Lock Your Doors, or Not.

Brian Jonestown Massacre Inches, Strangely, Into Boise

By Joseph Friedrichs, 6-16-10

	There you have it. (submitted photo)

There’s nothing about my notes in an attempt to review the Brian Jonestown Massacre concert in Boise Tuesday night that isn’t pure rubbish.

There are only two clear lyrics I picked up on, jotted down, and can be read clearly on my notepad. They are as follows: “but it’s fucking your girlfriend, and it’s flying in space, and it’s putting you to shame as it spits in your face;” along with, “and it’s eating the planets and it’s playing guitar… in fact it’s playing right now.”

It was a loud, thumping concert, as least as far as the instruments are concerned. Four electric guitars, including BJM’s most notorious character, Anton Newcombe. An electric bass, drums, keyboards and (Joel Gion) mixing in tambourine/maracas.

If you’ve never heard any BJM, click here. And if you have, click there anyhow.

A beautiful blonde danced next to me during the concert. Her boyfriend - or whoever he was - moved to the tunes as well. Either way, he would have beat the snot out of me had I even slightly indicated an interest in her. There were approximately 90 people in attendance for the concert. It took place at the Knitting Factory, located downtown. Yes, that is the name of the venue, the Knitting Factory.

Newcombe has gone sober, or so he claims, and all the rest of us can do is believe him. All the same, with or without drugs and booze he remains arrogant and strange. There is still a right rhythm and message he is spreading.

For example, in an interview with Impose Magazine, Newcombe stated:

“First of all my project has been around for more than 20 years. I’ve outlasted all my peers. Furthermore, if you start the clock back in 1962 when The Beatles started recording and shit. Guess what they were doing 20 years down the road if they weren’t dead. Judge by that standard. I think I’m in very good shape. Anybody you want to name from my peers. They’ve either eaten dust or are just bitter.”

The band has been touring for months, throughout the world and most recently the U.S. It comes to an end several days from now in San Diego. I could tell you more, but it would be nothing more than rehashed remnants of a band who is tired, playing very, Very loud music nearly every night and has just seen more countries than most people even know are out there.

So, cheers to you, the members of the Brian Jonestown Massacre. Your show was not what I wanted or expected.

That being said, it’s not my band to manage. So do as you want, you strange, strange souls. 

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