ARTICLES

IN THE BLACK & WHITE: 011 - XX Merge Day 4

Posted by: pjsykes – Jul 26, 2009

07.25.09 | XX Merge Day 4 | Orange County Social Club + Cats Cradle | Carrboro, NC

Free afternoon show

Saturday afternoon at the lot behind Orange County Social Club was six-band show of Merge artists. There was food from Neal's Deli, adult snow cones, and a large number of families that joined in the fun.

The Music Tapes
photo by: PJ Sykes

On stage at any Music Tapes show is a giant obelisk which is actually a working metronome. Julian Koster, of several Elephant 6 bands including Neutral Milk Hotel, plays banjo, reed organ and saw, backed with his homemade creations. His songs are lovely and unusual.

The Music Tapes "Majesty"

Portastatic
photo by: PJ Sykes

I was upset that my first Portastatic performance was only thirty minutes. Mac McCaughan played acoustic guitar with Margaret White on violin, and the duo made some of my favorite songs even more amazing: “Spying on the Spys,” “San Andreas,” and “Noisy Night.”

Portastatic "Trajectory"

Matt Suggs
photo by: PJ Sykes

While I had never heard him before, Matt Suggs (Butterglory/White Whale) really impressed me. He writes great pop songs that reminded me a bit of Guided By Voices.

Matt Suggs "Where's Your Patience, Dear"

Tenement Halls
photo by: PJ Sykes

Tenement Halls (AKA Chris Lopez, formerly of the Rock*A*Teens) opened with pop gem “Plenty is Never Enough” and played a short set with just his guitar.

Tenement Halls "Plenty Is Never Enough"

Radar Bros.
photo by: PJ Sykes

If you play a Rufus Wainwright cover, you will have my heart forever. This exactly what the Radar Brothers did when they played “Oh What a World” in their slow country-tinged style. Generally, I wish the band rocked out a little more but they were solid and a good change of pace from all the acoustic guitars.

Radar Bros. "Warm Rising Sun"

3Ds
photo by: PJ Sykes

The 3Ds joined the bill and played last, though we were so tired from the heat we did not stick around long.

3Ds "The Golden Grove"

photo by: PJ Sykes

After a short burrito break at Carrburritos it was time to wait in line for night four.

Telekinesis
photo by: PJ Sykes

I am sure I sound like a broken record to my friends, but not only is the Telekinesis album my favorite of the year, but their performance at Merge was also one of the festival's best. Michael Benjamin Lerner, the center of Telekinesis and the band's drummer, did not have his usual band with him, so he was joined by Ivan from the Rosebuds on bass and Matt Caws from Nada Surf on guitar, both of whom first played with Lerner three hours prior. They played most of the record, from crowd-pleaser “Coast of Carolina,” to my favorite “I Saw Lightning,” which is just Lerner with an acoustic guitar.

Telekinesis "I Saw Lightning"

Erectus Monotone
photo by: PJ Sykes

A reunited Erectus Monotone played next. Guitarist Andy Freeburn came out with tape over his mouth, which he later revealed was because he “had such a big mouth in the 90s.” He also had a handmade white box, crudely painted to resemble a box of soap, which Freeburn stood on periodically during the set The band broke up in 1993, and played pretty well for such a long time in between shows. Their melodic rock was well-received by the audience, until singer/guitarist Kevin Collins opened a bag of chips and threw them into the audience. They were vinegar and smelled awful. Not cool, dude.

Erectus Monotone "The Day The Sharks Flew"

The Ladybug Transistor
photo by: PJ Sykes

Annie Hayden sang a few songs with Ladybug Transistor to prove that yes, she is a different person than Julia Rydholm from LT and the Essex Green, which has been a running joke at this festival. Even though I have loved their records for a long time, I had never seen the Ladybug Transistor. I wish they had played after Telekinesis instead, the rock of Erectus Monotone really threw me off. Nonetheless, their wonderful 60s pop was a big hit. Gary Olson and friends played both old and new songs, and I was really intrigued by the new ones—I hope they are recorded soon.

The Ladybug Transistor "Oceans In The Hall"

M. Ward
photo by: PJ Sykes

Since M. Ward is camera shy... we bring you his set list, and the original version of "To Go Home" by Daniel Johnston.

Daniel Johnston "To Go Home"

Destroyer
photo by: PJ Sykes

Dan Bejar's voice is definitely an acquired taste. I used to skip his New Pornographers songs. He played solo acoustic as Destroyer, and his set was brilliant and mesmerizing. I was happy to hear THREE songs from my favorite Destroyer record, “Destroyer's Rubies,” and they sounded absolutely fantastic. He even did one of his New Pornographers songs--“Streets of Fire” (a duet with Neko Case on record), which he said he wrote a very long time ago. Bejar is adorable and relaxed on stage, chatting with the audience—there was some good banter going on, and I could not stop laughing.

Destroyer "Foam Hands"

Imperial Teen
photo by: PJ Sykes

I knew that Imperial Teen played power pop and I knew, since we were standing next to their #1 fan, that they inspired great passion. But I did not expect to have such a good time. I loved their coordinating yellow and black outfits, their fun dance moves, and the fact that it looked like they really like each other and they really love playing music. They sang lyrics like “You like strawberries/I like you” (from “Butch”) and I did not get annoyed. They were just too cute and too good at what they do. A wonderful way to end the four-night stint at Cat's Cradle. Next up: She & Him, Wye Oak, and American Music Club at Memorial Hall, and then back to Richmond in the morning.

Imperial Teen "Sugar"

Imperial Teen fan
photo by: PJ Sykes