The Melvins - Rotterdam film festival - 28.01.08

[furbyx4]

No one else seemed to have started a thread so I did.

I went to see the show last night. It was a bizarre but rather rewarding experience. We travelled down from Amsterdam to Rotterdam and found ourselves standing outside of the Luxor Theatre which seems to be more commonly in use for the production of Musicals. On entering we were handed some ear plugs and there were signs everywhere warning of extremely loud music during the show.

We were really not sure what to expect. As part of the Rotterdam Film Festival the Melvins will be providing music for the screening of some films by Cameron Jamie.

Inside the place was a pretty classy theatre and what's more it was packed. I last saw the Melvins in Haarlem, where although it was busy enough to have an atmosphere,  it was definitely no more then 150-200 people. So I can only presume that either The Melvins are more popular in Rotterdam than they are in Haarlem, or the Cameron Jamie is thought of as something special by film buffs.

By the time I

[norecess]

The reason there were so many people is because the festival put Cameron Jamie in the spotlights this year. This edition's president was also president of the Vleeshal in Middelburg a few years ago, when the Melvins performed their only Dutch Cameron Jamie show so far.

I loved everything about yesterday. We got to the venue half an hour before it started, smoked a joint quickly and got in. Oh yeah, Keiji Haino went inside a bit before us, strange looking fellow, but I'm sure he's very friendly once you get to know him. Wednesday I'm going in a few minutes sooner, so I can sit closer to the stage. I liked how the Melvins were playing in the dark, it was very fascinating to only able to see a gray mo of hair rocking out those thick Neanderthal riffs over and over again.

The first movie, Kranky Klaus, was really disturbing. Reminded me of Frank Booth's ritual rape in Blue Velvet. And of course, the pressure of groups, how communities work, the fear of the children being attacked, of the girls being humped when their family and friends are standing there and staring, the violence, powerlessness... Whether you liked the movies or not, Cameron Jamie is doing a unique thing by making these portraits, and has a unique vision, and I think that's what connects both artists, and what makes the interaction between the music and the images so strong. Kinda like the last movement of the 9th symphony of Beethoven as the 'punishment element' in A Clockwork Orange. Also, from the Melvins perspective, how fucking cool is to do this? Performing the live soundtrack to a freaking disturbing movie that shows how sick and uncivilized this world can be. I know I would say yes if I was asked to do this!

Also, I think this was the first time the Melvins did this with Coady and Jared with them. I really liked the two drummer thing this time. Lysol, or Roman Bird Dog/Dog Bird to be exact, sounded marvelous, so beautiful. I've loved that whole album for so long and now I finally got to see them performing it live, a very special moment and was sitting there yesterday with the biggest smile on my face.

[norecess]

Review in Dutch
http://weblogs.nrc.nl/weblog/filmblog/2008/01/29/headbangen-op-film-met-the-melvins/

Some pictures:






More info on 'Kranky Klaus' on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knecht_Ruprecht

[furbyx4]

I've uploaded the few photos I took here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/furbyx4/sets/72157603813637990/

[norecess]

From an interview in Dutch at http://www.livexs.nl/Joomla/200801281057/The-Melvins-en-filmmaker-Cameron-Jamie-op-filmfestival-Rotterdam

Jamie and the Melvins have big plans. Jamie wants to make a full movie, to which the Melvins ("these guys") take care of the sountrack, not on tape, but live, every night. If that's not possible, then that movie just will not be made. This way, or not at all.

I say they should fucking do it. If they ever want to release a special dvd, something a little bit different, this is what they should do.

