Album Review: Grand Archives - The Grand Archives

Originally published Feb. 27, 2008 in The Orion

Grand Archives
The Grand Archives
Sup Pop Records, 2008
4/5 stars

The debut album from Grand Archives is like drinking hot chocolate near a fireplace - it's warm.

Ex-Band of Horses member Mat Brooke turns to the whimsical side of indie-rock. Whether the song is upbeat or mellow, guitars seem to cheerfully bounce from one chord to the next.

On first listen, the modest songs seem to lack enthusiasm, but they grow to be beautiful compositions. Grand Archives will not add glitter for the sake of getting noticed. Instead the band looks to create lovely, intimate settings.

Melodies are breathtaking and reasonably complemented with violins and horns. Four of the five members chip in with vocal talents. Transitions are immaculate, and harmonies are dream-like.

"Louis Riel" is so uplifting it might inspire listeners to go outside and skip on the sidewalk.

Crux connects community with map of minds

Originally published Feb. 27, 2008 in The Orion.
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Brian Spitzer and Owen Bettis have never met, but there is a great possibility their lives have crossed paths at one point.

Spitzer is a senior psychology and child development major from San Jose, and Bettis is from Bellingham, Wash., and graduated last year with a bachelor's degree in physical and environmental geography.

It may seem they have little in common, but they will both walk into Crux Artist Collective and try to find a connection between them as well as the entire community.

The Chico Mind Map is a social experiment being conducted from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Crux.

The experiment will map the awareness of the diverse community and try to show every individual is connected through experiences and thought processes, said Ty Gorton, Crux co-director.

The walls of the gallery will be covered with butcher paper for two days, Gorton said. Gallery members, along with their friends and family, will start the experiment by making a dot on the paper and writing down a thought or life experience that reflects their self or world awareness.

From there, other participants will be given a black marker and contribute by finding an existing point and adding a connecting thought, Gorton said. Participants can make up to 20 points.

Participants will be given few guidelines, but only black markers can be used, Gorton said. The goal is not necessarily to make art, but to have as many people participate as possible. By using black markers everyone can participate on the same basic level.

"We're not staying in our small, safe group of people we know will participate," he said.

Spitzer has never contributed to art at Crux but is excited the mind map is open to everyone in the community, he said. He has thought about his possible contributions and thinks he will be able to connect to others' childhood memories.

"I want to write messages about what I feel makes my life meaningful, with morals and values," he said.

Bettis is unsure about the thoughts he will share, he said. He has performed as part of the DJ duo, Anamnesis, for Crux events and is excited to see the connections among community members.

"I am just going to wait and be inspired," he said. "Or I will write about electronic music with the hope that people will realize how much they like it, even though they don't know it yet."

Gallery members hope people will help spread the word about the event and encourage friends and organizations to contribute, Gorton said. Members will print invitations and hand them out at various locations. They expect hundreds of people to attend.

"Anyone we see, we'll hand them an invitation," he said.

Gorton asked Chico State and Butte College professors for help, he said.

Religious studies professor Sarah Pike plans to participate in the event and is offering her students extra credit for participating, she said.

"So much in our society focuses on what separates us from each other," Pike said. "I appreciate the mind map's focus on what connects us."

Gorton wants the event to motivate people to be more inclusive, he said. Events at the gallery have been targeted at certain groups of people, but he wants the mind map to show all-inclusive events can be positive.

Bettis also hopes people will get a strong sense of unity, he said.

"I really hope a lot of people who would not usually go to the Crux will go to this event so that they can see that they are involved and connected whether they want to be or not," Bettis said.

The mapped Chico mind will come to life March 6 at a reception, Gorton said. The finished sheets of paper will be hung in rows from the ceiling. Pulsing lights and strange, atmospheric sounds will move around the sheets to add a sense of claustrophobia and make people feel like they are inside the human mind.

Judgement Day holds world's fate by string

Originally published as online exclusive Feb. 23, 2008 for The Orion.
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Some may fear the Apocalypse but Oakland's Judgement Day, Chico's Red Giant and Blood of Cain attracted over 100 brave souls for a night of epic music Friday at Monstros Pizza.

