Show Review: Birds & Batteries @ El Rio

Happy MLK Day.

FLASH BACK:  New Years Eve, 2006.  Tuxedo, NC.  Lake House.  It is nigh about 10:30 pm and 12 friends are playing Balderdash. 

It is time to pick the music you listen to BEFORE the music you listen to when the clock rolls over into the new year. 

Something curious and a little risky, since the New Years Party fare should be something more classic, something that unites all partiers in memories of good times. 

The situation is complicated by the fact that there are several music SNOBS in proximal attendance.

My choice?  Birds & Batteries - "Nature vs. Nature".  "Curious" because to out-of-town music freaks, all local music is somehow intriguing.  "Risky" because of this band's mixture of digital and analog, electronic dance beats and pedal steel.  To pigeonhole, a futuristic alt.country. 

Results?  At least 1 attendant perked up and asked, "Yo Howie, who is this?" (lack of ironic smirk betraying a true interest).  Victory is mine.  Or ours.  Or something.

FLASH FORWARD:  Saturday night, January 13, 2007.  El Rio on Mission. The in-door room (not the outside stage).  Griz & Marcie too. Birds & Batteries are playing. 

The first thing I notice is that it must've been a while since I've seen them live because (despite the cramped cigar box of a venue) the four-some (electric guitar, bass, keys, pedal steel, drums) are playing to a nearly-packed crowd.  When I saw them several months ago, there were definitely not this many people. 

I know most of the songs they're playing, but there's some new versions.  All excellent.

HAVE A LOOK. 

I see lead singer Mike outside afterwards & get him to talk into a microphone for me. 

He talks about the recent tour, band growth, remixing the old album, recording a new album, Vanderslice's Tiny Telephone studios, etc.

EAVESDROP.

Download 1.12.07 - Birds & Batteries.mp3 (2:55)