December 4, 2009
Erase Errata
I retract my initial characterization of D-22: it could pass for a “Lower East Side hotspot.” It turns out that my previous warehouse-turned-clubhouse description is far more appropriate for neighboring metal venue 13 Club, with its spacious main floor, multiple side rooms and pentagonal windows. I stopped by 13 Club last Saturday for the first (and possibly last) time before heading over to a show (pictured below) at D-22, and I must say that my musical allegiance lies squarely with the latter venue. [Footnote: D-22's address is listed as 242 Chengfu Road and 13 Club is supposedly at 161 Chengfu Road, yet in reality they're two doors down from each other, a perfect example of the irrational street numbering here.]
Also, Weezer’s “In the Garage” is probably a more accurate description of this DIY practice space. I might have to go with Carsick Cars’ 中南海 as the D-22 theme song (more on this in a future post).
But hopefully, I wasn’t too far off the mark… and I have pictures now, to prove that it actually exists (as opposed to just being on other blogs.)
Noisemongers The Offset: Spectacles (who I had the pleasure of seeing again yesterday) were first up on last Saturday’s bill; they’re perhaps as good as a post-rock band can be without a drummer. While I respect their mastery of the tension between swirls of feedback and low-end drone—alternately ponderous and urgent, depending on the song—I am of the opinion that even a crappy drum machine (à la MBV) could take them to the next level.
Avant-punks 24 Hours were next up. The two chicks on guitar had chops to match the drummer as he laid the groundwork, deftly weaving between a dancy kick / open high-hat and taut toms / cymbals to complement impeccable snare rolls. Another band to watch.
Finally, 怪力 (Guai Li, or Strange Force) lived up to the hype as the unassuming female singer put on a sufficiently raw performance over shapeshifting post-punk guitarwork. 怪力 are one of the few bands that I actually researched prior to seeing them live and I wasn’t particularly impressed with their songs on Myspace, but the live act more than made up for it.
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