Now a Duo, We Are Scientists Talk Brain Thrust Mastery, Sort of!

With the release of their new album Brain Thrust Mastery, We Are Scientists have grown. Though that includes losing their drummer, they have developed their sound. While you can expect the garage rock feel they are known for, the Scientists, now a duo, have possibly put out a better record than their first, With Love and Squalor. I had the chance to talk with Chris Cain about what to expect on their new album, losing a member of the band, and life on tour. Whether they really are scientists or not, that remains to be seen.

Your new album Brain Thrust Mastery is coming out in May. What can your fans expect from the new one?

Thoughtful, poppy (but not too poppy!), intelligently referential, exquisitely crafted album artwork, and some songs.

Did you do anything different when recording the new album compared to the last one, With Love and Squalor?

As we approached the recording of Brain Thrust Mastery, we decided it would be interesting to experiment with playing a lot more tennis. We chose a studio in Sausalito, CA — a place called The Plant — that offered unparalleled tennis access: immaculately maintained community courts a short two-minute walk from the studio’s back door. The facilities coupled with Northern California’s reliably temperate weather meant we were able to play tennis before and after sessions, plus during breaks. All that tennis had the desired effect: over the course of a month recording at the Plant, our tennis games improved dramatically.

Since losing your drummer, instead of finding a new one, you decided on staying a duo, and using supporting musicians. How did that affect your songwriting and playing live?

BTM was written and (largely) recorded with Michael Tapper — it wasn’t until everything was pretty much finished that he decided to leave the band. So, the effect on songwriting has yet to be determined. Probably it will make our songs more hip-hop. Keith and I have long been interested in taking things in a C+C Music Factory/Technotronic/Haddaway direction. Michael was always resistant, but with him out of the picture, things are probably going to get pretty goddamn hip-hop — ‘pretty’ to ‘very’ hip hop, I would imagine.

What are your favorite tracks off the new album?

“Lethal Enforcer,” “Dinosaurs,” and “That’s What Counts” are personal favorites, but I have a warm tolerance for most of the songs on BTM.

Your last album With Love and Squalor was named after a short story by J.D. Salinger of the same name. Is there any meaning behind Brain Thrust Mastery?

It has a koan-like meaning, which is to say logic and even language (which is construed according to logical strictures such as consistency) are inadequate to describe the meaning. Through reflection unrestrained by any sort of formalism, though, gobs of meaning emerge.

What are your favorite things about being on tour?

Probably groupies, drugs, and free sandwiches. Actually, that may not be the order. Maybe sandwiches, groupies, drugs.

Any funny stories while on the road?

We met a young fan the other day outside a venue who told us — after five or ten minutes of chit chat — that he liked us more than his parents, and could he come with us on tour? It was a little awkward. He’s doing a great job, though, so far.

What’s the weirdest food you’ve tried while out on tour?

I had something called ‘bath chap’ at a restaurant in London last month, which was described to me by the waiter as the flesh from a pig’s head scraped off, chopped, formed into patties, and then cooked. I couldn’t resist, and it was actually very good. You’d get sick of it if you ate it every day, yes, but once a week would work well, I suspect.

Who are you guys bigger fans of Obama, Hillary, or John McCain and why?

We’re Obama men. My impression is that to get to the highest rung of political achievement, one spends many years making awful compromises — taking it up the ass, essentially (not in a good way). Years of taking it up the ass breaks your spirit, scrapes away all the good intention and idealistic commitment that got you into politics in the first place, and leaves behind a skeleton of amoral ambition — like when all the meat is taken off the pig’s skull to make bath chap. It’s my vague sense, though, that maybe the chutes-and-ladders-esque speed with which Obama ascended — the flukey meteoric rise — means he hasn’t been at this long enough to have had all the good flogged out of him. Hillary and McCain are surely evil at this point, or, at best, ravenous, robotic embodiments of momentum.

You guys are from New York. So what are some of your favorite places to eat, drink, and shop for music?