The performance, hosted by the Chico Area Pyrate Punx, showed Chico music fans like their metal music in a variety of flavors.

Blood of Cain served its brutal, winding metal sound first. The room was packed by the end of the first song.

A large group of high school students occupied the space in front of the band and created a circle pit. The rest of the crowd stood on the outskirts of the room hoping they would not get bumped.

The band played a new song that will be on an upcoming album, said vocalist Frankie Swa.

The song started with strong guitars that sounded like a roll of thunder. Swa's roaring vocals invited audience members to move around. Guitarist Kirk Williams added some high-pitched screams and in return audience members gave shouts of approval.

The remainder of the night would not see any vocalists, but the music did not become any quieter.

Williams strapped on his guitar again and played with his other band Red Giant.

The 4-piece band would not necessarily be considered metal, but played loud and fast music. The first song began at a steady pace but quickly changed tempo.

Audience members were dazed by the dramatic, atmospheric music. They followed along with the band's lingering songs, and just as fans were getting into the song, the band abruptly changed themes.

The second song began with a drumbeat that sounded like crashing waterfalls. Guitars and bass kicked in and loudly built up to an eerie sounding song.

Freshman Sontian M-Stinson was expecting Red Giant to play hard metal music, but he still enjoyed its set, he said.

"I liked the music," M-Stinson said. "It was melodic."

However, M-Stinson attended the show to hear Judgement Day, he said. He invited Michelle Dodge and junior Jon Patton to share the live music experience.

Dodge knew nothing about Judgement Day, but was impressed by M-Stinson's description of the band's music, she said.

The 30-minute set change between Red Giant and Judgement Day dragged out the anticipation among audience members. The waiting became tiring as Linkin Park played over the sound system, an unlikely soundtrack for a show of independent artists.

Judgement Day was worth the wait as the band's energy emerged with the stroke of its first musical note.

Hearing the stunning sounds of a violin, cello and drums made everyone's ears perk up.

The band played mostly songs from its new acoustic EP and upcoming full-length album, said violinist Anton Patzner.

"Mark of Vishnu" began with a loud drumbeat that resembled the sound of a marching squad. The song smoothed out with the slick sounds of the violin and cello. A dramatic feeling was in the air, but the song ended with a light, nostalgic theme with just the violin and cello playing.

Band members added to the powerful effects by closely examining their instruments while they hit each note as if the future of the world depended on precisely executing each song.

The band attempted to play an acoustic song with just the violin and cello but was interrupted by technical difficulties.

The troubles continued and an unexpected 8-minute intermission took place.

As soon as the band was back on track, Patzner announced that Judgement Day would be playing in April at Lost on Main. To his surprise, Patzner received disapproving sighs from audience members, mostly made up of teenagers.

The band ended with a loud, crashing song, but the audience asked for one more song.

Judgement Day fulfilled the request by playing a song from the band's first full-length album, "Dark Opus." Patzner dedicated the song to the underage audience members who will not be able to attend the band's 21 and over show in April.

The audience was satisfied with the last song, and the experience was even life changing for some.

This was the first time junior Tim Kerber had seen Judgement Day and he thought the band's performance was mesmerizing, he said.

"I'm a better person by being here," he said.

Album Review: Chris Walla - Field Manual

Originally published Feb. 20, 2008 in The Orion

Chris Walla
Field Manual
Barsuk Records, 2008
3/5 stars

A solo record is a musician's chance to showcase ideas too obscure for a band's repertoire. On "Field Manual," Death Cab For Cutie's guitarist/producer Chris Walla doesn't illustrate his versatility.

As a producer, Walla helps other artists such as Tegan and Sara and The Decemberists sound poised, but on his own record he sounds modest.

A multilayered track opens the album, giving the impression that a collection of experimental, bedroom-pop songs will follow. Instead, a rock anthem awkwardly ensues.

The songs do not stray far from the gentle Death-Cab sound. One difference from Death Cab albums is Walla's politically infused lyrics, but even those lack a strong driving force. Messages about the Federal Emergency Management Agency and corrupted senators are hidden behind Walla's voice and guitar chords.

Songs such as "Sing Again" and "Geometry &c." bring the album together with strong themes and memorable melodies.

