IT'S ALL A BLUR: Cowgirl in action. |
Two-thirds of the prog-noise powerhouse collectively known as Cowgirl are members of Zox. Spencer Swain and bassist Dan Edinburg and Ebu Gogo drummer Chase Leonard have unleashed a "very, very different musical endeavor."This band is a very unique and different animal, with no relation to Zox whatsoever," Swain said earlier this week while promoting their upcoming slot on the Black Kids bill at Club Hell on Saturday (the 6th). "Cowgirl is a creative outlet that enables us to write and play noisier, more aggressive music.
"I don't really expect to draw in many Zox fans."
Leonard and Swain began Cowgirl last year, and Edinburg joined soon after. Hearing their raw material at myspace.com/cowgirltheband, it makes sense that violinist Swain also jams in another beastly instrumental unit called DenimVenom, but subs the electric violin for guitar with Cowgirl. The band also benefits from Leonard's input as a member of Ebu Gogo, a similar sonically-twisted trio rounded out by two members of local legends Grüvis Malt. And while Swain reported that Zox is "on hiatus," he made it clear that Cowgirl is a going concern, and not just sonic stress therapy.
"I definitely see Cowgirl as my number one priority, though I like to be involved in as many different and diverse musical projects as I can," he said.
Swain said the band is currently wrapping up the mixing on their debut EP, the result of a 48-hour recording marathon in Maine in August, and anticipates an early '09 release ("It'll be perfect for Valentine's Day," he wisecracked). "That was a seriously epic session," he said. "We have a good friend who has a studio up in Portland. He invited us up for the weekend and we blasted through the five tracks. Being able to finally bring the Cowgirl material to the studio and solidify the arrangements was totally energizing."
Speaking of epic, check out a few tracks posted on their site, including the seven-minute prog-opus tentatively titled "Two," which hits a few meaty sonic crescendos (like Primus in fifth gear) with big, sludgy guitars complemented by Leonard's kinetic drum work. Swain doesn't plan on tooting the Zox horn in order to get a record deal, noting that "a label with a good grasp on experimental music would be more appropriate."
The band is looking forward to playing Club Hell again after a few recent gigs there with Dub Trio and Ebu Gogo. Swain recalled a standout performance opening for An Albatross this past summer in front of a packed Living Room audience. "We had an awesome response from the crowd and the other bands there, which kind of kicked us into gear to start playing more shows," he said. "We have some shows in Brooklyn lined up, and have plans to eventually take this out on the road."
When I asked if he sees smaller, less enthused turnouts coinciding with venue closings on the local circuit, Swain noted the energy in the room when he attended the Arab on Radar DVD release party at Machines with Magnets in September: "It was awesome to see so many people come out, and it just shows that there is still a very healthy interest in the music scene, and it's inspiring to be a part of it."
BLACK KIDS | COWGIRL | TOWERS | Club Hell, 73 Richmond Street, Providence | December 6 at 7 pm | $15 | 401.709.3923
Jingle bell rock
'TIS THE SEASON FOR YELLOW SNOW
Tonight (the 4th) check out a low-dough triple-bill with BADMAN, BARN BURNING, and SUMMER DUCK at Jake's Bar & Grille (401.453.5253). (The Low Anthem were scheduled, but they'll be heading to Philly to perform on xpn.org on Friday at noon.) Also on Thursday, Allston, MA-based reggae partystarter JAH SPIRIT plays the Ocean Mist (401.782.3740), and the Greenwich Hotel (401.884.4200) just added Fridays to their steadily successful (and free!) Thursday night concert series; JERI VERDI & HER HEAVY FRIENDS start the weekend off early on the 4th, and MIKE G & THE ASSOCIATES appear with SIGNS OF LIFE on Friday (the 5th). Call 401.884.4200 for info on both. The Blackstone in Pawtucket kicks off a busy week of their own with a free show featuring Cranston's APOLLO'S PROPHETS and Provy's DAS VERTS (Wilco meets the Connells there); call 401.726.2181 for details on that one as well as the HAWKINS RISE/SHRYNE show on Friday. Another solid rock bill on Friday has locals KANERKO opening for BIRCH HILL DAM at Jake's, with THE PROSELYTE, FINISHER, and EASTERN EYES rounding out the lineup. The Blackstone provides a one-stop evening on Saturday (the 6th), beginning at 7 pm with the annual appearance of YELLOW SNOW, a local quartet who get together at holiday time and rock out the Christmas classics for charity; a $10 donation is requested. At 10 pm, the ladies plug in with the CHELSY LAU BAND opening for HEATHER ROSE & THE DRAMA.
Could there be a better Providence-based rock band moniker than KICKBACK CITY? KBC play the Century Lounge on Saturday, while country-fried roots-rockers THE WRONG REASONS headline with SAMUEL JAMES and Warren's BROWN BIRD at Jake's. On Sunday (the 7th), get your Bleu Cheese Hash fix early at Julian's, sleep it off, then return that evening to catch THE 'MERICANS strip down at Julian's On the West End, opening for Brooklyn duo KAISERCARTEL in an intimate acoustic set. There's no cover; call 401.861.1770 for the scoop. On Tuesday (the 9th), New Bedford's BAYLIES BAND (check out their debut Risibility and Discourse on 75 or Less Records) fire up the proceedings at Club Hell (401.709.3923), with THE WANDAS, GRANDEVOLUTION (a lil Velocity Girl, anyone?) and Uxbridge folkster SHANE HALL headlining. And KRIS HANSEN (sans his Left Hand Band) sets up shop at Jake's on Wednesday (the 10th) as part of their weekly singer/songwriter series (no cover charge).
