Preview: Trabajo, Mezzanine Swimmers, Giant Claw / Casa Nueva
By Eli Schoop, Contributor
Friday, Sept. 19, 2014 / Casa Nueva
Trabajo and Mezzanine Swimmers are coming to play Casa Nueva on Friday from the fabled land that is New York City. They'll be joined by Columbus experimental project Giant Claw and Athens local DJ Sector 7G for what promises to be a psychedelic, high-octane show accompanied by a plethora of different sounds and experiences.
“Athens seems to be part of the tradition of progressive Ohio musicians, whether it's blown-out noise, weirdo pop or ‘serious’ academic music,” Mezzanine Swimmers frontman Mike Green said in regard to the town’s musical culture.
Green's style, just like the style of Athens he mentioned, is also nothing to be scoffed at. Not easily pigeonholed, he described his sound as “hypnotic, abrasive and with groove. Dancey and loud with vocals, a sampler, looper and a couple effects pedals,” which will prove manic and very exciting in a live setting.
There will be no lack of inspiration or experimentation once Mezzanine Swimmers comes on, either.
“I'm influenced by the usual vague ‘everything’ that passes through my head-holes,” Green said. “It all goes through my sampler, whether it's my own broken beats and dirty Casios or whether it's samples of Prince and Art Garfunkel.”
Notable is his range of prominent artists from which he takes influence. Green expounded on them saying, “One-man solo arrangers and de-rangers are influential.”
He went on to list classic artists like William Onyeabor, William Basinski and Bobby Brown along with “new gurus” Eric Copeland of Black Dice aa well as Oneohtrix Point Never. The influence Green takes from these solo geniuses is crucial to his projects and adds to the mystique of what he is trying to convey in his music.
He'll also be bringing a wealth of tour adventures to Athens. Green has been engaged all throughout the U.S. and has stories to share.
According to Green, Des Moines, IA had “a tight knit community that totally engaged with the show.” Denver, CO was also notable for Green.
“The most lively has been the Goldrush Festival in Denver,” he said, “with some of my favorite current artists playing, like Eric Copeland, Wolf Eyes and Guerrilla Toss. Those mind-bending sound-shifters combined with the high altitudes and treats made for a great couple of days.”
It’s helped, though, that Green gets to tour with Trabajo. “Seeing my pals and tourmates from Brooklyn, Trabajo, play every night has been great,” he said.
As for upcoming records, Green posed that he's “recording a full-length this fall/winter, and it should be out in 2015. Right now I am selling Cougar Opaque (put out by Already Dead Records) as a cassette and a tour-only CD-R that includes unreleased tracks.”
Those interested will be able to find his work and more at the show on Friday at 10 PM. Admission is free if you're over 21, $3 if you're underage.
