Sister Crystals

I went to the Panda Riot thing last Saturday 9 June with a weight of guilt attached to the usual belief that I'm late to something. Friends that I feel close to invited me elsewhere. I'm sorry guys I could not go. So this slight weight of guilt was my companion. Don't trust guilt to give you good directions. I thought I passed Kedzie when I thought I didn't. Circled back to heavy Cicero traffic, start over. Indeed I missed the band before Sister Crystals were scheduled to play and that is who I wanted to see. A little facebook research may lead you to the free downloads. You see how that puts an edge to the urgency to see them? Well, it makes the driving stop and go on Cicero somewhat fucking unpleasant. So I listen to NPR and see how bad everyone else has it. Fuck!!
  So finally I find the street where Panda Riot were releasing their EP....I just have to circle back again. As I park I notice a swarm of people casually head in. This is my second visit to the Pandas practice spot. They were releasing new work on vinyl. As near definite as seeing them was, Sister Crystals were the main wonder.  There's Rebecca with the crowd...go pay her...she's talking....oh, there go the Crystals. Pay later....I did....no bullshit.
  So I recall really liking the downloaded songs. In awe that I can discover this and then download it right there. How in the veins is that? The only main line left to do is to see them live, and pay. They deserve to be paid. Its important to do that. I believe the event just broke even. To see it pays me back for ever. This is how the music gasps for air, to see it, to go after it is to be...that child discovering his favorite bands. Now you go after the events.
  I saw the whole thing. I was way impressed with SC.  They more than reenforce what I downloaded. Live, they have these moments when they build, build, build almost to anticipate the voice of Lauren Whitacre around the corner.  That makes for a good 5 minutes in one song, 2 minutes of which is jam session but you feel like you are running a sprint with them on a hill. And they get into it, like Ringo Death Starr...only they don't run into the crowd and offer to let you play bass...was it bass? Hmm, so with SC you are not tired or bored. Many times I just.... danced. They create the fire and give it space and time. And you can dance and ride the moment, and they do as well. I remember for how in awe I was in seeing how they played their instruments, jamming for themselves almost without an awareness of the crowd which seemed big during their set.
  I cannot recall which songs did what, and perhaps this will not help in what others find or not find in Crystals. I felt placed in rooms that previously John Lennon placed me in. A similar nostalgic kick, familiar laced wonder like something you should have been listening since forever. It's not saying that is how they sound. But their sweetness sparked easily the feeling of discovering Lennon for the first time in my uncles car. Awh...how we give a shit, and does not help, right. Oh, so how do they sound? Hmm, like Secret Colours with the cardio engine of Sybris. What? You got to look them up too? Fuck!! So don't look that way when I want to use the Warpaint spray can!

  SC at times felt like they can effortlessly create this heavy dense fog and charge into it with you in a shopping cart. The wizened sweetness comes with the voice of Lauren Whitacre. Provokes wonder and claims authority. Sure I notice all the the ink too between the camera flashes, it adds to the authority like with Jilly from We Are Hex. You feel that what ever happens in the span of the six songs occurs near a beach, and for me far too close to childhood memories of Calumet Park on the South Side. Lauren's voice is clear yet I still base everything primarily on how things sounded and only occasionally what clearly comes out like in She's Gone. And you already have the marble stones where the words will write themselves. I might as well go see Calumet Park....or a real fucking beach, but currently I could only afford the metaphor, and Calumet. I didn't speak to the band  at all after they played, my awkwardness would scare Ms Lauren off I thought. I am happy and grateful to Panda Riot for having them.

Panda Riot

Panda Riot, I post on them a lot but really fuck it.  In the attempt at saying different things about them with each new performance, I suppose I must say the same fucking thing. I don't even recall which Saturday I saw them. It was at Bottom Lounge. I especially went to see Elika. They played first and PR were next. Oh.... why do I go see them so damn often? Hmm ...fuck. Through them I've seen so many others. Lets see. Over the years there is a list of who I can tether Panda Riot to. Magnetars....haven't seen them in a very long time. Lightfoils, Kodacrome, Eula, b.c.e.. OK that's a small list...wait. I can throw in Magic Key, School Of Seven Bells and Warpaint. So it's always an evolving education with the Pandas.  Oh yeah, and they are playing more and more new music.
  They have a new EP coming out. It's called Serious Radical Girls. I suppose that does not save me still from repeating the same old fucking praise. For this release that they will do this weekend they will perform with other bands that I am very curious about. I made it late to Lightfoils/MGM at Hideout. The redeeming value in this is talking to friends that made it on time were outside on the Hideout patio. It made me anticipate this coming weekend with Panda Riot, and many other things further in the horizon. I want to say, yes what those specific things are that came about in the course of conversations, casual yes, but I keep it to me for now. It feels not right at the moment.....Oh look Panda Riot! Yeah, this was about them anyway.
  There is more and more new work from them that still have yet to be recorded or available just like that at Reckless. You can only see it when they play it. Ye Old Fashion way. That very line I can apply to a lot of bands I see and just like here, its part of the fuel that drives me to see them. I'm grabbing at sand and I can only hold on to so much. Then you start to describe it but really you are describing the memory of it. So there is a lot that PR perform that is not recorded.... right. You know, I'm still in delight that they have a live drummer Jose'. He's awesome, there is this expression on his face that betrays his joy for performing. For me it's an honest barometer. It's no show. His glances are to his bandmates, if he looks up at all. PR did not always have a drummer. Jose' has been with the band for...I think over a year. I had a nice conversation with him about our common roots in Mexico, mutual appreciation of Alla'...we went on.

  The following is how I describe the performances of new work, my memory of it. Right, so PR have this lean into the darkness, hmm. Maybe you will eventually disagree with how I describe it, but follow me anyway. Their type of wonder to me was sweet sounding and not dark or spooky until now. Depth, but no sadness. "Suddenly I'm happy just to be!" is hmmm, bright-sided wonder. Happy on the inside and outside. These new songs still have that happy vibe to them but now innocently describe the darkening shadows. There is a Songs Of Innocence, Songs Of Experience lean on it. What you don't say casts a long shadow....like a child describing a darker world. You know it's worse than a child can imagine. This is what I kinda get when I hear the new dark rose oil wonder of PR. What does Blake have to do with it? Hmmm. I keep thinking of The Chimney Sweeper whenever I hear the new stuff. Yeah, really. And then I plastered them together here and it kinda works for me.