The International Writers Magazine: LA Music

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Traveling in Gravitational Orbit • Marlene Montez Last weekend, in an annoying personification of "You Are What You Eat", I became as one with a genetically engineered tomato I stupidly bit into while rushing through a salad. The allergic reaction started as I arrived in the office Monday morning, covering me in killer itch-burn hives. Thinking it would go away quickly, I suffered in hell until Tuesday noon, then went to the doctor for an ass-shot of steroids and a grip of prescriptions delivered with a lecture entitled, "Next Time, You’ll Die". Being a walking, drugged-out open sore derailed my Tuesday night plans to review the band Los Lonely Boys in Marina del Rey. I was more upset that I wouldn’t meet my favorite bass faker-strummer, Danny Bonaduce, who was hosting the event for his L.A. radio station Star 98.7. I was going to give him a Score!Music shirt, get my picture taken with him and give him my phone number so he can call me when he divorces his wife one day soon. Pissed off beyond all recognition, I itched, scratched and slurred my way through the week, consoling myself in knowing I still had a chance to see Banyan on Thursday.

Willie Waldman in action

When the time came, I was still scratching like a fiend and zoned out on the meds, but thanks to my precious long-sleeve Score!Music t-shirt, able to hide under enough clothes to show up at DiPiazza by 9:30. Being fuzz-brained only helped me to better fit in with the Banyan crowd. I claimed my territory at the foot of the stage, received four or five mega contact hits from band personnel as they set up, and enjoyed my photo vantage point while trumpeter Willie Waldman heralded the start of the set.

Banyan is a free-flowing, progressive jazz-rock project, which legendary bassist Mike Watt (Minutemen, fIREHOSE) proclaims to be steered onstage by drummer Stephen Perkins (Jane’s Addiction, Porno for Pyros). If this is the case, then Watt is the fuel that backs Perk to drive this engine, providing the centripetal force of a slamming back-smack to Perk’s centrifugal, pulling the motion together and giving guidance to every nuance of the unique jam. The moving body in this gravitational orbit is comprised of guitarist Nels Cline and brassmaster Willie, atmospherically enhanced by painter Norton Wisdom’s colorful images hand-splashed across a glowing backdrop.

Thursday’s show produced Watt, looking leaner and meaner than ever, stomping over rocks-filled whisky glasses onstage while urgently slapping the celebrated "thud staff". Nels was in great shape, improvising lucidity while weaving through the revolving spectrum of sound. As always, the audience was nourished and energized by the spellbinding presentation, wishing the show could go on just a little longer . . .

Opening band Kingthick, with amazing talent on bass and guitar and a featured appearance by special guest rapper Sick Rome, provided music that was groovy overall (even though I kept expecting the bass player’s lead vocals to burst into "The Legend of the Rent" – it went a little Jack Black in spots).

Feeling ready for an Aveeno shower, I waved away a friend’s offer of pizza (*what are you trying to do, kill me by tomato poisoning?*) and slipped out the stage access route, bidding club owners Mark and Maralyn diPiazza a good morning while stuffing Score!Music t-shirts into their arms as I rushed onward to a hopefully rash-free weekend.

© Marlene Montez June 2004
mmontez@xmsg.com

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