The Proletariat Goes Out With Class.

Well, Sunday may have been the Proletariat's last night but Saturday night seemed like the perfect way to close the venue. Now, sure, the Prolee is what some would call a dive. Sure, I remember pulling a poster off a wall once and finding a few German roaches struggling to break free of the scotch tape. Sure, there was never any hand soap in the men's restroom (Sorry for not breaking that news to you ladies while the club was open). Sure, just a few weeks ago, I was walking in human piss from an overflowing toilet. Sure, the lighting there was crap for any person trying to take photos without a flash. And sure, when we brought Lori Surfer down to do films with us we only used half the multi-media equipment as the circuitry was so dodgy that we blew half of the venue's fuses in mere minutes. Yeah, let's be honest, it was kind of a dive but it was our dive. It was kind of like your dorm room. It was sloppy and a mess but it was your mess and when you flopped down in it it just felt right and that's what the Prolee was to many musicians - a place to throw you crap around and it was OK.

Saturday night (which was the final live show at the Polee) brought out the crowd and good vibes I was used to experiencing at the Proletariat's shows. To everyone's surprise, the line of people wrapped around the block and, once inside, it was easily every fire marshall's nightmare - people were packed like commuters in the Tokyo subway. But despite the crowded nature of the club, it never felt like a shallow event - these weren't people who were there for a spectacle, no these were people who were there to see great music and celebrate Denise Ramos' beloved venue. In fact, Elaine Greer, Hearts of Animals, and the Dimes stole the show from the Fiery Furnaces. I think the reason is because the Prolee meant so much to so many musicians and fans. No complaints about The Fiery Furnaces whose show was excellent but they simply couldn't channel any of the bittersweetness of the evening captured by the local bands.

So that evening Dunnock was very good in letting me capture some of the bands on a camcorder. If you have broadband(!!!), follow the link below to see some of what you may have missed. Elaine Greer plays lovely, cheerful, and clever pop and her band does a bang-up job. Hearts of Animals mixes the sweet, the melancholy, and the playful in what has to be her most psych composition. Last but not least, Young Mammals (formerly The Dimes) rip through their opening song and had the place hopping like fools. Cley's guitar work is always a blast and here it's right up front for you to enjoy. I freaking love the solo in that song! But enough! Let the music do the talking! Enjoy...

LINK(broadband only): Goodbye Proletariat

Photos in order from top to bottom: Ealine Greer, Hearts of Animals, Young Mammals)

Links:
Elaine Greer
Hearts of Animals
Young Mammals

I Love You Mathletes!

I had the most awkward introduction to the Mathletes ages ago. A guy tells me (with the best intentions) "Linus Pauling needs to play with the Mathletes so you can get in with the IBP crowd." Now, could you think of anything more crass? Not "The Mathletes are great!", not "They are fun!", not "You'll have a blast!", instead, some kind of audience wrangling angle. Hey, I'm not saying the LP4 couldn't use any audience it can find but, really, this is exactly how NOT to get me into a band. I love to play with bands because I admire what they do and it's a blast to play with cool bands. So, long story short that pretty much soured me on checking out the Mathletes for much too long. Stupid, I know, because at some point (I can't recall when) I finally did go see them and it was really good and really fun and really clever and really unique. Then, the more I saw them, the better they got. Each time just getting more and more fun and insane until finally they were like the circus pulling into town with every show and they had slyly morphed into one of my favorite bands. In fact they had reached that particular level of godhead where, if they were playing a show, I had to go no matter what. Even if it was only for a few songs it was always worth it because the Mathletes shows were a sincerely happy and joyous party.

Well last night felt like the end of a really great party - at least for the foreseeable future. Joe is leaving for a stint in Austin performing in a production of "Speedy Motorcycle" and the future of the Mathletes in their current form seems shaky but Joe says "We all have something amazing in the works for this summer that will dwarf anything and everything the Mathletes have been about lately; if it's any comfort, just know that the best is yet to come." I have no doubt he will not disappoint.

Anyhow, here are some pictures from last night at the Proletariat:

Preparing for the assault,
the generals plan their set list!

In video games you have power-ups.
In music you have mixed drinks!

Gie Gie demanding opening band Fishboy
play "Quattro" which they flatly refused
despite her relentlessly shouting the
demand over half their set and shouting
"Fuck You! You suck! Play Quatro!"
You have to admire the woman's tenacity.

Mlee Preparing for her debut as a Mathlete
- that pinnacle to which so many musicians
strive to archive!

Mathletes quiz!
Can you guess what song is being covered?

Joe in the zone!

Mike Switzer checks his cell phone
for the lyrics to "Just like Heaven".
I shit you not!

Gie Gie takes her rightful place
as the perfect Joe Mathlete foil!

"Quatro! Quatro! Quatro!"
demands the audience!

Carlos smilin' Dimes style!

Mathletes Stage Left!

Mathletes Stage Right!

Jenny trying to remember the lyrics!

Joe testifies!

The Mathletes has a horn section!!!

Iram as Lou Reed!

The fearless leader and his minions!

Tom wows the crowd
with his Tambourine and his ass!

Mlee Vs Robot Gie Gie!

Robots,
Joe possibly falling off the stage,
some guy in the audience playing harmonica.
Don't ask!
It's a Mathletes show!

Have fun in Austin Joe.
May the road rise with you.
We'll keep a light on for you.
Love,
Houston