I didn't? Then where'd you get that preposterous hypothesis - did Steve tell you that? Steve....
Spank Rock is still in the building, thanks to repeated requests for some raw audio and more photos of the crazy people from this Saturday (the almost naked girl below tested exceptionally well). So we throw you over our collective knees once again and then that's it - go get your sick pleasures somewhere else because the Whartscape series is over.
Below, an almost equally naked Cex asks "Were I to announce here that I have succeeded in forsaking my childish desires for wealth and fame, would not the first response of many internet users be the accusation that my true desire is to distinguish myself from my contemporaries in order to achieve greater wealth and fame? I mean status ain't hood right? And are you smiling because you agree or you took the last Beast?"
All the watermelon, ice and cage fans in the world couldn't stop Saturday night's gig with Spank Rock, Dan Deacon, Video Hippos, The Death Set, Ponytail, Dirty Projectors and many more from being literally the sweatiest show of all time. Thanks to the folks at Wham City and Floristree for pulling this thing off.
As above (Video Hippos), so below (Jason Urick from WZT Hearts takes a nap with Dan Deacon wrapped in his CGI/security blanket).
We have a couple autographed copies of Dan Deacon's Crystal Cat vinyl single - just leave us a comment with your email if you want one.
We'll pick the winners on Friday 7/27 (U.S. residents only). NOTE: We picked the winners already and they are shipshape and ginny. Thanks to everyone for entering.
Dan Deacon setlist:
1. Intro>Soundcheck 2. Crystal Cat 3. Paddeling Ghost 4. Woof Woof 5. Of The Mountains 6. Wham City
Big ups to Jeff's List of Shows for the audio. Jeff taped almost every band at Whartscape and is now feverishly spooling in an underground lair complete with lab coats, beakers, schematics et al. So check back later in the week for some Spank Rock.
What happens when you combine a couple fingers of Glenlivet, some cheese, spastic punksters Death Set and Ponytail, Dan Deacon and cooljerk rhymenasaurus MCs Spank Rock on the 1's & 2's? A chunky, tangy indie smoothie we guess. Set times for the weekend:
FRI NIGHT
with a special sneak performance by EAGLE AGER 8:00 = BLUE LEADER AND THE BLUE LEADERS (Temp Stage) 8:15 = WZT HEARTS (Main Stage) 8:35 = DINA KELBERMAN (Video Screen) 8:45 = CARS WILL BURN/MINCEMEAT OR TENSPEED/DAVE SMOLDEN (Floor) 9:05 = JONES JONES JONES (Temp Stage) 9:25 = ROBY NEWTON (Video Screen) 9:35 = SOFT CIRCLE (Main Stage) 9:55 = HAWNAY TROOF (Temp Stage) 10:15 = LEXIE MOUNTAIN BOYS (Floor) 10:35 = THANK YOU (Temp Stage) 10:55 = YUTAKA HOULETTE (Video Screen) 11:05 = GROWING (Main Stage) 11:35 = JIMMY ROCHE (Video Screen) 11:50 = CAR CLUTCH (Temp Stage) 12:10 = ECSTATIC SUNSHINE (Main Stage) 12:30 = GARRET DAVIS (Video Screen) 12:45 = HIGH PLACES (Temp Stage) 1:05 = CEX (Main Stage)
SAT DAY
hosted by ED SCHRADER 11:30 = EAGLE AGER 12 = ENJOY YOUR CANARY 12:30 = COCONUTS 1 = SNACKS 1:30 = ORION RIGEL DOMMISSE 2 = LIZZ KING 2:30 = SANTA DADS 3 = AIR WAVES 3:30 = PWRFL POWER 4 = FUTURE ISLANDS 4:30 = YUKON 5 = HUMAN HOST 5:30 = BLOOD BABY 6 = HEIGHT 6:30 = YEASAYER 7 = BEACH HOUSE
The Saturday night show is completely sold out so if you didn't get tickets go see Battles and Deerhunter at the Ottobar instead, and we'll have pics and audio next week for your wistful viewing/listening. Scroll down for full coverage on Whartscape.
Take a break from Whartscape's geekbeat/zapshock punk and synth sin to enjoy arts and crafts time with the many, many Bmore natives who keep this city Wired. (Note: This week we talk about Wham City but that's just Dolly Parton's nipple as far as the local art/music scene goes, hon.) Jimmy Joe Roche, not really pictured above, creates more trouble than Cheney in Carhartts so we could only include a fraction of his "conversation starters" below - there's much more at Wham City. Here's a sample of some of the multimedia insania that should be on display this weekend.
If we had art like this in third grade, there wouldn't have been a paint chip left on the radiator:
Quoth Roche: "A mandala projected from the third eye of suburban back yards, cracked driveways, and dusty VCR's. The wizards of Baltimore and Wham City deal powerful magic, we'll need it soon, the dawn of this post-postmodern age is upon us." Zactly.
