Danava

2011: The vinyl countdown … and then some

Friday, December 30th, 2011 | musiX, pdX | 1 Comment

Well, hello there. Remember when we used to hang out? Right here? I would tell you about the music I liked. And you’d get me up to speed on everything going on in your life—that new job, your new love interest, or that new zany electro-twee trio from Brooklyn—in the comments section. I miss that.

It’s been a fantastical year for The Days of Lore, filled with all sorts of life-shaping events … ahh hell, here it is in digestible list form:

1. I got married! Yes, married! Me! Married! To a wonderful woman who puts up with all of my quirks. It was an incredible ceremony, and the good times with friends and family lasted for daze. It was one of the most overwhelmingly happy events in my life. And everyone cried, per my plan. I captured the musical portion of it on the official Days of Lore Wedding Mix. Grab your copy here.
2. I also performed my first wedding ceremony, and I think it’s even official.
3. A couple of my good friends brought new little bundles into the world. Both of those little bundles have Willie Nelson onesies.
4. My beloved St. Louis Cardinals miraculously won the World Series.
5. My wife Alexis got a Master’s in teaching and a teaching job … all within four months.

Yes, 2011 was pretty darned swell. That said, TDoL suffered a little amidst all of the excitement, neglected like a Fleet Foxes CD in the stack of life. But I have a couple of goodies to offer before we call 2011 a year. Like this here year-end, rock and roll buffet (minus the all-you-can-eat crab legs).

I should note that I didn’t delve very deep into new music this year, instead spending all waking hours with my head buried in musty vinyl bins (I’m even working on a cologne called “Musty Vinyl Bin”) buying up old country and metal records. This year, instead of a comprehensive list of 2011 releases, I’ve compiled sort of a grab-bag of notable musical this and thats. Hope you enjoy. Here’s looking to 2012 with charged batteries and more good times.

Top five 6 Shows
1. Wild Flag at Doug Fir, 11.9.11
Windmills, leg kicks, noise, all performed with a certain je ne sais quoi—these ladies renewed my faith in rock and roll.
2. Danava at East End, 10.8.11
The best rock band in Portland. Period. Earplugs and diaper recommended.
3. Rush at Sleep Country Amphitheater, 6.28.11
I’ve only recently jumped aboard the Rush train, and finally seeing them live proved once and for all what I’ve known all along: These guys are nerds. And they fucking rule.
4. Deicide at Hawthorne Theatre, 3.5.11
The venue smelled like an 8th grade locker room, and a fight broke out within the first five minutes I arrived. Now that’s a metal show.
5. Ke$ha at Roseland Theatre, 2.16.11
I had no clue what I was getting into here, and I ended up having a blast. Throwaway pop and good ol’-fashioned schlock in the form of human sacrifices and a dancing penis.
6. Zola Jesus at Mississippi Studios, 10.6.11
Less goth and more grandiose than I expected. I felt like I had eaten a Ziploc bag of mushrooms. And Ms. Jesus was very down-to-earth.

Top 5 Albums
1. Koko and the Sweetmeats - Sacrifice
Seattle’s best kept secret is also Seattle’s best band.
2. Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Unknown Mortal Orchestra
 I miss the Mint Chicks … but not that much.
3. Old 97’s - The Grand Theatre, Vol. 2
 Even better than Vol. 1. So where’s Vol. 3 and 4?
4. Anthrax - Worship Music
 Who woulda thought? They bring back Joey Belladonna and release their best album in 20 years.
5. Thee Oh Sees - Carrion Crawler/The Dream
 Album number two of 2011 from Jim Dwyer and Co. is numero uno in my book, and number five on the list.

Top five 6 Vinyl Purchases
1. The Saints - Eternally Yours
The gift that keeps on giving.
2. Steve Young - Rock Salt & Nails
Brilliant country gospel featuring Gene Clark and Gram Parsons.
3. Bollywood Bloodbath: The B-Music of the Indian Horror Film Industry
More funky than frightening—the dance-party soundtrack for 2011 and beyond (the grave).
4. Willie Nelson - Phases & Stages
Willie’s best, and I finally snagged it on vinyl.
5. Iron Maiden - Powerslave
I forgot how great this album was, and I played it for weeks at maximum volume. Now my neighbor Earl knows how great this album is, too.
6. Celibate Rifles - The Turgid Miasma of Existence
Australia’s answer to the Sex Pistols (get it?), only noisier and better.