Judgement Day brings metal's wrath to Monstros Pizza

Originally published Feb. 20 2008 in The Orion.
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On the soundtrack to life, Oakland's Judgement Day would be fitting for moments of despair, drama and even lustful encounters. The band's catastrophic sound is loud and full of emotion.

However, it is not often that a metal band is seen playing acoustic street shows using a violin and cello.

After one year as a band, Judgement Day played outside of a show in 2004 featuring critically acclaimed, indie experimentalists Cursive, said Anton Patzner, Judgement Day violinist. The street performance impressed Cursive band members and the bands exchanged contact information. Shortly after, Cursive's label mate, Bright Eyes, invited Patzner to play violin and tour as a member of its extended band.

Judgement Day will be the center of attention when it plays at 8 p.m. Friday at Monstros Pizza, but the band has served as side project for its three members for many years, said Patzner. His cellist brother, Lewis Patzner, worked on a performance degree at the Peabody Institute in Baltimore while Anton toured with Bright Eyes. Drummer Jon Bush also worked on other musical projects.

Touring with Bright Eyes allowed Anton Patzner to learn some things that he could use with Judgement Day, he said.

"I've learned a couple of tricks of putting on a good show," he said.

Constant touring became monotonous, but he enjoyed the opportunity to play with a lot of musicians, he said. He did not expect Bright Eyes frontman, Conor Oberst, to embrace onstage jamming.

"He wants everyone to do their own thing," Anton Patzner said.

Since he has diverse music interests, he was relieved Oberst welcomed ideas, he said.

Assorted musical influences are heard in Judgement Day. One listen to the band's eerie strings and nonexistent vocals prove it is not a typical metal band. Strikingly, no guitars are in the band.

Violins and cellos in metal music are not new, but most people do not understand how strings can make a metal band, Anton Patzner said.

"Our friends would ask, 'How does that work?'" he said.

Some listeners may confuse the cello for a guitar, he said. The band manipulates sounds and creates illusions, he said.

"It's part of the challenge and fun," Anton Patzner said.

He grew up listening to movie soundtracks, he said. His first exposure to popular music was Nirvana, but he and his brother studied classical music.

Thanks to their family and its strong musical background, the brothers have been playing music for 15 years, Anton Patzner said. Their mother is a violinist for the San Francisco Ballet and their father teaches music at the College Preparatory School in Oakland.

Even though classical music is a big part of the family, the brothers' parents are supportive of Judgement Day's endeavors into the world of metal music, he said.

"They already knew I wasn't going to play classical music," he said.

Judgement Day has been working on its second full-length album and acoustic extended play, Anton Patzner said. The acoustic EP will be ready by Friday's show, but the band plans to release the full-length in May.

The show will be one of the first shows the band has played this year as a three-piece, he said. The band played a few acoustic shows in January while Bush was traveling in Israel.

Whether the band is playing electric or acoustic shows, the doom elements of its music inhabit the band members' bodies and inspire spastic movements.

Chico's Blood of Cain has shared the stage with Judgement Day and will play Friday's show.

"They make me pull out the horns," said Blood of Cain vocalist Frankie Swa. "You can mosh to them."

Album Review: The Helio Sequence - Keep Your Eyes Ahead

Originally published Feb. 13, 2008 in The Orion

The Helio Sequence
Keep Your Eyes Ahead
Sub Pop Records, 2008
3/5 stars

The Helio Sequence's second album on Sub Pop is a fusion of the label's bands. With a roster like Sub Pop's, borrowing musical formulas from labelmates is not necessarily a bad thing.

The opening track, "Lately," begins with the tranquility of The Album Leaf. Guitars linger and the band channels the earnest sound of Band of Horses.

The Helio Sequence retains its dreamy pop silhouettes, but the softer songs on the album will surprise fans. After losing his voice on tour, singer and guitarist Brandon Summers backed down from his vigorous form of singing and worked his way up to the whispering tones heard on the nostalgic track "Shed Your Love."

"Keep Your Eyes Ahead" is a familiar sound, but the two-piece impressively re-creates the intensity of a full band and adds personality that makes the songs infectious. The chorus from "Can't Say No" sums up the album: "Even if you wanted to, you can't say no."