At the PLASTIC Artscape Satellite Exhibition, which examines our obession with replicas of orginal commodities, we ran into some fantastic work from Wham clan members Dina Kelberman (sister of Joshua from Santa Dads) and Ben Furgal. When not working on art exhibits, Kelberman runs Important Comics and is "...working on lots of stuff for Whartscape right now (at this very moment!) including schedules, posters, t-shirts, pins, a giant banner and other stuff, making an animated music video for Santa Dads, some costume stuff in a show called Antagonisms, Hacks and Hoaxes at the Maryland Art Place in August, a serious comic book, something more substantial than my other comics, and something i can reproduce in large quantities without wanting to kill myself. And Connor Kizer and I have a children's book project we've been talking about for years that I really want to make happen. Plus I'm always updating my own and Wham City's website, drawing flyers, and getting roped into other projects. Always too many things. I desperately want to stop needing food and sleep." Note she didn't say she was tired folks - just wishes she didn't need to sleep (Kelly Ripa's Tressant Suprême shampoo).
More from double J, the face of complete insanity:
And of course we're not art critics - we just like to dance around in the hall with our bookbags. So tell us what you think.
Back to music, Dirty Projectors play this Saturday night at Floristree in support of their new album Rise Above before heading out to tour in Europe and support Butter Team fave Beirut. Girzzly Bear's Chris Taylor twiddled the function buttons to support the DP's patchouli-flavored baklava of layered vocal harmonies.
Baltimore's annual Artscape summer festival exists in your town in a smaller form; you already know it well - reunited soul groups crooning midday to boomers feeding funnel cake to tots on their knees at picnic benches with industrial strength red and white tablecloths. America, fuck yeah. But a few new festivals spawned last year in Charm City to serve the tattooed, weird and beautiful masses: Altskape, a showcase for Artscape's beloved but banished art car exhibit, and Whartscape, two sweaty nights of spazzcore madness at Wham City's battered Copycat warehouse.
Inducing a predictable cringe from the more conservative set, Whartscape is far from a blemish on the city or its music and art scene. Organizer Adam Endes (lead singer for Blood Baby, pictured above with a Ben Furgal piece) says, "...here was this art festival called Artscape happening. It wasn't really aimed at young people. It seemed to be for families and people who have money. So we figured, let's put on a show for the people who want loud music and crazy dancing."
A show for the people, indeed - Whartscape is back for its second year with an impressive lineup of (no longer) underground hotshits including Spank Rock, Dan Deacon and The Death Set. Despite losing their venue last year, organizers found digs at several local warehouse spaces and nearby club The Depot. The shenanigans have been expanded to three nights, with most of the action taking place at Floristree, a warehouse venue in the H+H building that doubles as home for a number of Baltimore musicians and artists. Floristree is a natural choice according to resident Jason Urick (also of experimental outfit/festival performers WZT Hearts) as the venue has hosted a number of Wham City shows. Urick also cites "the lack of suitable venues and our collective desire to see this event take place" and crediting fellow Floristree resident Matt Papich, of Whartscape co-organizers Wildfire Wildfire. Papich will be performing twice at Whartscape; Friday with his band Ecstatic Sunshine and Saturday night with The Death Set.
“Our main reason for having Whartscape during Artscape is that Baltimore is packed that weekend with a lot of people looking for stuff to do that a city-sponsored festival can’t really be host to,” Deacon told the City Paper . “Not that we are doing anything insane, but I don’t think Artscape would be too into Blood Baby screaming ‘stab my face’ at families eating gyros and looking at painted plates. Plus, Artscape ends at sundown, while we can rage into the night.”
Of course, Whartscape's expansion coincides with Wham City's ramped up national attention, due in no small part to the flurry of press (especially blog press, whatever) surrounding Deacon, who has remained an integral force in organizing the fest despite heavy touring. Endes insists plans to expand Whartscape percolated regardless of any outside attention or influence. "We are a group who wants to and strives to be better than we were at any previous point in any of our lives. We do this with all things." Local talk show host Ed Schrader adds, "It's hard to trace something like that because even before all of this media hubbub we had big ass shows and big turnouts. I think people just like sweaty warehouse spaces and lots of b.o. and cigarettes."
Sweaty, indeed - if you have tickets to the Saturday night show you might consider wearing your Bikram gear as temps as Floristree rise quickly even without Spank Rock's NR17 lyrics. And fellas, we know it's hot, but cutoff jean shorts are a choice you'll have to live with for a long time.
In the spirit of Wham City's long-standing "No Jerks" policy, and because many of the venues are literally people's cribs, organizers ask that Whartscape attendees heed these simple guidelines to make sure we can all Whart in peace: -Don't cram the elevator so it gets stuck (maximum occupancy of six) -Don't tag our house -Don't pee in the stairwell or on our floor -Don't start fights
Based on the rules above it would also be a good idea to avoid getting in pee fights.
