Fearless
Black Peaches + RM Hubbert + Land Observations + Billy Mahonie + ILK + Kompromat + Jeanette Leech + Dave Callahan (Moonshake/The Wolfhounds) + I-Ality Hi Fi + Re:Tros + Tolerance Manoeuvre + right hand left hand + False Hope For The Savage
Entry Requirements: 14+
So, Jeanette Leech wrote a killer book about Post Rock and interviewed a load of folks for it, including my band Billy Mahonie. Honoured indeed to be a part of it.
It made me think about what it was, what it is, and what it has become. I'm pretty excited to offer this lineup as an example of where my thoughts lie on the issue. For me Post Rock was many things, and here's a few. (TBC)
Post Rock was Folky: Gavin from Billy Mahonie was always very much into folk of all kinds. Living together with him was something of a lesson in old Fairport, new Scud Mountain Boys, Palace Brothers and so on. He was onto Secretly Canadian right from the get go when they were just sending out tapes via mail order. His parts are very often rooted in Folk. Many Tortoise bits you could say the same. There have been bands since then in the UK folk boom which I've recognised post rock in, and vice versa. On this bill I think RM Hubbert and Land Observations smell of that somewhat too.
Post Rock was Jazzy: Nigel Adams, now of Full Time Hobby, once suggested we do a fanzine called "What Tortoise taught us". I think now might be a good time to do this. They certainly taught me a bunch. You can be fun and lazy and jazzy all at the same time. It doesn't HAVE to be super choppy (yet 'toise are clearly super technicians - they just don't always come across that way). They've got jazz and experimental and groove. Loads of others had this too. Loads of folks came to it from dance angles. Red Snapper were a huge reference point for me when we started out. Fridge too.
Post Rock was experimental: Not always, and I'd say it didn't HAVE to be, but there were those elements of existing at the edges of other scenes rather than being at the centre of anything. Loads of bands were pretty much Rock bands (Billy Mahonie could be argued to be this). And then there were loads of pure electronics and pure jam bands too. It was all welcome I think.
Post Rock was fun: What's not to like about nailing a great idea and then meandering over it for AGES!
Post rock was visual: Often without lyrics, it made sense to project onto a big screen. I remember goosebumps from either Quickspace at LSE or Tortoise at the Vibe Bar.