Madames et mes squirrels,

Suffering from post-pride nasal drip? Post 4th BBQ sticky fingers? Your lucky stars are approaching. Come out for the luckiest day of the century this Saturday 7/7/07 for a great show at El Rio in the Mission. Presuming Emile keeps his overly plastic features away from the BBQ grill to prevent a melt down, Mon Cousin Belge will giving it up for you this Saturday. MCB will be headlining this time out with personal favorites The Vaticans whooping it up beforehand and new tics on the block, The Nervous Tics opening.

Saturday July 7
El Rio
3158 Mission (at Cesar Chavez)
Mon Cousin Belge
The Vaticans
The Nervous Tics

did you have a Jesus & Mary Chain t-shirt? Someone I know did.

That’s right. This Thursday, July 5 in OAKLAND
BART DAVENPORT with THE PASSIONISTAS
BRIAN GLAZE & SEAN SMITH
a bill more dazzling than fireworks

9PM at THE UPTOWN 1928 Telegraph Avenue Oakland CA
This gig only costs FIVE DOLLARS.

more on flickr

Mon Cousin Belge is back! They’ve dropped about 500 pounds and have a new stripped down sound. Emile returned for Matt Cote’s birthday and the band ‘debuted’ as a three piece. That is, if you don’t count a house party and a some other shows they did. Considering how full on rock band they used to be, this could easily have been a disaster. Except they did those other shows so really there was no suspense on that front. With just piano, drums, and vocals the band is lean and mean. And so are the songs!

You know, whenever I know a band is just keyboards, drums, and vocals I get worried its going to sound like ben folds five, like he somehow owns that sound. Wouldn’t that be the worst? The band says they play ‘deep faggotry jams’ which translates into something like showtunes + gospel + rock n roll. That almost sounds as bad as ben folds five but, surprisingly, it works.

At the center is Emile, a plastic surgery addict with a voice that could beat you at arm wrestling. They ran through a bunch of songs, new and old. Everything is shorter, sparser, and awesomer. The newer numbers are artsier, less bound to rock ‘n roll tradition. Like, in a Talking Heads sort of way, but that could also just be the Talking Heads cover. Of the older numbers, the song Bundle of Contradictions totally benefits from the new arrangements — its been decked out in total sixties girl group glory. I can’t think of anything better than a scruffy wig clad faggot singing girl group songs.

That said, MCB hasn’t fully figured out this transition. Some of the older songs benefit from the old, fuller figured sound. Without the extra instrumentation, when mistakes are made they ring out loud and clear. But on the whole, its a successful transformation.

Also up this evening was Ill Ease and Le Flange du Mal. I don’t have much to say about Ill Ease. This is a one woman band with guitar, bass, and drums glued together by a few sample pedals. She runs around like a professional plate spinner trying to keep these songs moving forward, looping two and three chord riffs, simple bass groves, and drums. Its surprisingly charming, but after a while it starts to sound a bit samey. While I bet the recordings are in a similar vein, I’d be interested to see how they fare.

Le Flange du Mal are some kind of hellish synth driven cabaret thrash core band. With trumpet. I don’t think that is what their website says, but thats how I generally remember them. Most songs have moments where they freak out and instruments are played dramatically and most shows are attended by members of the bay area’s hipster rock elite. Basically, what I’m saying is this is either your thing or it isn’t (listen here to find out). It happens to be my thing and they were in fine form this evening, there’s photos to prove it.

