Mar 18, 2014 Carsick Cars at Los Globos, all the way from Beijing
Carsick Cars is currently touring the North America and I was stoked to catch them at Los Globos in Silver Lake last week. I’ve been a big fan of the Beijing band since interviewing them for Giant Robot about four years ago. While their music still channels the New York underground feel of the Velvet Underground and Sonic Youth, the tone seems to be shifting from ice-cold Krautrock to a warmer, dreamier sound. Although, part of that growth could come from production by The Clean’s Hamish Kilgour and mixing by the Spaceman 3’s Sonic Boom on the brand-new album, there’s also the latest lineup which is gelling rather nicely.
But first up was White+, an experimental project featuring the Carsick Cars’ singer, guitarist, and central member Zhang Shouwang with The Gar’s badass drummer Wang Xu. The head-bobbing mix of analog and digital is very cool, very heavy, with an industrial feel that reminds me of Throbbing Gristle. So why were they using a crate with “Steve Miller Band” stenciled on the side? The duo was hand-picked by SoCal indie noise stars HEALTH to open for their tour of China, and they turned the the converted restaurant into a laboratory for dark sounds.
Not only touring with Carsick Cars but releasing a great new split 7″ single with them was Flavor Crystals from Minneapolis. The band played gorgeous drone that was heavy as it was lovely. My friend Ben and I talked to and Josh and Vince (above) before the show and they were super friendly, cool dudes. I had no idea they have recorded with minimalist god Kramer and toured with the Brian Jonestown Massacre. The latter was their connection to Chinese rock; Enrique from BJM probably devotes more energy to promoting bands like Carsick Cars, PK14, Birdstriking, and Joyside than his own very successful group.
Of course, Carsick Cars were intense and amazing. The bassist He Fan and drummer Houzi can hardly be considered junior members any more, having provided rhythm and new blood for around four years now. The favorite songs sound better than ever, while the newer, less choppy and more melodic pieces are amazing in a live setting. Super catchy, fuzzed out, and shockingly with a lot of English lyrics, they are challenging to ears and rewarding to alert listening. I trust that the guys from D-22 will always be the real deal, as well as the leaders of independent music in China.
I was all set to interview Shouwang the next evening until the show got canceled, the band was scrambling for a new venue, and the games of phone tag never worked out. Oh well. You’re probably better off hearing some music anyway. Below: A lyrical pun on a cigarette brand and the communist party that cracks up Chinese rockers and a riff that will absolutely slay Pavement fans.
CarsickCars will be touring North America through early April. Find tour dates at carsickcars.com and buy the new LP from the merch table, superior record stores, or Far Out Distant Sounds (in that order).