International Week on the NAP (OR How to Spot a Jew)

All week I was excited for Saturday to go see Chicha Libre on Navy Pier, presented by the Chicago World Music Festival. Then my buddy calls me up with a free ticket to the Hideout Block Party AND free beer - all of which I actually turned down because I'm trying to be a good promise keeper (well not that kind of Promise Keeper but you know what I mean). But then Tricia tells me she's fine with me going to the Hideout Block Party.

Bye bye Chicha Libre but not necessarily the World Music Festival because Little Cow from Hungary played the HBP and they were also associated with the WMF. But frankly I wasn't interested in Little Cow's funk ska gypsy thing --however they weren't the only representatives of international rockdom because HBP also had: Dan le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip (pretty hilarious hip hop from the UK), the legendary six decade old Plastic People of the Universe from the Czech Republic (you should really look them up and read about their amazing story), Monotonix (from Israel), Black Mountain (some pretty ripping Grace Slick-esque fronted Seventies Heavy Rock from Canada) and Vieux Farka Touré (pretty 'n groovy electric guitar based stuff from Mali).

Monotonix stole the show - setting up in front of the stage, so basically in the crowd, but not settling into any one place. They kept moving around and would also appear suddenly levitated above the crowd (drums included). They made Les Savy Fav frontman, Tim Harrington's, appearance in a garbage can at the Pitchfork Festival look like a pony ride. Monotonix frontman, Arni Shalev, not only got in a garbage can; he stayed in that garbage can and was not only levitated above the crowd in that can, but then kept singing as he was levitated horizontally (still in can). That's all well and good you say but can they play? They rocked. And somehow the sound stayed with them. I'm not sure how that was pulled off. You can download three songs from their MySpace page, put them on your iPud and hear for yourself. AND many of you can see them. They'll be in North Carolina shortly. Then Monotonix does a bunch of shows (including Portland) with NAP favorite Silver Jews.

Monotonix is playing the Mink in Houston and the Mohawk in Austin. Expect them to wind up playing in the downstairs bar at the Mink. Maybe in that little gangway too. Upstairs. On the side street. On the main street. All over. It will definitely be a fun high energy heavy rock hilarious show.

If you like seeing microphones stuck in assholes or you don't like this idea very much but you are open to thinking it might be funny that if every time a microphone was stuck in an asshole it caused feedback, you might like this video entitled Monotonix Destroy North Carolina.

Finally, here's some Monotonix video my friend shot at the Hideout Block Party.