Concert Thu May 24 2007

Just can't wait to get on the road again

Spring is in the air, a song is in your heart, and vacation days are being expended in 10 day intervals. That's right - it's touring season!

Blake Edwards, aka Vertonen, aka the head of the CIP label (see archives for an article on CIP by yours truly) is taking to the road starting TONIGHT (Enemy, 1550 N. Milwaukee, Chicago, 9 p.m., $5 suggested donation). He's launching the "Nice Moments" tour with Bostonian turntable wrecker Jason Talbot. Talbot plays a turntable the way it seems like your bratty younger brother did on the rare moment you let him put a record on the record player - only deliberaely, and for 20 minutes at a time. SCRRRRRRTCH! goes the modified needle across custom-scuffed vinyl. Quiet, loud - just like Nirvana. And just like real nirvana, too!

Vertonen brings drones and electronic tones to your brain stem with his usual disregard for candy-coating or easy answers.

Also on the bill with be the furious matchup of Jason Soliday (founder of the Enemy space, and past and present member of coeurl, Gunshop, Magic Missle, Animal Law, etc.) and Mark Solotroff (BLOODYMINDED, the Fortieth Day, A Vague Disquiet). Folks who saw these two at Reversible Eye Gallery on Saturday know that they are capable of summoning some truly dark forces. They've promised to have a few "idea meetings" and at least come up with some sort of "safe word" this time. Opening the proceedings will be Is, the project of Bryan Day. Bryan took his highly disciplined take on noise to North Carolina a few weeks back for the No Future Fest, and won the admiration of folks from all over the country. He's deserving of your ears.

C'mon along, see these nice fellers off as they hit the road for 10 days of putt-putt golf and tour-long bridge tournaments. Buy a limited-edition tour-only 7" if you're so inclined. And most of all, get ready for some NICE MOMENTS!

— Chris Sienko