MASS SHIVERS

MASS SHIVERS CONTOURED HEAT

MAY 2010

on LICKING RIVER RECORDS.

Here’s that Wire review from Byron Coley:

Mass Shivers
Torrid Sex In East Berlin
Licking River 7″
Chicago trio who specialise in a pummelsome free rock that makes me thing of a slightly more Metallic version of the early Sun City Girls, shorn of Eastern mysticism. Flashing through all manner of post thug promise, this is quite lovely.

It’s a new year, a better year. Roses received on January 1, unlike the horns of a year ago. 2009 was not fantastic. 2010 looks to be.

Something good did come from 2009, however, and that was the first vinyl release on our own label, Licking River. The “Torrid Sex In East Berlin” b/w “Tickled On Poppers” 7″ was quietly released over the summer and distributed by Drag City. As word got out, some hype/rave press came in from the likes of  Wire magazine, as well as from Dusted online. I’ll post those in a bit.

We’re also selling these “Torrid Sex In East Berlin” singles at our web store, on this very here site (look to your right, bub! Click on the horse-muscle on gold image, or where it says ’store’). “Torrid Sex In East Berlin” b/w “Tickled On Poppers” is the first real deal recording we’ve given to the world that showcases our new,  trad power-trio instrumentation. Guitar, drums, and bass, just like all your favorites– Groundhogs, ZZ Top, Rush, Cream, The Experience, Henry Grimes, etc. Shit is heavy! On beautiful, clear-gold vinyl. And, it’s the only time you’ll be able to hear “Tickled On Poppers” on record– possibly the heaviest Mass Shivers song of all time. This 7″ is a prelude to the new full-length coming out this spring!

Across the street from the Payless of Wayne’s World fame (Bohemian Rhapsody scene).

A couple months ago, we went out for a quick tour eastward (as usual). First night was Columbus– always a welcoming experience, Carabar was bumpin’. Excellent hang with all our friends there, from all those that came to the show to those that played with us, the brash lads of Mount Carmel. Vibes appeared to be optimal.

En route to New York for our second show, however, we had a nasty accident. In the middle of  a monsoon-ish rainstorm on I-80, somewhere near State College, the van hydroplaned and spun out, slamming ass-first into a rock wall at the base of a mountain. The van bounced after impact, splitting the front axle, and landed facing the wrong way in the middle of the highway. I can’t remember for sure, but I think we did a 540 degree spin all together– hitting the wall at the 270 degree point. Thankfully, we didn’t roll.

The three of us jumped out of the van and assessed our bodies for damage– Sean was the only one that appeared to be injured, with a big cut in his lip (which required stitches) and some chipped/loosened teeth; other than that the three of us were mostly bruised, with some muscle strains.

The amps, guitars, drums, and our belongings were a complete mess in the back of the van, and water poured in through the smashed windows upon them. It was pouring, freezing, and there was no room to reorganize things in the van or assess any damage– besides that, the van was not a safe place to be with semi-trucks barreling towards it at 70 mph (amazingly, it seemed like the trucks on the road went faster during the storm than they would have during calm weather, go figure).

We had to chase down gear and records that were strewn about the highway immediately after the crash, and were soaked to the bone within a couple minutes. Some people stopped to help and provide shelter in their cars, which was incredibly nice. Ambulance and firetruck soon arrived, as well as a cop who took a report. The firemen threw a tarp over our gear (still in total disarray– the status of it a mystery), they ran physicals on us in the ambulance, and we were taken to the hospital to get checked out. The van was towed to a shop in a neighboring town, with all our gear and some valuables still inside…

Everyone checked out at the hospital, Sean’s lip got sewn up, and we took a cab to a motel. Couldn’t find a single place to rent a van– so we decided to give it up til morning. Called the garage and made sure our totaled van was secure for the night. The next day our van rental search proved equally difficult, and we ended up having to rent a u-haul. Walked a few miles to the u-haul joint and drove to the other town to recover our totaled van and gear.

When we arrived at the garage, we found our van sitting outside, on the bed of a tow-truck. All our gear was still inside. The digging began. Pulled out the guitars… and miraculasly, they survived! Those cases held up. Drums seemed pretty ok, too, and then so did the amps, except that the bass cab appeared to be severely water-logged. All in all, we came out a lot better on the gear front than we had anticipated. A few bent rims on the drums, a couple dented pedals, and one bass amp with some loose electronics equals quite a survival rate. I even saved most of 7″s we brought for tour merch by discarding the wet print, drying out the bags, and wiping down the vinyls before putting them back in the bags.

