ARTICLES
IN THE BLACK & WHITE: 009 - XX Merge Day 2
Posted by: pjsykes – Jul 25, 2009
07.23.09 | XX Merge Day 2 | Cats Cradle | Carrboro, NC
Phil Morrison and Peyton Reed emcees
The Broken West
The Broken West were a really great way to start the night. The power pop of their recordings transformed into an incredibly enjoyable straight up rock set. Singer Ross Flournoy told a sweet story about how he found out his band was signed to Merge and they also played a wonderful cover of Teenage Fanclub's "It's All in My Mind" from their only Merge release. Everyone around us became bigger fans of the band and we all decided we needed to give their record another chance.
The Broken West "Auctioneer"
Richard Buckner
The top of Richard Buckner's pedal case sat on top of a Fresh Direct box that was flipped over and had a piece of tape on it with "Buckner" written on it. He kept his ebow in the lid, which he used more than anyone I've ever seen live. He looped his guitar and used the ebow to create beautiful, haunting music. I only wish the crowd in the back was not so loud--perhaps it would have been better in a more intimate setting.
Richard Buckner "Gauzy Dress in the Sun"
Guv'ner
Guv'ner took more than 30 minutes to set up, and once they started playing, it seemed very obvious that this was a band that hadn't played together in ten years. While I liked the audience participation of the first song, "Lucky Ladybug," I found them generally to be unprofessional and not take the festival seriously enough. I talked to a lot of people who were looking forward to seeing them, and it appears they were not disappointed, but I did not care for them.
Guv'ner "Break A Promise"
Versus
In order to make up some time, Versus set up in ten minutes, which was appreciated. Richard Baluyut told the audience at the end of their near-flawless set that they are doing another record together-- their last full-length was released in 2000. While they mostly stuck to new songs, they did play "Blades of Grass" from their excellent 1993 record "Stars are Insane," a crowd favorite.
Versus "Shangri-La"
3Ds
The only band with which I was completely unfamiliar, New Zealand band The 3Ds, completely won over the audience with their pop stylings. I particularly loved "The Young and the Restless" from their Merge release "The Venus Trail." The new crop of fuzzy noise pop bands owe a lot to The 3Ds (and their fellow Kiwis The Clean, who Mac McCaughan said did not want to come to North Carolina because it was too hot), who have perfected that type of music over the last twenty years. I will certainly be looking for their records in the future.
3Ds "Hey Seuss"
Superchunk
When I heard Superchunk were closing, I was giddy. You see, Superchunk have been my favorite band since I was fourteen and bought "On The Mouth" after seeing the "Package Thief" video on MTV. I have seen them at least a half dozen times, but never in their own Chapel Hill. It was a wonderful, memorable performance. The crowd was nuts, dancing and pogoing to classics like "The First Part" and "Punch Me Harder," as well as songs from the fantastic new "Leaves in the Grass" ep. Mac still jumps all over the stage, Laura still jumps up and down, and Jim and Jon still make hilarious comments the whole time. They have such a huge catalog of songs, so I was thrilled to hear "Watery Hands" from their amazing Moog-heavy 1997 record "Indoor Living." They only play a few times a year, since all are busy with other projects, so I felt very lucky to see them at this special event.
Superchunk "Hyper Enough"
During the day other events were going on like Merge At The Movies. Superchunk, Arcade Fire, Who Loves the Sun, and Conor Oberst films were available to the public for free.
Day 1 / Day 3 / Day 4
Melissa Koch
Merge Records
more IN THE BLACK & WHITE
words: Melissa Koch
photos: PJ Sykes
- 1
2 Comment(s)
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
i saw buckner play with d jurado a few years back. didn't really capture me that night, but i often wonder if i would dig it if i checked that same show today.
— Posted by: nathan on July 24, 2009 - 12:58pmThe 3Ds opened for Superchunk at the late Floodzone sometime around '94 alongside bitchin' locals Ladyfinger. I dug it. I found the Clean Anthology a few years ago, but have not heard it since. Do you want it?
— Posted by: TT on July 25, 2009 - 2:50pmPost new comment