Colour Bük

Colour Bük are a rather paradoxical duo. Adam Kastin & Brandon Wulle are infamous to some & totally off the radar for others so far. As a witness to a few shows the band has played over the years I've seen quite a few eclectic performances, some of which have included members getting completely nude while banging a large ammunition shell & a brawl that sent someone to the hospital. Add to this the mysterious, read fake, biographies they have made up some which include releasing records through their "german" label Wir Wollen Wulle & a homeless genius that took the two on as his apprentices.

Beyond all of these constructed narratives there lies a certain bent on combining high & low, beautiful & ugly, good & bad. In the process melding each together into a single inseparable unit. Colour Bük have developed a dark and quirky sound the is pretty unique. After explaining all this it may be funny that the group is only now kicking it into high gear and releasing some great music on a wider scale.

The first of these releases is Our Favorite Fucking Day of the Goddamn Year, which is seeing its physical release on cassette via Weird Forest. The album perhaps is a more light hearted affair than many Colour Bük releases without diminishing the total creep factor. It mixes weirdo tape loop experimentation with some jagged songs that combine electronics and guitars just right.

The second release, and final for now, is Licht Dinger through the band aforementioned label Wir Wollen. The album includes a more 'punk rock' (whatever that means) oriented approach. The album showcases classic Colour Bük live tracks like The Fall Suck and Stay Depress each enveloped in a much harsher atmosphere than Our Favorite Fucking Day. The album does cede one similarity in the overall song structures and concepts though, switching between abstract composition to traditional verse-chorus structuring.

Colour Bük aren't even slowing down after the release of their LP. They already have a split planned for August with Smegma & are in the middle of planning a split with Tenses. That album is due out on Weird Forest in the upcoming months.

The group have some fantastic upcoming shows in support of the releases, one of these shows will be with Smegma founders Ju Suk Reete Meate & Jackie Oblivia, each of which is at a Last Nights venue favorite Silent Barn.

June 16th - Queens, NY @ Silent Barn w/ Jooklo Duo+Bill Nace, Yeh/Ju Suk/Jackie trio, Devin Gary & Ross, DJ Nat Roe

July 11th - Queens, NY @ Silent Barn w/ Garrincha & The Stolen Elk & more

La Big Vic have been on our radar here for a little while now, but it hasn't been until the group unveiled their 1st full-length, Actually, that they have seemed to really hit their stride. The track above "Mr. Broken Bird" seems to epitomize this. The tune combines the layers of synth textures and keyboard lines drifting in and out of the mix. In the end everything is held together by the motorik drumbeat and singer Emilie Friedlander's (founder of the always excellent Visitation Rites) airy vocals wrapping everything in a cozy tight package. A definite "hit" if I ever heard one that calls to mind elements of classic new wave pop and more experimental strains of kosmische musik.

La Big Vic, "Musica" via The FADER

None of that is too surprising when looking at the credentials the band holds. According to Underwater Peoples (who released Actually) the group's guitarist, Toshio Masuda, "performed in a major label J-Pop band, produced hip hop songs, as well as some commercials and soundtracks before coming to the US. While 3rd member Peter Pearson, dubbed as "the group's synthesist", is an apprentice to Pink Floyd's live sound producer. When one combines Emilie Friedlander (founder of the always excellent Visitation Rights) to the group then you understand where La Big Vic are coming from. Definitely a group to look out for in the future!

The late, and mysterious, Angus Maclise has recently been honored with his first retrospective, titled Dreamweapon, thanks to Boo-Hooray. In commemoration of the exhibition Boo-Hooray pressed up some limited LP's of unreleased recordings that were left to La Monte Yound & Marian Zazeela upon his death, as well as an extensive catalogue of his work and the show. Unfortunately the LP's are now completely sold out, but the recordings may still be heard during the last week of the exhibition.

Be sure not to miss it as it is a rare look into the work of a premier American underground artist/musician. The exhibition runs until May 29th.