Anyway, the whole thing was traumatic and exhausting, and we were feeling it hard, so we drove home and canceled the rest of our shows (left our totaled van at the garage). Apologies to anyone who reads this and who also came out to see us and couldn’t– we are extremely bummed to have missed you, as well.

The accident was simply a terrifying experience, one that’s difficult to articulate.

We did this show in Chicago last Friday, June 26– you may have seen the poster around town– and it was alright. Not much to shake a dick at,  but hell, we always have a gay ol’ time playing. Done did it with Zs, from Nueva York, and Bitchin Baja, from ye ole Chi.

So anyway, the next night, Saturday, we went up to London, Ontario, and played this arts co-op, the East Village Arts Cooperative (EVAC), and had a fucking blast. Excellent folks run this place with patience, enthusiasm, hope and hospitality, showing visual art and music in the same building. They pack in the kids and leave bad vibes at the door. Props to them.

It was a total heavy crowd scene, people sitting all the way up at my mic stand listening attentively. We played fewer songs than usual but jammed them longer, getting kinda hypnotic and out there in the audience. I later heard people wondering out loud how it was possible I could swing my guitar so close to these guys’ heads without decapitating them. I just thought it was funny that no one moved when I jumped at them, but apparently it was because people were in awe (’tis what people told me later, unsolicited), not because they were bored. I guess I believe them, since they bought tons of merch afterwards.

That’s the thing with all the Canadians we encountered– every single one was ultra friendly to the point that if they were American, one would assume they were fucking with us. And they really do say “Eh” after every sentence. Perpetuating the stereotype just as I must when I say, “dude” or, “awesome.” Perhaps the funniest moment occurred when we were driving back to the co-op after making a beer run: while sitting at a light, in the driver’s seat, my head resting on my hand attached to my arm which was resting on the window sill, some kids drove up beside us, chuckling. The passenger (the one closest to me) was laughing and looking at me, simultaneously rolling up his window. 30 seconds later, right before the light turned, he rolled the window down, big smile on his face, and started pantomiming the sucking of a big cock. I laughed and pointed, to which the kid replied, “you like that, EEEEHHHH?” His “eh” was all big and exaggerated. Hilarious.

Oh yeah, the EVAC people claim to have served us Pad Thai with Meth in it. Ask them. Ontario is the Meth capital of Canada. Toothless wonders everywhere…

-Sova

March 20

First stop, Pittsburgh. Not in three tries have we had a good experience in Pittsburgh. Second time through was probably the best by default, but i say this mostly because the gross spectacles some of the locals made of themselves, that contributed to thinking poorly of the gig, are in fact the same that make me think it was fun. Darkly. Pittsburgh loves to drink. That’s what I’ve noticed. Their women are loud, some appear slutty in a scary kind of way, their men the type who will take advantage, if the women allow it! The room energy for this show at Smiling Moose was tepid at best. Don’t play at this venue. People that saw it seemed pleased, but were pretty content to smoke and drink at a table 25 feet away. Hoping to get something dope happening in PGH next time.

March 21

Excellent hang, albeit brief, with local and out of town friends alike when we got to Manhattan; we really have some superb people in the area, from New Haven and Princeton and Baltimore, even, who manage to come out consistently, which totally rules. We were on a bill with a bunch of noise mongers, something I can dig if they’ve got the right vibe. Trigal, from Barcelona, was one such dude with the good vibes, totally clearing out the room with his calculated build-up, momentarily pausing every few minutes of increased intensity to daintily sip on some fruit-red drink with an orange slice on the rim, like it was totally casual. It was great. The dude who curated the show projected odd videos during sets to nice effect most of the time.

That night we went for the heavily caffeinated show in pre-games, a new trick that proved to be a keeper. Lots of coffee however called for lots of whiskey to balance out the attack, a la Darby Crash’s warm-ups but legal/pussified. We were the only rock band on the bill and we laid it out and hit it hard, just like you should with a good crowd in New York, and people were feeling it. Sweaty as hell, pounds shed.

After us was MV Carbon, who was so nervous to play she spent the entire night before her set hiding in this damp little closet-sized area, where you stash your gear, actually talking about being nervous. Anyway, she was ok, so was the dude from Awesome Color, who headlined the thing. It’s balls playing solo like he did, whatever you’re doing.

March 22

We arrived at the Czar in Richmond late, during what we thought was going to be the first or second band’s set; instead, we found some of the dudes on the bill working on homework backstage, and no one had played! These local cats are super positive and super friendly. Openers Caves, Caverns were pretty sweet; stylish guitar playing. Dudes were talking about how they put together these improvised jams under an overpass by the river, using a generator, rocking out all day on the banks. When we come back, we want in. Vibe was friendly all around and we’re two for two since leaving Pittsburgh. Thanks, Hail Hydras, for the hospitality.

