From Sea Dog Sent Fri, Sep 24th 1999, 18:49
I have to say that I'm a bit surprised not having seen anything posted on this list for an awesome lineup including Jega and Red Snapper for a NYC show. I trekked up there from Baltimore yesterday to Irving Plaza, and here's what happened if anyone cares... Jega (introduced as "jay-ga" as opposed to "yay-ga") came out, drank a beer, rolled some cigarettes, was introduced by the concert MC and resident choad (David Croft from Mr. Show), and played 7 or so head-bobbing floor-thumping "live" songs. By "live" I mean that they were not anything I'd ever heard, produced by his continued twiddling and adjusting, every now and then grimacing as pulled the drums "through" FX. Not being a particular fan of live IDM shows and a so-so Jega, I was still impressed with the beauty and the beatz. Non Phixion (a relatively unheard-of all-white hip-hop group) and The Arsonists played next, both extracting lots of energy in the form of dancing from a crowd that seemed to mostly be there for Cornelius and Mogwai. Both sets were lots of fun and very interactive, as a good hip-hop show should be, though The Arsonists clearly outdid Non Phixion. Red Snapper's set was nothing less than amazing (take into account my heavy bias). MC Det was there and so was a new "band member," introducing herself as Corinne, who took over what would have been Alison David's vocal duties on "Image of You" and mostly danced around on stage a lot. The whole band performed with incredible intensity, often smiling at each other during furious, extended versions of "4 Dead Monks" and "Hot Flush." After exhausting myself dancing, my interest waned in Mogwai and Cornelius, though I did manage to snatch an MC Det-stomped Snapper set list and get David Ayers to sign it. :) Anyone else there? There will some sort of webcast on the Matador site, btw. Geoff