Sunday morning I flew into LaGuardia airport and met up with my good friend Dave, who flew in from Chicago. We hired a car into Brooklyn, checked into the Brooklyn Hotel for two nights, and headed out to the Paramount Theatre to see the final of three shows that The Dillinger Escape Plan played here to celebrate the 25th anniversary of 1999's Calculating Infinity. This was the seventh time I've seen the band live since 1999, and the second time with original lead singer Dimitri Minakakis. Almost as big a draw for me was a reunited Deadguy, a band I found in 1995 as a writer for then-Chicago music magazine Subculture (how I miss you!). I had somehow gotten to be the magazine's dedicated reviewer for everything then new label Victory Records released. The problem was that I didn't really like most of what Victory put out. Deadguy was one of the few exceptions to that rule because, holy shit, did I LOVE Fixation on a Coworker from the moment I hit play.
Before the show we grabbed a bite and a few drinks at a local Brewery/Restaurant called Sound + Fury. Great stuff. I started with a Kölsch I didn't love - I think the barrel was low or the lines were off - but found much better results when I switched it up to their Quality Control Pilsner. I ended up drinking way more Pilsners on this trip than I normally do, but it was hot and I was bloated from general travel unease, so a thinner beer seemed the better option. Also, I'm on a total ban of IPAs at the moment, as they've just completely worn out their welcome for me.
The entire bar at Sound + Fury was populated by folks in Mr. Bungle, Ween and Melvins shirts. we struck up a little conversation and briefly met a couple from Chicago who, like us, had jumped on this show the second it was announced, fearing it would be a one-and-done. Doors were set to open at 5:00 PM I think, and by 6:00 PM, pretty much everyone there for the show had cleared out. We stayed behind; I hate to be that guy who only watches the bands I came to see, but also, I'm fucking 48 and I'd been awake since 6:00 AM - standing on a hard floor for four bands' set times felt... intimidating. Eventually, around 6:30 PM we headed over.
There were supposed to be two opening bands, the names of which I will withhold because I don't like to talk shit. But man, I did not like either. I also didn't like the third opener they added. There's something about metal that makes people think they can just base their band around decibels and blast beats, throw up the horns after every song, and the crowd will accept them.
Not this guy. Nope.
A couple hours into the show, the night was not going great. I was happy to be there with my friend, don't get me wrong, but I was getting drunk and I was getting tired. Then Deadguy took the stage. They played fantastic for a band that hasn't been a band in 30 years, however, the sound for them was the worst of the night. I mean, it was "Fire your sound guy now" bad. I was a little crushed.
When Dillinger took the stage the sound continued to be an issue. This was unbelievable; I mean, we're watching Bill Rymer hit his snare and not hearing it. Could hear the fucking kick drum loud and clear, though. Again, I don't like to talk shit, but there is a penchant in the live sound community - especially at metal shows - for sound techs to focus on the drum kit and forget everything else, or at least dial it in slowly. That's pretty much what happened, as the sound did get there eventually, but it took about four songs into Dillinger's set. Fine, whatever. By this point, Dimitri had worked his way to the back of the house and was delivering the refrain from Aphex Twin's "Come to Daddy" from atop the soundboard. I actually found myself wondering if the sound guy thought Dimitri had come back to kick his ass, and that's why the sound suddenly improved.
The show was fantastic, and by the end completely blotted out the travesty from earlier in the evening. Dave and I hung around outside the Paramount for a bit and ran into that Chicago couple again. Rob and Jax. Great folks and it blew my mind to find Rob was also a graduate of Columbia College Chicago's Sound Program. What's more, he's actually using his education - he's the head sound guy at Chicago's United Center! We walked over to a dive someone online had recommended to Dave, The Brooklyn Inn and I instantly fell in love; a long space instead of wide, only a few quiet souls on hand, low lighting and jazz on the speakers. This was the second highlight of the evening. Rob and I talked about Columbia for quite some time, and I was thrilled to find he had studied live sound with one of my favorite teachers there, Jack Alexander. Jack was nuts, one of the most no-bullshit guys I met at the school, and I was bummed to find both he and another favorite, Jim Nudd, had passed away. Rob regaled me by explaining how the year Jack died, the sound crew at Lolapalooza - which he was on - peppered images of their mentor on the giant digital screen during the festival. I raised several glasses to that.
We ended up closing the place, I think. We scored some extremely salty Pastrami sandwiches at a little all-night bodega on the corner, then went back to the hotel and passed out.
On Monday, after a slow-moving morning, I heard Jazz or Hip-Hop everywhere we went in Brooklyn. Without any real destination, we had breakfast at a neighborhood place called Pearl's, then just walked around Brooklyn for a couple of hours. I always feel that's how I get to know a city—by walking. Later, we had dinner at a place called The Canary, then walked across the street to watch a jazz quartet at Drink Lounge. These guys were fantastic: Kit, Upright, Guitar and Alto Sax. Once they wrapped, we hiked a couple blocks down to a Jazz Vinyl Bar we'd passed by on the way to dinner - Kissa Kissa. The wall of vinyl in this place has to be seen to be believed:
We ended up closing this place, too, as the bartender Meno was a damn cool guy and our meandering conversations with him touched on everything from the state of the world to wine to music to Tennessee. The evening just melted away. A half-dozen pints of Night Shift Brewing's Nite Lite helped on this end, as well as the bottle of 2018 Loli Casado Jaun de Alzate Crianza Rioja Dave bought that I nipped at here and there. Wine is largely lost on me, and I'm fairly certain I have a tannin allergy, but it just felt right.
After closing out Kissa Kissa, Dave and I walked back to the hotel, and I realized I was kind of in love with Brooklyn Walking reveals so much of a place; I've been to NY two other times and have never been in a hurry to return. After this trip, Dave and I are already talking about when we can come back, maybe bring our girlfriends for two days and just haunt this wonderful borough.
Playlist:
Robot God - Portal Within
Bruce Springsteen - Born in the U.S.A.
Man Man - Carrot on Strings
Grimes - Art Angels
Pink Milk - Ultraviolet
Pink Milk - Night on Earth
The Cramps - Flamejob
Deadguy - Fixation on a Coworker
Pepper Adams - Encounter!
Joe Newman with Frank Foster - Good 'n' Groovy
Coleman Hawkins - Wrapped Tight
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