Odds and Ends
Interview: A morning with Stephen Malkmus
I spent a few hours at Mr. Malkmus’ pad for Spin Magazine, talking to him about sports, guitars … oh, and his best solo record to date.

Record Store: Crossroads Music
I spent many an afternoon here this year. Spent many a dollar. Took home many a record. Made many an ill-advised decision. And for that, I love/hate/love it.

Book: Ace Frehley - No Regrets
The Space Ace drank enough booze and did enough blow to kill an adult male rhino, and he lived to tell about it. Guitar Gods never die—they clean up their acts and write rock bios.

TV: Wonder Years on Netflix
After years and years (and years), Kevin Arnold and Winnie Cooper (be still my beating heart) came back into my life, along with the laughter, tears, and the music … even if it’s not Joe Cocker on those opening credits. See you next year, eh?

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Black Friday Week: Danava will destroy you

Thursday, October 7th, 2010 | musiX, pdX | No Comments

Continuing with TDoL’s super-duper, metal-up-your-ass, season-in-an-abyss Fall Into Darkness preview, I give you Danava. Now, I wouldn’t necessarily consider these guys metal (neither would vocalist/guitarist/former TDoL neighbor Dusty Sparkles) … perhaps epic, mind-melting prog rock would be more accurate. I saw these guys play a few weeks ago, and it was LOUD … like make-you-faint, soil-your-pants loud. It was the band’s first show in about a year as Sparkles and a new crew have been holed up working on a new record. If you can see them live, do so. Just be sure to bring earplugs and a diaper(s).

Danava will perform Sunday, Oct. 10 at Berbati’s with Earthless, Wildildlife and Via Vengeance.

Danava live at Satyricon, April 7, 2007

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This band could be your neighbor: fin

Monday, January 5th, 2009 | musiX, pdX | 3 Comments

It’s been more than two months since I’ve written about the mysterious band that lives in my apartment complex. Well. It finally happened. I came face to face with the face of pure rock magic. Get that?

If you’re an avid reader of TDoL (and I know you are … wink) you’ll recall that when I moved to Portland three months ago I became mildly obsessed with a gray van that occupied a space in my complex. It would disappear for days at a time, and I only caught fleeting glances of the inhabitants as I tried to collect clues as to who was rocking apartment No. 1. If you’re just joining me on this tale of mystery and intrigue, feel free to get caught up in parts one, two and three before reading on.

I wasn’t getting anywhere by craning my neck every time I passed the van as I searched the dashboard for clues—which amounted to a few scattered maps and a CD case. When I finally decided to just walk up to the door and ask, the van disappeared for three weeks, no doubt on a whirlwind tour filled with sex, drugs and red snappers. Told you I’m obsessed with the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle.

The other day I was heading down the walkway that skirts the apartment. Two shadowy figures emerged, one an attractive young woman with long brown hair, the other a short, rail-thin man clad head to toe in denim with long jet-black hair. I came right out and asked …

It was Dusty Sparkles, frontman for Portland psych rock band Danava (pronounced DON-uh-vuh). I’ll admit that I hadn’t heard the band, but it ended up being too good to be true. Danava is the second coming of Hawkwind, with the added hue of Blue Cheer … maybe even a dab of Blue Öyster Cult. They’re signed to Kemado Records (Dungen, The Sword). They are purveyors of mysticism and rock. And they’re effing good.

Sparkles moved to Portland from Quincy, Ill., a few years ago and formed the band which has since released a handful of 7-inches and two full-lengths, including 2008’s UnonoU.

He wasted no time explaining what Danava was all about.

“We’ve been called prog, metal, someone even called us glam rock,” said Sparkles with a slight drawl. He appeared slightly disgusted by the latter description. “We just play rock.”

I like this guy.

I think the video for “Where Beauty and Terror Dance” off Danava’s latest record illustrates without a doubt that I live in the raddest apartment complex in the city. Take me with you, Dusty.

“Quiet Babies Astray in a Manger” - Danava

“Where Beauty and Terror Dance” from UnonoU

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