In Manhattan: Pastis, Corner Bistro, Lil’ Frankie’s, Five Points, Mona’s, Cherry Tavern, Grape & Grain

In Brooklyn: Relish, The Abbey, Ana Maria’s Pizza, The Levee

–DaVe Lipp

The Duke Spirit

Bowery Ballroom

April 8, 2008

The Duke Spirit, an aggressive indie rock band out of London, England put on an electric show at the Bowery Ballroom tonight that kept the audience jumping from start to finish.

The focal point of the band for me was definitely Leila Moss, the lead singer whose powerful voice matched her captivatingly sexy stage presence.  Her voice had elements of Bjork, while the band as a whole was definitely reminiscent of the Pixies.  Their sound was harsh and unashamed.  They had great dynamics and established an edgy backdrop through repetition of simple melodic lines over complex rhythms.  While Leila Moss definitely stole the show, her bandmates Luke Ford, Dan Higgins, Toby Butler, and Olly Betts brought a raw energy and stage presence of their own.  Guitarists Luke Ford and Dan Higgins especially staggered around the stage mesmerized by their instruments almost alluding to the power of their total sound.

–Marc Amigone

The Fiery Furnaces Courtesy of HRT

Friday April 25

Location: East Village, NYC
Band: Baby Dayliner + Blockhead
Show time: 4:25 PM
Venue: Rehab
Food: Veselka
Drink: B-Side
Miscellaneous: ChiKaLicious

Local frontman/one-man-band and crooner extraordinaire Baby Dayliner comes across like the great frontmen Morrissey and Frank Sinatra while sounding all his own. His live show is always fun. Don’t miss beatmaker Blockhead. You may know some of his work from Aesop Rock and Murs among others. Part diner with a Russian menu, Veselka stays open 24-hours and offers blintzes, pierogi’s, and stuffed cabbage along with standard diner fare. One of the L.E.S.’s favorite rock n’ roll bars, B-Side has a kickass jukebox, and an excellent happy hour from 3-8pm, where you can get a PBR and a shot of Whiskey for $5. If you’re serious about your desserts, then ChiKaLicious will blow you away with a $12 pri-fixe that includes an Amuse, Choice of Dessert, and Petit Fours (with wine pairing, $7 additional).

Friday April 25

Location: Fort Greene, Brooklyn
Bands: Paul Simon: American Tunes with Olu Dara + Grizzly Bear + Josh Groban + The Roches + Gillian Welch
Show time: 8:00 PM
Venue: BAM Howard Gilman Opera House
Food: Junior’s
Drink: O’Connor’s
Miscellaneous: Thomas Beisl

At the tail-end of Paul Simon’s month-long residency at BAM celebrating his long and storied musical career, tonight he performs with an eclectic group of modern artists he’s influenced including Olu Dara, Grizzly Bear, Josh Groban, The Roches, and Gillian Welch. Known more for its cheesecake than anything else on its menu, Junior’s also offers fantastic diner and deli style eats from steak burgers to deli sandwiches. If you can make it through dinner, the cheesecake will be worth the wait! One of Brooklyn’s most interesting dive bars, O’Connor’s offers cheap drinks in a place where Park Slope hipsters meet old-time drinkers, making for one of the oddest pairings that works. An excellent place to get schnitzel and goulash and other Austrian delights, Thomas Beisl is right across the street from BAM.

Saturday April 26

Location: Soho, NYC
Band: Bent Festival 2008
Show time: 7:00 PM
Venue: DCTV
Food: Nha Trang
Drink: Knitting Factory
Miscellaneous: La Esquina

Get ready to geek out as the annual Bent Festival comes to town! Featuring art, music and DIY electronics, hacking, and all kinds of circuitry, prepare to see bands from all over the world playing home-made instruments, artists giving workshops, and witness just what these circuit benders are creating. One of the best affordable Vietnamese restaurants in the city, Nha Trang is right near the downtown courthouse, making it a high volume place. Despite that, the food is great and the Pho (rice noodle soup) dishes are $5 and under. An hip and eclectic place for drinks, the Knitting Factory is also a music venue. The drinks here aren’t expensive and the crowd is fun and artsy. One of the best taqueria’s in the city, the Mexican food here is authentic and to die for. While tacos will set you back $3, plates are in the $6 to $7.25 range.

