In 1996 I caught #jawbox live at the Showplace Theater in Buffalo. They were touring for what would ultimately be their last album. We didn't know it at the time. That show changed my life as a musician. Up to that point I had been playing in a punk band and didn't really pay attention to gear. I played a hand me down bass on the biggest practice amp I could afford (a fender bxr100 amp if you're taking notes. I couldn't tell you what make that cream bass guitar was) I parked myself in front of the bass player's rig (which is still my custom) and the band launched into their set. I remember really loving the set but was absolutely enthralled by Kim Coleta's bass tone. So punchy, so big. It was the sound I wanted to make. She played a fender jazz bass through an ampeg 8x10 cabinet and some sort of ampeg bass head I don't remember. I left this show on a mission. I wasn't making much money at the print shop where I was working but I bought a used ampeg svt pro head and shortly after I bought a floor model ampeg 4x10 cabinet. I've always coveted the 8x10 cab but never had any reasonable way to lug around what amounted to a small refrigerator. The guitar took a little longer. With a tax return and a month of Ramen noodles I was able to purchase an american fender jazz bass guitar. The whole process took me a couple of years. When I had all these components I used to walk up to the band rehearsal space for the indie rock band I was in at the time and sit Indian style in front of the rig and just run the only scale I knew. I let that sound wash over me. It was my most prized possession in my life up to that point.
I don't know if it was that live bass sound or what but this "s/t" CD remains my favorite of their canon. It flies in the face of what is generally regarded as their best album. That's not my problem. The songs on here are dark and obtuse. Time changes and texture. It's a heart wringing muscle flex of D.C. post-hardcore done with artistic flair. I come back to this CD often.
No comments:
Post a Comment