they’ve already honed. I officially love this band to bits.

Real Estate was up next, and though they were the band I knew the least about, they too proved rather enjoyable to behold. The crowd was absolutely heaving for their set, with most of the sell out crowd turning up just in time for band number 2. Once I got over the initial shock of the Real Estate singer looking and acting a whole lot like an ex-boyfriend, I was ready to enjoy their set. And there was a lot to enjoy, starting even before they strummed a note. Any band that asks for a lotta reverb from the soundboard is fabulous in my book, not to mention their in-set encouragement of rowdiness. I really dug their rich, dreamy, dappled golden sound, mixing in a little of everything to create a lovely and appealing blend of beachside-cityscape-highway folk rock. Perhaps it’s not the most likely music to incite rowdy riots (ok, for the sake of puns, perhaps a sorta quiet riot), but it was damned fine music all the same. The crowd loved them, and who am I to argue?

It must be said, Woods kinda threw me for a little bit of a loop. Right off the bat, they went all rock on me. There was more feedback, more reverb, more drone, and more sharp edges than I ever expected out of them. But I’ll let you in on a little secret, friends, it was sensational. At times I found myself wanting to cut some serious rug, and judging by the movement on the floor I wasn’t the only one with such urges. For example, “To Clean” live was such a kicky little number, still retaining that sorta rustic sound from the Songs of Shame record but with a bit more bite, just as with most of their set. That unique, slightly off-kilter, almost falsetto was offset wonderfully by the big rock sound they had up their sleeve, balancing fragility with a kind of “we will rock your face off” mentality. Their extended instrumentals were especially intense (and loud), driving and crashing and wreaking beautiful havoc on my eardrums. All of this means that Woods is even better live than I had anticipated. See them, hear them, love them. End of story.

What a night, friends. What a night. A great bill from top to bottom, and all three are bands you should give serious consideration to. I’m beginning to feel just a wee bit spoiled here, because this was yet another hell of a show.

mp3: Dickshaker’s Union (Surf City from the Surf City EP)

mp3: Beach Comber (Real Estate from Real Estate)

mp3: To Clean (Woods from Songs of Shame)

The Untitled Interview #30 – SXSW Edition: Starring Logan Collins (Surf City)

I’m finding it hard to believe that it’s almost time once again for the annual industry hootenanny known as SXSW. To celebrate the impending week of absolute havoc, Austin-style, we’ve thrown down the interview gauntlet to see what some of our favorite bands are going to be getting up to whilst down there whoopin' and hollerin' it up in the wilds of Texas.

My old roommate down there in Richmond was an amazing resource for music. She was into totally obscure shit that nobody I know had ever heard of, and she was also big into bands from New Zealand (which, with a few exceptions was also a region that was pretty obscure to me). One CD she let me borrow had some songs on it by a band called Surf City. Given Chelsea's proclivity towards older bands, I figured they were some long disbanded band from the early 80s. But lo and behold, I was wrong. The fantastic, surf pop meets vintage Kiwi rock that made me so happy was in fact made by a band that's actually together at this very moment in time. And these bitchin boys will be winning over the folks down in Austin in no time flat, I predict. Thankfully, they're also spreading their love all around the US this Spring, and believe me when I say you most definitely absolutely positively without question should go and see them. Drummer Logan Collins gives us the details on his plans for SXSW.

Les Enfants Terribles: How are you getting to SXSW: plane, train, or automobile?
Logan Collins: Well we are coming from LA so we will be flying.

LET: Inevitably, you will forget to pack:
LC: Towels, flannel, soap, extra socks and undies.

LET: How many showcases/parties will you be playing?
LC: We are playing 6 shows I think anyway.

LET: Band you're most looking forward to seeing at the festival?
LC: Acid Mothers Temple should be good.

LET: What's the first thing you plan on doing upon arrival in Austin?
LC: Finding somewhere to stay and eating some BBQ ribs.

LET: What was the first festival you ever attended, either as a musician or member of the general public?
LC: Christian camp was cool but then I went to Big Day Out and that was rad.

LET: Favorite thing about festivals?
LC: Well the music is cool.

mp3: Autumn (new Surf City...buy other Surf City)