Saturday April 26

Location: Park Slope, Brooklyn
Band: The Fiery Furnaces
Show time: 8:00 PM
Venue: Southpaw
Food: Press 195
Drink: The Gate
Miscellaneous: The Chocolate Room

The genius of The Fiery Furnaces is well documented and tonight they take their recording process to another level as the debut “Democ-Rock,” a series of recordings written with the help of their fans. Taking the pressed sandwich to the gourmet level, Press 195 offers 30 kinds of hot pressed sandwiches that make this place hard to get tired of. One of the more social bars in Park Slope, The Gate is a great bar with a wide selection of local beers on tap and an outdoor patio overlooking the park. A great little dessert and coffee shop, The Chocolate Room has a menu filled with everything made with some form of chocolate. Try the hot chocolate, you won’t regret it.

Sunday April 27

Location: Tribeca, NYC
Film: Tribeca Film Festival
Venue: See here for times and locations
Food: Ear Inn
Drink: Village Lantern
Miscellaneous: Jacques Torres

With Robert Deniro’s Tribeca Film Festival, new films come first though there will be plenty of events, music, art, panel discussions, and special screenings including Tina Fey’s Baby Mama and Speed Racer. One of my favorite places for food, Ear Inn is a 200-year-old bar with a small menu featuring burgers, sandwiches, and a chalkboard with specials including Jerk Chicken that’s under $10. With $3 pints Monday thru Friday 12pm to 7pm along with comedy and music performances, the Village Lantern is a great bar to chill at after work, especially now that it’s finally getting warm outside. Watch some of the best chocolate in the world made right in front of your eyes or browse through the store and sample for yourself the fruits of this master chocolatier’s labor.

Josh Azzarella Untitled #23 (”Lynndied”) 2006

March 21 – May 17, 2008

Hours:
Tuesday through Friday, 11am – 6pm
Saturday, noon – 6pm
Sunday, noon – 5pm

Unmaking icons and remaking history are the subjects of the first solo show by Josh Azzarella, currently on display at DCKT Contemporary’s new Lower East Side gallery.

Appropriating some of the most famous images in the history of photojournalism and video reportage, Azzarella recontextualizes these images and forces viewers to confront their power by removing their historical significance.

In his re-working of the Jules Naudet video footage from 9/11 of American Airlines Flight 11, tragedy becomes a near-miss as his footage shows the plane flying harmlessly by the still standing towers. Another series of images based on the photographic evidence of torture at Abu Ghraib, shows Lynndie England and her fellow Army Reservists in their grotesque banality, with all traces of their victims erased.

The work, ultimately, is less about the image, than the importance of the historical moment. By removing the icon, Azzarella places the emphasis fully on the reality that the image re-presents.

–Jonathan Shieber

Speed Racer Debut’s at The Tribeca Film Festival

Location: Tribeca, NYC
Film: Tribeca Film Festival
Venue: See Tribeca Film Festival website
Food: Ear Inn
Drink: Village Lantern
Miscellaneous: Jacques Torres

With Robert Deniro’s Tribeca Film Festival, new films come first though there will be plenty of events, music, art, panel discussions, and special screenings including Tina Fey’s Baby Mama and Speed Racer. One of my favorite places for food, Ear Inn is a 200-year-old bar with a small menu featuring burgers, sandwiches, and a chalkboard with specials including Jerk Chicken that’s under $10. With $3 pints Monday thru Friday 12pm to 7pm along with comedy and music performances, the Village Lantern is a great bar to chill at after work, especially now that it’s finally getting warm outside. Watch some of the best chocolate in the world made right in front of your eyes or browse through the store and sample for yourself the fruits of this master chocolatier’s labor.

