ateolf | Roxville

Played an impromptu show with Nonconnah last night. Denny doesn't do weekday shows anymore and I was going to go up to watch anyway and Zachary invited me to play. So I brought the modular along. It was at the pandh. The first band to play was Stoic Automaton. They were pretty bad. They were instrumental and played what felt like one continuous limp riff. I mean, their set wasn't continuous, it was broken up into different songs. But it was mostly here's a midtempo riff and okay the drums are weakly tapping along behind. Also their timing was a bit shaky. There were a few exceptions, they were better the few times they played faster (I mean, generally I'd think riffs would be the slower the better, but they handled it better faster and they never played that slow to begin with). Okay, I've been raggin' on this band. They weren't the worst thing but they weren't good. Well, speaking of good, the second band was White Gregg from Knoxville and they were really damn good. I mean, they were really fucking good, okay? Their sound was in a trajectory somewhere between US Maple and Shellac. They were sorta jazzy no wave, but not super chaotic and while expansive, their timing was rigid. But they weren't without noise. Also some notes of The Fall and maybe parts of Can. Also, I'm comparing them to stuff but the great thing about 'em is that the overall picture isn't quite like anything else. So yeah, it was fantastic and I was really impressed. I picked up a 12" and a tape. Talked to them afterwards and sure enough they're friends with Cain (Tatras)! Some of 'em have played in bands with him in the past. Really goddamn cool. Small world, but I guess Knoxville's a small city so it shouldn't be too surprising. Anyway, Nonconnah played last. It was probably alright. I just droned and tried more to just stay behind and enhance Zachary's guitar playing. Anyway, then I worked and stuff. There's another Nonconnah show tonight (it was an accident that they got scheduled two in a row). I wasn't too too tired at work but shortly before coming home it hit me. Two late show nights in a row on work nights would probably be a bit much so I'm gonna stay in and rest. There I go from rocker to weiner.