Sunday night the 29 year old experimental Dutch band the Ex played in collaboration with 73 year old Ethiopian saxophonist, Getatchew Mekuria, at Chicago’s Logan Square Auditorium while this 39 year old Mr. Mom slept.
Luckily for Mr. Mom (and a certain 7 month old girl), the Ex and Mr. Mekuria also played a noon show at Millennium Park on Monday. Lucky indeed since this the best show I’ve seen yet at the Pritzker Pavilion.
This line up is doing one more show in the States tonight at 6PM at the Damrosch Park Bandshell in New York City and I highly recommend that any Nappers in the area make their way over there at pretty much any cost.
That is if jangly scratchy electric guitars backed by one of the most trance-inducing drummers known to punk (who also happens to have a lovely singing voice) joined by a line-up of well rehearsed and tasteful horn/reed players all right in tune with one of the most clever and wise saxophonists on the planet is your cup of tea.
You can take or leave the socialist message – I don’t think it takes a like mind to enjoy this – but don’t miss the “special guest” who I can best describe as the Michael Jackson of Ethiopia if all Michael Jackson could do is dance.
For the rest of you, there is the collaborative album which also comes recommended by Mr. Mom (as does practically everything in the Ex discography). If you like the Evens, the Mekons, the Fall or just Dutch people in general you will not be disappointed.
Why not start with the generous free offerings from the Ex’s Official Website? Mr. Mom would start with Town of Stone and It’s a Sin.
Update: I forgot to mention for those in Chicagoland this week – come out to the Co-Prosperity Sphere in Bridgeport Saturday night for an all Bridgeport lineup of artists, with my band churchbus (and others) providing the background noise.
