For those of you still choked up about missing SXSW, and those of you still drunk from SXSW, here comes a little excitement to Vancouver with Thee Oh Sees and The Intelligence playing Pub 340, Friday night. The show comes as the first introduction for many Vancouverites to the dizzying swirl of Thee Oh Sees’ demented psychedelic folk, as it’s the first time ex-Coachwhips crooner, John Dywer and gang, have played the rainy city.
Promising to delight with enigmatic wails and wobbly reverb, the San Francisco foursome puts a decidedly unique spin on notions of folk; grinding it down, painting it black, and whipping it into their own hootenanny riot of gooey sludge. Only weeks before the official release of the band’s sixth album, The Master’s Bedroom Is Worth Spending A Night In (Tomlab/Castle-Face), Thee Oh Sees are sure to showcase the new record’s automatic classics on songs like “Visit Colonel” and “Block Of Ice,” where the cozy warmth of vocalist Brigid Dawson’s tonsils taunt.
And you might even recognize one of those classics from Thee Oh Sees’ west coast tourmates, The Intelligence, as they do a pretty fine cover of “Block of Ice” on their latest full length, 2007’s Deuteronomy on In The Red. Led by the formidable Lars Finberg, The Intelligence’s mechanical harmony is the perfect match to the experimental yelping of Thee Oh Sees. With their lumbering, itching, calibrated rock, the Seattle band is a thrilling addition to the energetic lineup. Like a catatonic love story complete with “Moon Beeps” and “Secret Signals," The Intelligence has always been a favourite in Vancouver, and this time will be no different.
Rounding out the droning action is another SF band, NRSZ. Previously known as Nurses, the no-fi twosome squeeze-out brash, reverb-filled vocals with the wandering harmony of only a guitar and drum kit. The chaotic duo complete this noisy lineup, helping to provide some much needed discordant harmonious salvation to the city of Vancouver, and all other stops on their March tour.
check out yet another amazing video clip from Thee Oh Sees, courtesy of theamericanopry, right here...