March 23

Woke up in the afternoon feeling finally like we’d shaken the regimental vibe brought upon by routine (over)work-life. Drove to Greenville, hoping to catch a few hours at the beach along the way. Unfortunately, GPS took us off the beaten path to some place called the Rainbow Gun Club, some relic of a confederate headquarters that we were definitely not prepared to see, marked only by a rotting sign with scrawled lettering preceding a “road” up through a dirt field and into the woods. Thanks, but no thanks. With the horror factor increased and free time decreased, we realized we had killed any chance we had of making it to the ocean that day. So, we rerouted for the BBQ place. NC BBQ is different, it’s all about the vinegar, everything is vinegar-based. They roast the pigs whole, cut them open, remove the skeleton and dice up all that’s left before marinating it in this vinegary bbq sauce. Awesome.

Greenville shows are cool and hazy, there tends to be a crowd of 30 people at every show just wanting to hang and freak out to bands, and sniff poppers and drink and smoke. This one was no different. Best one liner from some girl after just having made out with her girlfriend, to some dude actually sniffing poppers: “Have you ever been tickled on poppers? It’s AMAZING!” The Geenville scene is totally free, totally out there. Rewarding trip, especially for a Monday night!

March 24

On towards DC the next day. At this point, “Stanky Leg” is the lead song to our tour soundtrack. Grabbed a bit of Ethiopian food in our nation’s capital, as we’re nothing if not hard for the best food each town has to offer when on tour, and then crossed over the Potomac River into Arlington, VA, which is just over the DC line, to jam at the Kansas House. This ended up being perhaps the best show for a variety of reasons. Super friendly locals, genuine good vibes, tons of kids dancing– and a totally shared experience. Kansas House seems like a DC punk community relic in the middle of a commercialized neighborhood. It’s literally the only house standing on this block full of condos and a 7-11. We had to wait to start playing until these cops that were suspiciously stationed in front of the house had bailed. It was funny, peering out the window from behind mattresses and blinds, assuming they were staking the place out. Once they left and the tubes were hot, we ripped into the set.

March 25

New Haven is one of those towns where you wonder if there is any real scene or not, and if there is, what the fuck are they into? Met up with buddy Ian who has always been so good to us on the road, letting us crash and taking us around for pizza and playing street ball at 3AM. Nothing too memorable about this gig, other than the house drunk lady being generally amusing (falling off her chair while trying to tell us about real rock n roll) and the fact that people came up and talked to us while buying merch, saying they came to the show because people from Chicago recommended they check us out and that we delivered. Awesome. The drunk lady, however, didn’t seem to dig; she left during our first or second song with her hands over her ears.

March 26

Brooklyn the next day was the total bum scene, headlining band canceled the day before the show and the venue was more interested in giving away pizza than putting on shows. Plus, the guy doing sound cut us short (raw deal considering our set’s only 30 minutes long) because he was admittedly terribly afraid of the metal band playing after us and didn’t want to upset them…

March 27

Played Danger Danger Gallery in Philly again; pretty much biz as usual, and here’s how it went down (thanks Jess and Scott):

March 28

Baltimore.. another crap out headliner. Got to chill with BLDNGS (Kansas House) kids again though, which was sweet, plus some more old friends, and a couple new ones. 

Weird way to end, what with a forgettable show, but it was time to head home.

Can’t give enough thanks to those that came to hang and helped us with crash pads and good times while we were out on the road. We’ve got a 7” in production, coming out on Licking River Records in July. More shows immanent!

Not quite Soul Train but perhaps our closest equivalent, Chic-A-Go-Go recently asked us to slam a jam on their legendary kids-of-all-ages dance party television show. So we did a new song called “(I’ve Got The Power)” from our recently finished (though still homeless) new album followed by a little talking session with co-host Miss Mia.

So check it out, the show airs Tuesday April 7 at 8:30pm and Wednesday April 8 at 3:30pm on cable channel 19 if you’re in Chicago– everyone else, search for it on youtube! And for the record, though our method of getting into their world was slightly unorthodox, I find it necessary to note that Jake Austen asked us on because he “admires our chutzpah.”

Oh, and tour was pretty sweet last month; we’ll be sure to give it a detailed wrap up in the next couple days.

Awoke in Astoria from dreams of the Commonwealth.  Fulfillment comes tonight in the land of Tommy J. and Sally H.  Show starts at 8:00.

Food blog and tournament pool updates start tomorrow…