Workshop encourages relaxation through odd activities

Originally published Feb. 13, 2008 in The Orion.
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In a bright corner near the tall glass windows of the 1078 Gallery, Maria Navarro sets up a table and a few chairs and lays out a collection of colored pens and markers.

What looks like a children's coloring table is actually the working space where Navarro leads a workshop in "being a stranger."

The word stranger often has a negative connotation, but the word can also mean looking at things with a pair of fresh eyes, Navarro said.

She uses the idea of looking at things with a new perspective in her workshop to encourage awareness and creativity, she said.

Navarro was born and raised in Colombia and has kept a journal since the age of 11, she said. After moving to the United States, she was trained in the Alexander Technique at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, and has been teaching for 25 years.

Frederick Matthias Alexander, a Shakespearean orator, created the technique in the late 1800s.

The teaching technique focuses on body movement and the way some gestures, especially in the head and neck, can negatively affect thinking. The technique is usually taught one-on-one, but it can be structured to work in small groups.

Navarro moved to Chico when her husband, Laird Easton, was hired by Chico State as a history professor, she said. Navarro quickly became involved with the 1078 Gallery as a co-chair and member on the board of directors.

Her first workshop was Sept. 14, 2006.

While a lot of the workshop time is spent on writing in journals, Navarro uses the Alexander Technique to encourage participants to become aware and comfortable with themselves and the environment, she said.

The workshop is free, but Navarro asks for a $5 to $10 donation for the gallery, she said. Participants can also attend on a drop-in basis. The workshop is set up to welcome newcomers, but also builds up for participants who attend on a regular basis.

"I wanted to create an island in the middle of the day when people can be aware of their presence," she said.

The workshop routinely begins with an activity that Navarro refers to as "claiming your space." Participants sit down and take time to become relaxed in the environment.

Anything goes after the first activity, Navarro said. Each workshop session is different and she tailors them according to who attends.

Writing activities vary and are timed differently, she said. Some require quick unconscious thoughts while others require deep thinking.

"I use time in a playful way," Navarro said.

One writing activity gives participants three minutes to finish sentences like "Now I feel…" and "I welcome…" Another activity, called the "Dream Police" gives participants 11 minutes to list things, people and ideas they would save if they only had 11 minutes to collect them, she said.

"Just when you think, 'I don't have anything to write,' there is so much you can play with," she said.

Unlike most workshops, there is no pressure to share writings with others or the fear of being judged, Navarro said.

"You don't have to talk to people," she said. "You don't have to make eye contact."

Other activities require more movement. Navarro encourages participants to energize themselves by exploring five rhythms, identified by improvisational dancer and shaman Gabrielle Roth.

Participants are asked to move in ways that reflect the rhythms of flow, staccato, chaos, lyrical and stillness.

During all activities, Navarro either turns on quiet music or uses her voice to initiate rhythms.

Navarro's soft and inspirational voice is attendee Libby Shipley's favorite part of the workshop, Shipley said.

"She gains your trust," Shipley said.

The artist travels from Red Bluff to attend the workshop, she said. She learned about the workshop when she visited the gallery to look at an exhibit. The workshop was taking place and Navarro invited her to join.

"I enjoyed myself and didn't know why," Shipley said.

1078 Gallery director Pat Macias is often working in the gallery during the workshop and sees Navarro engage a lot of people who go into the gallery with no knowledge that the workshop is taking place, Macias said.

"Maria helps them fit right into this environment," she said.

Most of the participants are professionals with full-time jobs, but Navarro hopes students will start attending the workshop as a de-stressing activity, she said. Like yoga and Tai Chi, movement exercises and journal writing are creative outlets that increase awareness and clear thinking to enhance one's life.

"We are cultivating friendliness with writing," she said.

Album Review: Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend

Originally published Feb. 06, 2008 in The Orion

Vampire Weekend
Vampire Weekend
XL Recordings, 2008
5/5 stars

It is risky releasing an album early in the year because it is likely to be forgotten when the time comes to write "best of the year" lists. Vampire Weekend took a chance with its self-titled debut, but with remarkable lyrics and a refreshing indie-rock formula, the album will be sure to top lists at the end of the year.

