Originally posted to rec.music.bluenote, 17 Sep 1993 03:54:11 -0400.
Obviously I am psychically connected to Naked City in some way. I've gotten a cold (perhaps partly from walking back home in the cold rain in a sweat-soaked t-shirt after the two sets yesterday) and have been feeling lousy. Since I didn't want to aggravate the situation I was making some amount of effort to be "healthy" (well, "less unhealthy" perhaps?). I resisted getting my usual slice or two at St. Marks pizza, cuz I figured it wouldn't be the best thing to eat when one is sick. When I got to the Knitting Factory I turned down a joint; I figured getting stoned might interfere with recovering or something. Well, I was hurting throughout the whole first set, standing about three people back (decent view of the band). My throat was really sore (another reason not to smoke) and my feet were aching. And the music was weak. This is probably the worst set I've ever seen Naked City play (some of it was passable, there were ok tunes and good moments, but overall it was weak, uninspired, unfocused, the tempos didn't seem to be happening, the band wasn't together -- they're simply capable of much better). This was not just me projecting my own mental and physical state onto perceived stimuli or something!! No, my brother agreed that it was not as good as yesterday. Our friend Hugh (drummer), didn't seem too into it either. Too bad he left with a negative impression of something we had really hyped of course... There were far too many long jams on tunes that just didn't go anywhere. The short tunes weren't really coming together too well either. They had to repeat a few. Even some of the ones that they didn't repeat could've used a second take IMHO... But perhaps a second take wasn't really the answer. Basically they were off, and off consistenly for the entire set. A disappointment.
A bunch of us (the hardcore contingent) stayed upstairs between sets. I staked out a position right in front of the stage (sitting on the edge of the intermediate step before it), leaning against the center monitor. I could have reached out and messed Frith's volume pedal and the leftmost of Frisell's pedals from where I was sitting. Frisell's (second) amp was to my right (or in front of me depending on how I was sitting). I figured, fuck it, I'm in pain, why not some medicinal herb... I partook of both joints that were available. Another friend we met there had been drinking as well and I think the effects of both the drugs was too intense. He had to leave after the first couple tunes; what a shame! I guess there's some amount of risk invovled with these things -- it can greatly enhance the experience but there's always the chance of one of those occassional drug-frenzies that makes you feel like you're gonna die (music can be especially intense and sometimes frighteningly so under these circumstances). I was doing fine, just pleasantly high. Finally when the band came out, everyone except Frisell was on stage and the applause had stopped. When Frisell joined them a bunch of us applauded for him. He said "Thanks" then made some crack about who was the "draw" for the gig. Rather humorous -- especially considering that there's some quantity of truth to that... The first tune was the theme from the movie "Graveyard of the Brotherhood", an excellent Japanese gangster movie (it's one of the "Dark Side of the Sun" videos Zorn donated to Kim's, and they're probably showing it at some point in the Knot Room along with the other Japanese flicks, eg "Guts of a Virgin"/"Shojo No Harawata"). It's a beautiful song, and a nice arrangement too. Most importantly the playing was fantastic Like I said, the first set was probably the worst I've ever seen from them. But the second set was probably one of the best. On tune after tune after tune they were nailing all the ensemble passages, the soloing was great, everything was going right. Not just right but phenomenal. Zorn and the rest of the band knew it too. Baron was grinning insanely as usual. They were in good spirits. As was I (thus the obvious psychic link). They did "Snagglepuss" again (the one Sanborn tried to cover) and it was hot. On some of the tunes (like "Snagglepuss") they have really opened up and extended certain sections. Sometimes when Frisell was soloing and Frith and Baron were backing him up, Zorn gestured and yelled at them to keep going for more and more choruses. This time there was nothing at all boring about these extended "jams"! They did this really funky 6/8 tune that isn't on any of the recordings; Baron was simply monstrous. He played a ferocious funk beat with a particularly groovy high-hat thing. (I don't know drummer terminology, sorry!) Frith and Frisell were locked into him (and each other). Frisell was featured in a great solo. He and Baron play really well together. While Wayne Horvitz took a long solo, Frisell/Frith/Baron just kept pumping out a rockin' groove which kept mutating and building and slamming forward. It was fascinating to listen to. And this was essentially just the rhythm section backing up a soloist! Wayne's solo was good but it was that power trio pulsating at the core that had my attention. Their "comping" was supportive but just as creative and free as a solo (or, rather, as a solo should be!). They got into some killer grooves; and it was a blast sitting right in front of them while they were doing it. Wow!
For the first really hardcore tune the blast of sound from Baron's drums and Frisell and Frith (with the power chords and distortion) felt like a slap on the face and I blinked violently causing my eyes to tear. Some of it was pretty loud from where I was... Actually they're not playing at anywhere near excessive volume (leave that to Blind Idiot God; and we'll see about Spy vs. Spy!) so this was actually pretty cool. The only one I really had trouble hearing was Eye. I think maybe he wasn't in the center monitor (or perhaps he was just lower than Zorn, who I could hear fine). In any case, if I have headache at the moment it's not necessarily Naked City's fault...
I don't remember them having to repeat any tunes this set. That is rather amazing if true...
I could go on babbling about how awe-inspiring it was but I think you get the idea! The specifics are more or less incommunicable... Pretty much the entire second set was on the same level as the best moments from yesterday. Zorn brought out, in addition to Eye, Yoshimi (also from the Boredoms) who sang on a couple of tunes. BTW, in another curious "link" :) it seems Eye was sick too! Zorn said they were playing "Prophetiae Syballarum" to cure him... Well, I (haha) feel better!
Apparently WFMU was broadcasting the concert tonight.
Ciao,
-Ed
PS I said that Naked City tickets were sold out for Friday and Saturday. That's not really true -- they're only sold out from Ticketmaster. There are still some available at the Knitting Factory.
PPS Zorn was wearing a "Buried Secrets" (Painkiller) t-shirt. One of the Knitting Factory staff dudes was wearing a "Heretic" (Naked City) t-shirt. I've seen a bunch of people (musicians not audience members) wearing "Grand Guignol" t-shirts. As far as I know these are not available to the general public, not yet anyway. If anyone knows anything to the contrary feel free to correct me...