Is this for real? Here’s a tiny bit of explanation. The lovemakers new single, Whine and Dine, was just released by fuzz.com. Fuzz.com is a new type of myspace, except they have a label and are more band promotion focused. Well, it seems they weren’t so subtle promoting the lovemaker’s new single. Here’s my favorite posting:

“by kchakmakian on 06/05/2007
Just purchased “Whine and Dine” and LOVE it. I liked these guys before but now I can call myself a true fan.
Love the video too – check it out on Fuzz…
Reply to this comment”

Is this a true fan? If you have the attention span to read how the kids eventually react to this marketing blitz on digg.com just read all of the postings below…

The Lovemakers release hot new single “Whine & Dine”
Oakland-based duo The Lovemakers have released their super hyped single “Whine and Dine” exclusively on fuzz.com. The white hot, trendsetter anthem of the summer is already a hit with the party going dance –crazy masses. This single is off the upcoming EP “Misery Loves Company” which will be released on the Fuzz label in late June.

Submitted:
28 days ago
Submitter:
fuzzygroove (news: submissions, diggs, comments)
Topic:
News » Entertainment » Music
Source:
thelovemakers.fuzz.com

The Lovemakers are da bomb! Check out the new video too at thelovemakers.fuzz.com.
View 3 replies to this comment (most popular has 2 diggs)

by ABJL on 06/05/2007
Awesome!! Check them out at fuzz.com!!!
Reply to this comment

by aquarium on 06/05/2007
I love the new whine and dine vid!

thelovemakers.fuzz.com
Reply to this comment

by darbarijimit on 06/05/2007
they are da bomb
Reply to this comment

by StartupGeek on 06/05/2007
I’m loving it even more than misery.
Reply to this comment

by morimorimori on 06/05/2007
Whoa – check out Fuzz.com too…
Reply to this comment

by aquafoxx on 06/05/2007
The Lovemakers ROCK!

Thanks to the FUZZ crew for getting the good music out for all to listen too!
Reply to this comment

by brianbsantacruz on 06/05/2007
OH MY FREAKING GOD!! YES YES Y-E-S!
Reply to this comment

by shinrich on 06/05/2007
nice
Reply to this comment

by burnjo on 06/05/2007
real nice. go to Fuzz.com to check them out and other bands as well, great site.
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by cc2007 on 06/05/2007
Sweet – are they playing at Shoreline soon?
Reply to this comment

by kchakmakian on 06/05/2007
Just purchased “Whine and Dine” and LOVE it. I liked these guys before but now I can call myself a true fan.
Love the video too – check it out on Fuzz…
Reply to this comment

by fuzzygroove on 06/05/2007
Yea, they’re playing BFD this weekend, I’LL BE THERE!
Reply to this comment

by yourmom1226 on 06/05/2007
As always, AMAZING!!!! Fuzz.com has the best music and artists.
Reply to this comment

by Sprainiac on 06/05/2007
Their tracks on Fuzz.com are slammin’. Definitely going to check them out at BFD this weekend!
Reply to this comment

by bsplyr15 on 06/05/2007
Awesome music, awesome band, awesome website!!!
Reply to this comment

by Spagettini on 06/05/2007
I’m listening to the Lovemakers right now and I have no pants on. How could life be any better??
Reply to this comment

by kchakmakian on 06/05/2007
Just purchased “Whine and Dine” and LOVE it. Just found the Lovemakers this year and love their new stuff. Can’t wait for more…
Reply to this comment

by kaydubb on 06/05/2007
Great tune. Like some of their other stuff too, but happy to see this being dugg!
Reply to this comment

by shrimp1967 on 06/05/2007
Brilliant! What a way to rock…Keep up and play hard…Way to go Fuzz!!
Reply to this comment

by turbano on 06/05/2007
Now I know why they’re called The Lovemakers. This thang bumps n slaps! Does he say “nice times out 4 2″? hilarious. They’re getting better n better. Lovemakaz rule!
Reply to this comment

by kenvsryu on 06/05/2007
Whine and spam! Great new single.
Reply to this comment

by seattle98104 on 06/05/2007
YEAH YEAH!! GO SPAM!!! I LOVE ME SOME SPAMMY SPAM SPAM!!! AWESOME!!!
Reply to this comment

by code on 06/05/2007
complete spammers, marked as such…goodbye
View 1 reply to this comment (most popular has -2 diggs)

wildflowerz