2020/2/15 Freaks Ball @ Bell House (Karina Rykman & Friends x 3; Showdown Kids; Hawaii; Garcia Peoples)
What a testament to the magic of the Freaks list and the incredible humans among us that a bona fide mini-festival is only my second best memory of FBXX. Last night was about love and joy, camaraderie and friendship, and, of course, in classic Freaks tradition, charity and music. From the hugs, the squeezes and the ear-splitting smiles to the the posters, the food drive and, oh yeah, the fucking Klondike bars, this was a night of love and unrequited joy. And music, cuz it’s the fucking NYC Freaks, so, um, yeah, music.
So six hundred hugs, 13,055 steps and a Klondike bar later, you blink and six hours have elapsed and, although the music is still playing, the night is over cause you’re too tired to stand or move. It’s time to go. And on the singular night when I never gave a second’s thought to who was playing cause it never really seemed to matter, the music just fuckingcrushed. Of course it did. Curated by the best. Never a question there. Okay, my love note to the Freaks is over. I love you and hope to give back in some small measure all the goodness you all have shared with me. The rest is about the music (and sharing it with you!).
FBXX
When I was little, (okay, as recently as last week) I dreamt of being an ice cream clerk. Happy people, all the ice cream I could eat, no baggage to bring home. Well, that dream job has officially been supplanted by selling merch at Freaks Ball while Karina Rykman & Friends (Part I) officially gets the Ball underway. Great set, fun energy, typical Karina; me, dancing on the job – woot! Interestingly, last night was my first time seeing her with her own band though I’ve caught several sets with either Marco Benevento or Everyone Orchestra or the like. I’m all in.
I had the pleasure or seeing the record release for Showdown Kids at City Winery in late 2018 (?) and last night’s set was a completely different animal. Gypsy jazz with a classical twist, the set ran the gamut from the Stash which is on their eponymous record to a song reminiscent of Flight of the Bumblebee later in the set. The GA room made a big difference as far as crowd energy goes. So, too, did the fact that they were far removed from “release day” and seemed much looser and had fun with both the Freaks and the setlist. So a Terrapin tease here and a Shakedown tease there and, just like that, there’s only time for one more so why not invite Erik Deutsch out to play Modica on fucking Lawn Boy. In retrospect, that was so obvious 😉
Hung out to talk a little after the set so missed about half of Karina (part deux) but thankfully made it in time for the face-melting, ass-shaking cover of Ween (couldn’t see, was there a GP guitarist sit in?). I’m not too familiar with Ween’s catalog but the vibe was unmistakable and I noticed on Karina’s IG that she went to see them the night before and that no doubt informed her set. On the basis of that song alone, I think I’ll see Ween next time they’re around and maybe even ask Karina to join me lol.
Hawaii’s debut was great, though perhaps better suited for another time and place. I was in high-energy party mode and parts of the set didn’t match my mood. I love to be the type of music fan that supports musicians when they take chances and risks and am happy to have been on board for this one, though it didn’t perfectly fit the bill for me yesterday. I’d be more than happy to give it another shot at, say, Nublu. I’d actually really relish that. Notice also that I said parts of the set didn’t match my mood. The middle third, however, checked all my boxes, as Joe Russo created a ground swell of sound and energy that Jon Shaw sewed a nice pocket around while Erik Deutsch layered on the ambience, all this culminating with Joe standing beside his stool and going apeshit on the toms. I reallyfuckingloved that part. More of that, please.
The mood changed a little after that so I hit the front room to get a nice spot for Karina (Part III), a move that was, musically speaking, without question my best choice of the evening, especially as I noticed that “and Friends” would now include Scott Metzger and Katie Jacoby. Yes, please. That first song, which somehow Hollander knew (that’s some whackass encyclopedic shit right there), was, without question, my song of the night. I now know that it was Aqui Como Alla, from the first Marc Ribot y Los Cubanos Postizos album. Last night I just knew that it rocked my fucking world. Holy, wow! That’s Freaks List magic, my friends. Come on, how many of you knew who Marc Ribot was before you were a Freak??? I didn’t. As if it wasn’t already the set of the night and Karina hadn’t already won the Freaks Ball (it was and she did), here comes Neddy and Sasha with armloads of Klondike bars and choco-fucking-tacos. Good lord – just…wow! A cover of Radiohead and some more general badassery from both Karina and her friends, Adam November and Chris Corsico and, shit, I’m going on Karina tour for fucking real. My main goal is almost always just to dance and have fun and Karina just embodies that whole party spirit. To my new favorite blond female bassist, I’m all in.
I’ve seen Garcia Peoples once before, almost a year earlier when they opened for Grateful Shred at the Bowl. Super fun set but if I remember correctly, it had like six or eight distinct songs in a 50 minute set. This band has evolved and broadened their game. From the variety of their records, a single 32 minute track comprising a whole LP or their more traditional 9 songs times four minutes LPs, it seems they can do it all. For the record, I was smitten with this iteration. Interlocking double guitar shredding blissfully in the deepest pocket I can remember since, well, Karina twenty minutes earlier. No disrespect meant to GP’s bassist, who was quite good, but this was a drum driven pocket. {I gotta learn these guy’s names, starting with the drummer.} This kid could really hit ‘em which is pretty high praise on a night with Joe Russo on the mind. {Googled that shit just now – it’s worth knowing.} Cesar Arakaki on drums with brother Danny and Tom Malach on guitar, Derek Spaldo (bass) and Pat Gubler (keys). Danced hard until I hit the wall about an hour in. Nothing left to give, either physically or emotionally, except $20 for a record on the way out. (Cool related side story: though I took the record last night I paid this morning on Venmo as there was a note on their merch table saying, “Here are our prices. Please venmo @Garcia Peoples if we’re not here.” Love that and it speaks a lot to the quality of the folks in attendance.)
PS. Huge shoutout to Macrodose for the the sick lighting that really took this night to another level. Just another perfect detail. Bravo!
My heart is full. My cup runneth over. I love you all.