ABC Pick

Danielson, Telenovela, Mouser

Tuesday, July 4, 40 Watt Club

originally published June 28, 2006

Flagpole isn’t really sure how many members of the Danielson Famile are playing this show, but you can be sure that a) Dan Smith will be there and b) it’s somewhere between one and all of them. The newest album Ships involves a lot of guest artists, from Sufjan Stevens to Deerhoof, and seems to be getting the band the best press of its life, despite its step back in fervor.

There's a feeling, though, that the meandering quality of the album will at least be reduced in concert if not completely minimized. Last time Smith swung through town, he was encased inside a tree costume on-stage, leading to much in the way of sweatiness, but also magic. The timing is a bit odd for the show, as people tend to lean more to Bruce Springsteen and George Thorogood on our most patriotic of holidays, but it’s also appropriate in its oddness. The Danielson effort has always involved iconoclasm of several varieties - indie rock, art school, Pentacostalism - and isn’t that one of the underlying impulses of this country as well? We like to combine traditionalism with a big middle finger to the man (not that those are necessarily opposites; they may, in fact, overlap), and you can stretch that to include a band like this if you’re feeling academic.

But after a day spent eating grilled hamburgers and hotdogs, drinking much cheap beer and lighting things on fire to watch them explode, it seems nice to switch pace for something equally American, by way of New Jersey, but more metaphorically than actually fiery. Smith burns with the creative spirit as much as the holy one, and who’s to say they’re not the same thing?

Hillary Brown

Hillary Brown

ABC Pick

The Rattler, The Wintersounds, Mosey, The Rewinds

Thursday, June 29, Lunch Paper

originally published June 28, 2006

Playing fast and funky instrumental rock songs has often placed The Rattler amongst mathrock’s ranks in the ears of many listeners. But the Atlanta group’s freeform songwriting doesn't adhere easily to one genre. Featuring former Rock*A*Teens guys Justin Hughes (guitar) and Jeff Patch (drums), along with Marshall Dandar (bass), the group’s sound defies categorization. “There is no such thing as ‘We don’t play that kind of music,'” says Patch. Hughes agrees, adding, “We play anything if we can make it work. If there’s a mistake and you can do it consistently and turn it into a song, we’ll do it.”

On-stage the group rages through everything from Minutemen-style, three-minute, art-punk dirges to grinding breakdowns that touch on everything from Frank Zappa to Gang of Four, before switching gears into more funk-laden territory. “Of any band I’ve ever been in, this is the easiest one to just make music,” says Hughes. “We’re not too picky with each other’s ideas, and I think that comes from being in the Rock*A*Teens.” Both Patch and Hughes explain that in the Rock*A*Teens, songwriting stuck to a defined approach that didn’t allow much room for experimentation. “The Rock*A*Teens were really good about keeping it focused on the style of music they played,” says Patch. “They were good at it.”

Until recently, The Rattler had been operating as Ladies Night, but sensing the need for change, the group adopted the new name. Hughes has taken the helm and begun writing lyrics that culminate in a Thurston Moore-style warble, adding new depth to the group’s already divergent palate. “I think we had taken it as far as we could go with Ladies Night,” Patch adds. “Changing the name has really helped keep things moving.”

Chad Radford

Chad Radford

ABC Pick

Hayride, The Owen 4

Friday, June 30, Caledonia Lounge

originally published June 28, 2006

Although it might be an overstatement to suggest any Orwellian overtones to the fateful meeting of Hayride founders Kevin Sweeney and Nick Bielli in 1984, it’s pretty safe to say each of their worlds was forever changed. Or at least their paths. Or whatever.

A few notable Athens drummers have passed through the band over the years and now the guys have enlisted the superb skills of Dave Gerow (ex-Ceiling Fan, A Mercy Union). Explaining the changes, Sweeney says, “So Hayride is basically Nick, me and whichever wind-up monkey we can find at the time.”

In the 1990s, the band secured its status by being the only band to ever sign to the same label twice and wind up suing the label. Twice. When asked about future recordings, Sweeney cracks, “We have plans to record this summer, but we haven't started. We have enough material for at least one album. If Capricorn won't sign us again, we'll probably be on Superfluous Umlaut records.” Bielli explains further, “Superfluous Umlaut Records is issuing a 'sequel' to 1992's Hayride/ Harvey Milk split single 'Pals Forever,' due sometime this summer or fall. The sequel is entitled 'Fuck You Guys,' and features a new-ish unreleased Hayride song and an unreleased Harvey Milk 'rarity,' so be on the lookout for that.”

They’re a perfect fit; neither the local Superfluous Umlaut nor Hayride has time for fast fashion or passing trends. They just keep the rock flames of the Cheap Trick, Led Zeppelin and Dinosaur Jr. variety burning at both ends.

Although the band has gone through long periods of relative inactivity, Sweeney says, “We're ready to start doing a lot more recordings and local shows. We've had these periods of inactivity before, but we'll never break up.”

Gordon Lamb

Gordon Lamb