Woven Bones live @ the 5 Star Bar

Written by Rick Barzell Friday, 11 December 2009 17:48

As of recently, Mexican tranny dive bars have been converting into hip hangouts all over Los Angeles.  One of these bars is the 5 star bar in downtown LA.  Located just around the corner from the underground all ages venue known as The Smell, the 5 star bar has been hosting its very own array of gigs.  With the help of Crista (aka the girl with the big hair), last Friday (Dec. 4) night showcased an up and coming Austin, Tx band with the catchy name of Woven Bones.

Woven Bones are one of those bands that are getting a lot of attention from the vinyl collecting community, with all 4 of their 7” records already sold out (including a split 7” with Florida band Jacuzzi Boys).  They are currently finalizing their first West Coast tour.  

The band consists of 3 members: Andy Burr on Guitar/Vox, Matthew Nichols on Bass, and Colin Ryan on drums.  This type of line-up is becoming ever so present now in a type of lo-fi garage punk revolution.  Woven Bones however, are much more than that.

On this night, Woven Bones drove into their set head on.  I’m immediately surprised that not many people are here at all, very sad considering this band is one of the best things playing right now.  Personally it’s a plus to be able to see a band you really like in a small venue with little people.  It always seems to be more intimate that way.

Woven Bones mix a very minimal Post-punk electronic beat with trashy garage snarl of the 80’s and 90’s, and have proved to execute it rather well.  They have the garage punk swampy blues style of the 80’s/90’s band the Gories, and have the digital punk rhythm of the 70’s LA punk band the Screamers.  Woven Bones’ sound is very rhythmically bass-driven, which is proven in the song “If You’re Gold, I’m Gone” (the second song they played this night, and also featured on their new 12” EP entitled The Minus Touch).   This song is amazing from the first riff to the last; very hypnotizing with its minimal fuzzed-out bass groove, playing closely in synch with the primitive drum pattern.  The song is closely reminiscent to those of the Jesus & Mary Chain and The Velvet Underground.  The drums are obviously something they took from The Jesus and Mary Chain, as their original drummer (Bobby Guillespie, later of the band Primal Scream) also used to stand up while playing a total of two drums. 

They immediately jumped from one song to the next and immediately ended their set just under 20 minutes.  Short but sweet! Of course, they left me longing for more.  Good news however, considering they’re playing this coming Thursday Dec. 17^th at the venue just around the corner: the Smell!

 Their new 12” vinyl E.P. entitled The Minus Touch is out now on the small label Zoo Music so go eat it up at your local vinyl record store!  The whole thing plays in 45rpm (Brilliant!) instead of the 33rpm that is associated with a full size LP.  The dragged-out snarling vocals of singer Andy Burr is just the cherry on the sundae for every song!  Considering they’re finishing up their small west coast tour, the only place to catch them in the LA area is at the Surf City Saloon in Huntington Beach on Wednesday Dec.16, and on Thursday Dec. 17^th at the Smell in Downtown LA.

Rick Barzell
		About the author:
		Rick is the bass player for the Los Angeles 60's garage/psych band the Living Sickness, and also a DJ of wild rock n' roll.  He is a huge aficionado of wild and primitive rhythms and beats and connoisseur of all things exploitation and mondo cinema.