black dice @ market hotel

My plans on Saturday night changed quite dramatically when I picked up a showpaper on my way to dinner and was reminded that Black Dice were playing a show later that night at The Market Hotel, which is quickly becoming my favorite venue in the greater metropolitan area.

I got there early, which turned out to be extremely fortunate due to the fact that the show ended up “selling out” (basically, no one else could fit in the room) and those in attendance were told to “Text your friends and tell them to not get on the train, because they’re not getting in.” - Todd P. Lucky us.

IUD, (Lizzie Bougatsos of Gang Gang Dance’s side project), opened the night semi-awkwardly figuring out their sound and wrestling with their set up as they went along. It was interesting, but not as accessable / enjoyable as most of the GGD material.

Up next was the “just get through it” portion of the night which just so happened to consist of in-between-sets-disc-jockeying by Gibby Haynes & Genesis P-orridge (I know, I know, but they were awful, awful dj’s) and a set by “Skaters”, who I know absolutely nothing about. But patience has its rewards.

Not to sound melodramatic or anything, but I don’t think I’ve seen or heard a live show like Black Dice’s that night, probably… ever. I’ve been to a handful of noise shows and I’ve been one of the people holding Brian Chippendale’s bass drum in place and trying not to die, but nothing was like this. I fully realize that I am somewhat behind the times nerding out about a Black Dice show I just saw in New York, but this was a new experience for me having wanted to see them for a few years and finally being able to. There were parts of their set when the layering and the sound forms were so loud and insanely complex that I completely lost my place and forgot where I was and what I was doing. Which all basically means: they were great. And I love Black Dice. Tons.

I highly recommend downloading Load Blown, if you don’t already have it.