Monday, October 13, 2008
The Spin The Spin: Silver Jews and Monotonix at Exit/In
Posted by The Spin on Mon, Oct 13, 2008 at 10:31 AM
Photo by Steve Cross.
See more photos at nashvillescene.com.
The Spin hasn't had our coffee yet, but we do have photos for you from last night's Silver Jews show. That's not David Berman pictured above, in case you were wondering. That's Levi "Ha Haziz" (Yomtov) Elvis of Monotonix. More to come....
Update: After some technical difficulties, we now have some tardy Spinanegans for you re: Silver Jews.
The line outside the Exit/In wrapped around Elliston Place Sunday night. The delay this caused our entry meant that the Monotonix got started without us. After catching their now infamous Springwater shows this past year, we were curious as to how their downright dangerous unpredictability would translate in a larger club. Sure enough, when we walked into the club, the stage was littered with people who were very obviously not in the band. The crowd pulsed around the middle of the room where the Tel Aviv trio had set up, and we were told there were no flaming drums this time around. Even still, the band made no other concessions for the seemingly more professional setting. Lead singer Levi "Ha Haziz" (Yomtov) Elvis spent a majority of his time elevated above people's heads, and when he sprinted up to the balcony and crouched atop to command the crowd from high above, few below did not see his scrotum hanging out of his short shorts.
But when Elvis commands a crowd to “Shut the fuck up,” they laugh, then shut the fuck up. Few frontmen possess that kind of crowd control, especially shirtless, hairy ones with no microphone and their balls hanging out. The last “song” consisted of the band counting down from ten, then back up to four and diving into the audience while everyone danced to make-believe music. This is what the Silver Jews have been following night after night.
And maybe the Monotonix have rubbed off on David Berman just a little bit. The Jews first honest-to-goodness rock show was just three short years ago at the End. At that not-so-secret secret show, a reluctant Berman nervously introduced his long catalog to a new setting, while a room full of big smiles looked as if they all just wanted was to give Berman a hug. High fives would have probably been more appropriate on Sunday night, as a noticeably more confident Berman led his band through opener “I'm Getting Back Into Getting Back Into You,” looking something like a cross between a beat poet and a lounge singer. Snaking his way around the stage—either as an attempt to channel his inner Neil Diamond or because of the brace we noticed on his wrist—Berman played guitar on very few songs.
The set was a patchwork of the band's nearly 15 years of output. Songs from their latest, Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea, were well received, with “Strange Victory, Strange Defeat” taking on a near anthemic identity. Songs like “Pretty Eyes” and “Horseleg Swastikas” appeased the more cultish division of Silver Jews fandom, while the classics of the Jews cannon—”Random Rules,” “Smith and Jones Forever,” “Trains Across the Sea”—were met with yelps and woos at each opening chord. Berman and wife Cassie had been exchanging cutesy glances all night, so the encore rendition of “Tennessee” felt even more warm and fuzzy than usual, and after “Punks in the Beerlight” it was Berman who started doling out the hugs. This wasn't just appreciation; it was love to the max.
Comments (16)
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The Monotonix were great. I mean REALLY great! I also think David Berman is a handsome guy but I ain't no lesbie-gay or nuthin. Stop looking at me like that. Hey. Cut it out.
Monotonix without pyrotechnics is just NOT Monotonix. Berman is not nearly as good looking as Neil Hamburger, who was also more entertaining last night.
i suppose the exit in is more worried about the fire marshal than the springwater. i still think they were great. and i'm still wondering why the scene used the village voice article??? and i'm also wondering why slim jim is so concerned with my balls???
Berman did say (with a strange hint of sincerity) it would be another 15 years before they played again. I hope this 14 years from the truth.
CHEERS: I would like to say, in defiance of the haters, that the Silver Jews *all* looked great. Loved the matching outfits.
JEERS: What's up with Exit/In saying the show would cost $12, then charging $14 at the door? If you're going to charge $14, just say so! That way people will know how much money to bring!
What sortof weirdo are you familiar sideman. All I said was you kissed everybody's ass again. Good work! It was advertised that the show was 12 in advance, 14 at the door dirf...and berman supposedly smoked crack for like 15 years, what is he supposed to look like after that?
How does simply saying that he liked the bands immediately amount to ass kissing?
If you're gonna defend Berman so much, why don't you marry him?!?!
Berman is just rippin' Nick Cave lyrically and fashion wise. let's hope this is the last show and good riddance.
To compare Cave and Berman is simply lazy. Makes me doubt you've actually listened to either artist.
hey kami, i am 41 years old and have listened to these bands since they've been putting records out. I've also seen both bands several times over the years. Nick Cave is one of the greatest performers on earth. The Silver Jews in the early days were a great band, but the show I saw the other night and since Berman has been in Nashville for that matter, was pretty fuckin lame. But the man needs a paycheck to keep putting out bad poetry. but don't worry kami i won't be listening to Berman anymore, but i'll see you at the next Bad Seeds show.(I wish they would come to Nashville.)
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