The band, consisting of Columbia University graduates, takes listeners on a world tour, both musically and lyrically. The first track, "Mansard Roof," begins with an organ melody resonating the sounds of a sonar system and calls attention to French style architecture.

Musically, the band relies on Africa's syncopated beats. The drumming is fun and hardly keeps a single pace. Guitar and bass lines move like a game of hopscotch while keyboards add quirk adornments.

Plus, any band that namedrops Lil' Jon and Peter Gabriel in the same album is worth a listen.

Benefits put tour money in The Makai's pocket

Originally published Feb. 06, 2008 in The Orion.
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A smaller band usually prepares for tour by rehearsing, getting a van ready, saving money for gasoline and loading equipment. Buying plane tickets is not usually in the equation.

For the first time, Chico metal band The Makai is crossing the Atlantic Ocean for a European tour. The self-booked tour will begin Feb. 27 in the Netherlands and take the band to Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Austria and the Czech Republic.

Before the band leaves, it will play two benefit shows to help cover tour expenses. Nick's Night Club will host the first show Friday, featuring a diverse lineup of metal, indie-rock and folk music.

While some band members have been to Europe as tourists, guitarist Ian Makau, guitarist Zeke Rogers, drummer Jesse Shreibman, vocalist Brandon Squyres and bassist Jeff Worrel are excited to travel to Europe as a band, Squyres said.

The Makai formed in 2004, but it was not until 2005 that the current lineup came together and started touring.

The band has booked tours in the United States, but arranging a European tour is much more difficult, Squyres said. The Internet has made networking easier, but some language barriers still exist.

"In e-mails some people wrote in broken English," he said. "Sometimes, I wasn't sure if we had a show or not."

Not being familiar with venues or bands in other countries requires more time to plan, but Rogers had help from contacts he established in the Netherlands while touring Europe with former bands, Rogers said.

The band leaves in less than a month, but it hopes to add at least 10 more shows to the 15 that are already confirmed for the tour.

"It's like an Easter egg hunt," Rogers said.

The band has already dealt with language barriers through e-mail, but that issue will diminish when speaking with people face to face, Squyres said. However, audiences may have a hard time understanding Squyres' caustic, screaming vocals.

"Nobody understands me anyway," he said.

Grinding vocals are typical of metal music, but along with grueling guitars and changing tempos, The Makai engages audiences with its high energy. Band members really get into playing their instruments and seldom stay in one standing position.

High energy will fill up the various European venues. Band members know some shows are scheduled at pubs, but other venues will be a surprise, Rogers said.

Europe has a big "squat" scene, he said. Squatting is when show organizers or bands make use of abandoned buildings and fill the empty space with live music.

The idea of taking over an abandoned space may seem second-rate, but hospitality is actually superior compared to a lot of established venues, Rogers said. The "do-it-yourself" aspects of music are cherished, and show organizers take care of the bands by providing them with meals and a place to sleep.

Meeting hospitable people on tour helps save money, he said. Renting a van, gasoline, borrowing equipment and plane tickets add up to roughly $8,000.

The Makai do not have high hopes for raising a lot money at the benefit shows, Rogers said.

"A few hundred dollars helps," he said. "But we just like playing with our friends who play good music."

Sleazy Earl Ray and the 2 Drink Minimum is one of the performers on Friday's bill and the band expects the show to raise enough money for The Makai's members to enjoy themselves in Europe, Sleazy Earl Ray said.

"We'll make, I'd say, probably about $40 worth of free drinks," he said.

The shows display more of the band's excitement for the European tour, Shreibman said. While Chico's P.A.W.N.S. and Gruk have also toured Europe, The Makai hopes more Chico bands will see they can tour outside the country, too.

Sleazy Earl Ray and the 2 Drink Minimum would like to tour Europe in the near future.

"I've heard they have good beer there," Ray said.

Regardless of how much money the band makes, touring Europe will be fun, Rogers said. The band will play a second benefit show Feb. 16 at Monstros Pizza.

After returning from Europe, The Makai wants to venture to Japan, South America, Australia and Iceland, he said. More benefit shows might be needed for those aspirations.