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Great Northern
sleepy eepee
eenee meanie records

sleepy eepee may be short, but is it ever so sweet! Consisting of 5 brief songs, this prequel to Great Northern’s highly acclaimed Trading Twilight for Daylight, packs a whole lot of talent into a teeny (eenee) space. For starters, the vocals are pretty great. Great Northern’s primary songwriter, Solon Bixler, delivers his disaffected lyrics with a scratchy voice that is perfectly picturesque. However, the songs get boring somewhere in the middle of the album, on tracks like “summertime,” in which Bixler’s vocals are not heavily featured. But the album’s best songs – “loose ends” and “this is a problem” – feature memorable vocal melodies and skillful harmonization over a spare instrumental framework of piano, guitar, and percussion. And as if simple, adept songwriting weren’t enough to make an album great, producer Mathias Schneeberger has helped create a highly polished package, with sounds reminiscent of works by New York’s The Fireflies.

–Gregory Hyman

©2008 Takashi Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Location: Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
Art: ©MURAKAMI
Venue: Brooklyn Museum
Show Time: Wed to Fri: 10 AM to 5 PM; Sat to Sun: 11 AM to 6 PM
Food: Tom’s Restaurant
Drink: Soda Bar
Miscellaneous: Old Brooklyn Parlor

Celebrating the art of Takashi Murakami, this retrospective of the acclaimed Japanese artist shows more than 90 of his works, spanning painting, sculpture, installation, and animation. It’s the place where Susanne Vega wrote “Tom’s Restaurant,”but Tom’s restaurant is just as famous for its food. With a near insane breakfast menu, expect items like pancakes with apples and pecans to be brought to you by the sweetest waitresses in Brooklyn. Soda Bar is a great place for drinks. The alcohol is cheap, there’s surprisingly excellent food, and there’s even another room where DJs spin. If it’s too much, you can hang outside in the backyard patio under the stars. The Old Brooklyn Parlor specializes in old school drinks like the Brooklyn Egg Cream and the Lime Cherry Rickey, making it an excellent anchor to this neighborhood.

The Duke Spirit
Neptune
Shangri-La Music

Neptune, the second full-length from U.K. band The Duke Spirit, finds the group delivering on the promise of their debut LP Cuts Across the Land. Their first album was a dark bare bones effort but this time out, the group is letting in some light. The result is an album that is more pop-centric but still captivating. Fans of the original album will rally around songs like “Dog Roses” that find the band employing the usual tools of their trade (crunchy guitars and tough-talking songs) but the cheery production behind “My Sunken Treasure” should lure new listeners. If there’s one song that perfectly blends the conflicting light/dark sides of The Duke Spirit together, it has to be the mid-tempo rocker “The Step And The Walk.” It takes the bands My Bloody Valentine-esque roots, adds in the here and now, and dashes headlong into the future.

–Amy Wagner

Jenna and Laura Bush Discuss Literature at the 92nd Street Y. Photo Credit: Seth Wenig

Location: Upper East Side, NYC
Event: Laura and Jenna Bush
Show time: 8:00 PM
Venue: 92nd Street Y
Food: Brother Jimmy’s Bait Shack
Drink: Cavatappo Wine Bar
Miscellaneous: Ship of Fools

Push aside your political leanings for one night and check out the First Lady Laura Bush and her daughter Jenna stop by the 92nd Street Y to read from their new children’s book Read All About it, and talk about the importance of literacy and education. Now that it’s getting warmer out, what better way to celebrate than with some BBQ. Jimmy’s Bait Shack is known for their BBQ’d meats, smoked in house. The menu is all Southern favorites like po boys, catfish, fried chicken, along with burgers. Though it’s small, Cavatappo Wine Bar packs a mighty punch, offering an amazing selection of wines from all over the world for under $10 a glass. With more than 40 TVs featuring sports, Ship of Fools also has darts, pool tables, and video games.