Read a great article about the Wham City crew here by City Paper's Jess Harvel, with photos by Uli Loskot.
A big shot out to Raven Baker for helping out with this week's coverage. Raven writes Soft Graffiti and is a staff contributor at Beatbots. Did we mention she's also a Charm City Roller Girl? Respect, safe.
Later in the week our new investigatory journalist Raven Baker will give you an even heartier helping of Whartscape - the origin and roots of its hideous name and the Wham City organizers behind all this nonsense - but today we'll crack into the long list of artists that call Bmore home and will, we assume, be simply rolling out of bed in their Umbros to perform this weekend. All illustrations courtesy of the talented folks at Baltimore production/record label Wildfire Wildfire.
Video Hippos won't know if you're warming up, starting to tap the feet. To gain the attention of the Kevin/Jim duo (with occasional function button twiddling from Wham fam member OCDJ) you must cause a real fit as they operate in a dark emergency room lit only by obscure cartoon noir. A big fat gask mask ensures drummer and animator Kevin O'Meara won't make himself sick with the beats, but you're on your own. Currently touring the neon green states with D. Deacon, and playing Saturday night at Floristree.
We've all spent a few cloudless nights in vacant lots swigging NyQuil and using the B Heezy's witchy slide powers to seance mazzy stars, so, 'nuf said. They tour with Blonde Redhead in August so start perfecting your shoedaze now. Beach House plays Saturday afternoon at 120 North Ave. Buy their debut from Carpark. Beach House - Apple Orchard Beach House - Master of None Beach House - Tokyo Witch
More: Ponytail play Saturday night at Floristree. Not really our steez but you have to respect the yelling and the shouting and what not. Ponytail - Lion Down
Ecstatic Sunshine play Friday night at Floristree. We're pretty sure they now make up one Voltron portion of The Death Set, so. Pretty solid choppin. Ecstatic Sunshine - Little Big Dipper
You "may" have heard of Mr. Dan Deacon, who could eat Tang crystals and watch Rad with James Lipton as they both stare at the "classically trained composer with a Masters degree in electro-acoustic composition" nametag affixed to his ripe neon Daffy Duck tee. Get tickets to the Saturday night show, which also includes Spank Rock, at Wildfire Wildfire or Wham City before it sells out. Don't you want to be a part of the Flickr zone? Dan Deacon - Wham City Buy Spiderman of the Rings from Carpark.
And the Whartscape coverage officially begins...Butter Team waxed with Joshua Kelberman, lead uke chopper and the more scantily clad Dad, and Connor Kizer, bespectacled baritone beat boxer and one of several Wham City artists who earned their stripes at Purchase College, NY.
Wham City is getting more attention than ever outside of Baltimore as an emerging music and art collective - so is Whartscape considered sort of a national stage for you?
Joshua: "Really, this last month it hit us that Wham City is becoming known nationwide, thanks mostly to Dan [Deacon] mentioning it in all his press. We, as a group, know we need to organize and start pumping. Our headquarters is purely conceptual right now, but we're in the process of establishing real organization and structure and hopefully opening a venue within the next few months."
What's up with the costumes? Is it a shot out to 16th century French reformation theology and 17th century English political philosophy?
Joshua: "Dan found [the dress] in the street one time when he was coming over to my house. His girlfriend really wanted it but he decided I needed it and would get more use out of it. It is my favourite costume, so far, and expresses my true self well, and compliments Connor well, too. He was Hobbes for Halloween a couple years back and generally enjoys being a tiger and so that just stuck with him. We both think it's important to remember that during any performance, we are being seen by an audience through all of their senses, so we want to develop a complete experience for them to enjoy. Also, we, simply, love to wear costumes."
What else are you doing outside of the Dads?
Joshua: "I am a student of the occult. I have been in the process of preparation, enlightenment, and initiation, consciously, for the last few years. I have connected with my soul and I am able to perceive and understand knowledge and truth. I have found all of this in reality. This is my driving current. I wish to further connect with my soul and spirit in order to help all my fellow human beings assist all beings in the Great Cosmic Evolution. Meanwhile I work at Whole Foods downtown, slowly study Russian, Spanish, French and German, work to organize Wham City, perform as A Funny Clown, create prose, poetry, philisophical essays, and pieces for solo/group musical performace and other theatrical-based performance."
Favorite Golden Girl?
"My sister [Wham City artist Dina Kelberman] and I watched it growing up along with almost any other sitcom of the 80's and early 90's. At the time I watched it, we did not express any emotional attachment towards the characters on the show. It was more an affection for the concept of the television, not the shows or characters themselves. But if I must choose, as I know I must, my favourite Golden Girl will be Rose Nylund (Betty White). I love her hair, her innocence, her devotion to kindness and childish grace."
Santa Dads play Whartscape in Baltimore this Saturday afternoon. Network with them socially through MySpace and buy their new album Anima Mundi via local Wildfire Wildfire Records (makes a great Christmas or Father's Day gift).
