Preview: Pumice, David Daniell, lwa, Ed Gray
Tonight a mysterious Kiwi will occupy The Picador: Stefan Geoffry Neville who makes music under the moniker Pumice. Neville’s got a gruff, far-off croon sounding something like a creepy lo-fi Stephin Merritt. He hides this voice in a mass of reverb, serenading you from a cave on a secluded beach. Neville just recently resurrected Pumice and has a three-song 7” out on Soft Abuse called Persevere. There’s the third cut below.
Download: Pumice - Pacific Ocean (The Axeman)
Both of the New Zealander’s midwestern stops are with David Daniell (including tomorrow in Daniell’s home of Chicago). Occasional Rhys Chatham collaborator, Daniell crafts long, intricate acoustic arrangements. Epic swells of finger-picked reveries. Daniell also flexes some chops on extended ambient work-outs filled with tinny, grainy syths and oscillating drones. Sometimes the twain meet.
Ed. note: Today David Daniell releases a limited edition collaborative album via Thrill Jockey with Douglas McCombs of Tortoise. Sycamore was conceived while the two toured as members of Rhys Chatham’s Die Donnergötter, and put together over the following two years. Though this evening’s performance will see no overlap with this material, his appearance in Iowa City makes this little bit of news noteworthy.
Look for two local favorites on the bill as well. Whiskey-soaked troubadour-cum-kamikaze guitarist Ed Gray could bring the tears in the beers or he could tear you a new asshole or maybe one then the other. Watch out for him to do his best Metal Machine Music impression tonight. Speaking of making noise, no one (arguably) does it better in Iowa City and with as much attention and dedication to the craft as brotherly duo Lwa. This is some heavy, deep shit, folks: brooding, building, layering sheets of sound. Cacophonous in that really, really good way.
Ed Gray - Drink
Who: Pumice w. David Daniell, Lwa, Ed Gray
Where: The Picador
When: Tonight (8.18), 9 pm
Cover: $7
Thanks for the kind (and apt) write up of tonights show. One last minute addition, however: Lwa (notice that only the first fucking letter is in caps) will be joined by the masterful Evan Miller for a special set. This will be his last gig in town before lighting off for Portland, and we’re pleased that he’ll jamming with us.
Lwa