Musicians Are So Much More Than Top 40
My wife always rolls her eyes when we talk about music, because she never has any idea about who I’m talking about. I have (I guess) kind of eclectic taste in music. I like Noise Rock. I like so-called “Experimental Rock”. I enjoy listening to groups like Lightning Bolt, Deerhoof, Arab on Radar, and Need New Body. The other day my friend Mystery told me I had to check out Friends Forever, explaining that they’re similar to Lightning Bolt and that I’d probably dig them. I’d never heard of them, but after a couple searches on Google, I’ve determined that they might be a new favorite - and I haven’t even listened to anything yet.
From Aquarius Records:
Some of you may have already experienced the live fury of Friends Forever without even realising it. Touring in their beat up old van, and with no actual shows booked, Friends Forever would pull up in front of venues, where other shows were happening, and perform IN THEIR VAN, with smoke and strobe lights and fireworks spillling out into the street, while the band members thrashed away inside, usually driving away as the cops pulled up to find out what the hell was going on.
From the archives of their label, NGWTT:
June 15th, 2002
Friends Forever has completed the first part of their summer tour schedule. Playing with the hit band Sparkles, Friends Forever played an explosive series of explosion shows all across the mid-west. Highlights include getting all high, throwing bear[sic] bottles at cars, bowling, partying with these fine ladies, and getting in fights while coked up on meth in Iowa. No wonder Iowa is where Slipknot is from. Everyone had fun but The Friends were glad to get back home so they could once again resume their regular schedules of masturbation and despair. They should be hitting the road again in early july following the Melvins. The dates/places may or may not be posted here.
There is such a rich world of musicianhood out there. For your own good, try something different today. It might make you a better person. It might make you cool. Case in point, look what happened to this man when he discovered Deerhoof on my shared iTunes library at work. A few dissonant chords and a lady going “beep beep” basically changed his life! (Just kidding, Jack, you were already cool.)
Just remember: when you begin to think an artist like Nelly or Linkin Park is different or innovative, you have been assimilated.