Hmm, I'd probably go see them, doing a net search I found this list of tourdates: <http://www.canal.ne.jp/~sound/mono/e_tour.html> They are playing all over so take a look if you are interested. And if your flash is up to par check out the main page which is pretty nicely done: <http://www.canal.ne.jp/~sound/mono/e_index.html> thanks for the heads up, I'll remember to bring earplugs. Robert On Thursday, April 17, 2003, at 11:07 PM, Zach Steiner <zsteiner@butler.edu> wrote:
Date: Fri, 18 Apr 2003 01:06:55 -0500 From: Zach Steiner <zsteiner@butler.edu> Subject: Mono To: zorn-list@mailman.xmission.com Message-ID: <000001c30570$b98bf8a0$0aadf29f@butler.edu> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
I saw Mono tonight and was blown away. I had heard dismissive Sonic Youth comparisons, so I was a tad apprehensive about what to expect. The whole band was extraordinarily calm and focused on the music; playing the music with such beauty and emotion. Each song climaxed after awhile into a glistening, ethereal wave of distortion and noise that was ever so stunning. The rhythm just throbbed organically underneath the gorgeous overtones and beautiful chords; almost inducing a trance. They never let the wave ride too long, they always let it subside before it became dull. I felt longing for more while reeling from the onslaught. At those moments, the dark smoke-filled bar became something almost transcendent.
This had to be the loudest concert that I have yet attended. Several others will attest to this as well. I couldn't stand to be up at the stage for more than a minute during the first song. My ears just couldn't take it. With your ears uncovered you could only hear the layers of overtones in the noise, not the notes themselves. The very air seemed to vibrate with the sound.
Unfortunately, this experience doesn't translate well to album. I've heard the CD on Arena Rock, but not Tzadik. Any opinions? Any one who has a chance to see Mono, please do so.
Zach
-- "We work with being, but non-being is what we use." -Lao Tse 'Tao Te Ching'