Back in February Last Nights had the pleasure of working with Mazing Vids during Silk Flowers record release show party. Since then the duo seem to have been laying low, that is until I was invited to a screening of the upcoming screening of E.S.P. TV's 3rd episode at K&M Bar (225 N. 8th Street Brooklyn, NY). The show presents an entire set by the band that finds them in fine form. They're take on a minimal post-punk, with vocals reminiscent of Mark E Smith, is here accompanied by some live analog video processing. The video weaves in & out of the band's movements & bodies creating a cool watch.

The show has way more than just Mazing Vids though. This episode also includes a performance by Dana Bell titled "A Delicate Balance" and video by Rachel Mason and Meredith James, Aaron Nemex, & Jason Underhill. The videos presented are a mix bag in content, though oddball humor runs throughout.

Mazing Vids released their 1st full-length LP a little while ago & became an instant Last Nights favorite. You can purchase the album straight from the artists through their website. While you're at it make sure to stayed tuned for more great episodes of the young E.S.P. TV.

Weird Forest is a label that, in my mind at least, has put out some releases by pretty stellar artists throughout its time. The label counts Pocahaunted, Mouthus, Emaralds, & Wooden Wand & The Vanishing Voice (that is, just to name a few) among its alumni. So it's came as no surprise to find out that Davy Bui (proprietor of WF) has an equally rad band.

I Can Only Speak With One Emotional Tone / Aqueduct Flux by Garrincha & Stolen Elk

Garrincha & The Stolen Elk, as they go by, is the duo of Davy and guitarist Matt Kretzmann. They're most recent cassette We Were Wyoming was put out by the fine people at Stunned. It combines some post-punk appeal & sax skronk together in a surprisingly no-wave influence release. The duo are preparing to release their 1st LP on Weird Forest.

To celebrate the release the pair are hitting the road on a national tour. Last Nights is also fortunate enough to presenting two nights with G+SE while they're in NY as well! More details on that later for now check out their tour schedule below

Garrincha & The Stolen Elk July Tour

July 1 - Sacramento, CA @ Worf's House w/ Buk Buk Bigups, Night Nurse, LIPS, Magic Whistle

July 6 - Pittsburgh, PA @ tba w/ Gangwish, Waterfinder+Pete Fosco, LIPS

July 7 - New Haven, CT @ Popeye's Garage w/ Century Plants, Jon Erikson

July 8 - Boston, MA @ O'Briens w/ Xela, Double Awake, LIPS

July 10 - Northhampton, MA @ Feeding Tube w/ Century Plants, LIPS

July 11 - Brooklyn, NY @ Silent Barn w/ Colour Bük, TBA

July 12 - Wilmington, DE @ 700 Social Club w/ Roped Off, LIPS

July 15 - Brooklyn, NY @ Shea Stadium w/ Noveller, Hubble, LIPS, TBA

July 17 - St Louis, MO @ Floating Laboratories w/ LIPS

July 18 - Tulsa, OK @ Sound Pony w/ Mohawk Park, Parts of Speech

Hey, long time no see! Things have been pretty busy over here at Last Nights the past month or so. What better way to unwind than a cruise though, right?

Bruise Cruise is lost somewhere between a tropical vacation getaway & the most perfect contemporary rock n' roll festival that out there. A brief list of artists that hit the stage during the past year's Bruise Cruise includes the likes of The Vivian Girls, The Black Lips, Ian Svenonius, & Ty Segall to name a few. If you combine that list with the fact that it's also on a cruise ship & you get a pretty crazy (not too mention hedonistic) non-stop party.

The upcoming Bruise Cruise will feature artists such as Neil Hamburger, The Dirtbombs, King Kahn & The Shrines, Thee Oh Sees, & The Soft Pack to name a few it looks to be a pretty excited festival. Not even to mention one of the most unique. Tickets are available now, so for those looking for an out of the ordinary festival experience this is definitely worth checking out!