You’re So So Stup’, It’s All Disrup’

Jonathan Vance “Slyvia The Eagle” – I know next to nothing about this artist. This song was on a promo cd sent to me by Vance’s label, Run-Roc Records, but they have no information about him on their site, and I can’t find anything anywhere. Anyway, this is an interesting little song with driving percussion which implies dance music without actually being very danceable, and punk-inflected vocals which fall halfway between shouting and spoken word. It has a nice simmering intensity to it, but it’s not overbearing. This is set to be released sometime in the near future as a 7″, so keep your eyes open.

The Fiery Furnaces @ Village Voice Siren Festival, Coney Island, July 17 2004

My Dog Was Lost But Now He’s Found / brief improv / I Broke My Mind / Spaniolated / Single Again / South Is Only A Home / Quay Cur (one verse) / Bow Wow / I’m Gonna Run / Leaky Tunnel / Blueberry Boat / Asthma Attack / Crystal Clear / Tropical Ice-Land / Chief Inspector Blancheflower (sections two and three) / Quay Cur (another verse) / Don’t Dance Her Down / Inca Rag/Name Game / Chris Michaels / Leaky Tunnel (reprise) / Quay Cur (final verse)

Of the three Fiery Furnaces shows that I have seen, this is obviously the weakest, though that mostly had to do with the technical problems which plagued their set. The band was pretty sloppy for most of the show, occassionally seeming as though they were just trying to get it all over with. Nevertheless, most of the set was quite fun, but that’s primarily because I love the songs so much – even rushed versions of “Inca Rag/Name Game” and “Chief Inspector Blancheflower” are going to make me flip out with joy. I’m not sure what this set must have been like for the uninitiated. I imagine that much of it seemed incomprehensible and overly weird, particularly “Chris Michaels,” which is already quite difficult but was made less coherant when Matt’s mic was nearly inaudible for several of his vocal parts. Overall, this was a decent show, but I know that they can do much better.