[glen]

break down the music for me.  be more descriptive.

was it like familar MELVINS riffs with no vocals (obviously) melded together or was it more of a pure abstract noise thing?

what songs did you hear?  I know POTRE is part of this but what else?    and did they play an original MELVINS song or two at the end?

tell me this..

was it:

A.) pretty darned heavy

B.) not very heavy

C.) one heavy mafuka

[norecess]

It sounded like planned improvisation. It started with the Dale and Coady, creating an atmosphere of thunder and lightning, then Buzzo came in with the first riff from Pigs of the Roman Empire, and at the peak of that first movie, Kranky Klaus, the second part of POTRE cam in. So the first song was POTRE. For the second movie, Spook House, I thought I recognized something from Lysol, but it wasn't. However, some cool heavy riffing that transformed into noise. Yeah, let's call it noise. Lysol sounded terrific, as we know it from the mp3's, but of course with double drum attack this time. Was that descriptive enough? Words cannot describe the music properly!

[Schnabster]

Must have been a wild experience to see Melvins in this setting. We have a festival in Bergen called BIFF, Bergen International Film Festival, but I guess it`s nothing more than a fantasy to hope that something like that can take place in Bergen. Damn, you dutch are lucky!

[___-----_____------_____]

I've always wanted to witness the Melvin's do this sort of thing, musical improvised sort of thing.
I'm not really into visuals too much, but the Kranky Klaus stuff looked kind of entertaining.
Musically I bet it was fantastic.

[bUTTHOLEmAN]

The show is great; I definitely liked the film as well as the melvins playing.. Great together.

Jamie is pretty clear; unless the melvins can play live with a showing of the movies, the movies won't be officially released.

[norecess]

The show is great; I definitely liked the film as well as the melvins playing.. Great together.

Exactly, the fact they're performing together is essential, that's the whole idea. There were quite some people I went with - we were with a large group - who didn't like the movie too much, and then it's already a different thing. Also, the movie alone would probably get boring a bit at times without any music, and vice versa, the Melvins would definitely clear the Rotterdam theaters during the annual international film festival (that means lots of arty freaks). Cameron Jamie told a Dutch newspaper movies have lost their mystery, and that music has more to offer. He has also stated the Melvins do NOT play the soundtrack, and that the sounds and images are equal, and that the performance should be experienced as a whole. Well, I certainly did.

[glen]

the fact they're performing together is essential, that's the whole idea.

don't tell me that shit.  it only lowers the chances I'll ever see this.


(although I've accepted it as truth)

[Pit]

The show is great; I definitely liked the film as well as the melvins playing.. Great together.

Exactly, the fact they're performing together is essential, that's the whole idea. There were quite some people I went with - we were with a large group - who didn't like the movie too much, and then it's already a different thing. Also, the movie alone would probably get boring a bit at times without any music, and vice versa, the Melvins would definitely clear the Rotterdam theaters during the annual international film festival (that means lots of arty freaks). Cameron Jamie told a Dutch newspaper movies have lost their mystery, and that music has more to offer. He has also stated the Melvins do NOT play the soundtrack, and that the sounds and images are equal, and that the performance should be experienced as a whole. Well, I certainly did.

one thing I didn't like about the movie, is that it's "too small" for the Melvins big sounds. it's like watching a youtube clip with a $10000 audio set blasting the sound...
also the 'quality' of the movie is kinda bad. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE raw stuff, but well, here you saw too clearly it was filmed with a digital camera, makes things too sharp. sort of slick way, but than it's also not hollywood... understand what I mean? When the movie went on too black/white in I think the 2nd one, that worked way better!
I was not really impressed by the movies, but well...


I LOVEEDDDD the night/performance! The Melvins were fucking great! I had a rant on them having 2 drummers and that I think that's not working some time ago on here (roadburn gig). but somehow it worked great this time. maybe because it was all more dreamlike music (still fucking pounding stuff though!!)
Melvins instrumental was amazing, although I love Buzz vocals (not this other BB guy in the melvins) it was great. that must have bean because seeing the movie. like a substitute for the vocals or something. HAD A BLASTING NIGHT!

[norecess]

Dreamlike music? That's because you were almost in dream land yourself, right?

I agree with you that the dual drums attack worked very well, in my opinion better than doing a song like Hooch with two drummers, you know? But then again, this is what the Melvins are right now, this is what they do, and that's why we love them. Looking forward to see them again tonight.

[Pit]

Dreamlike music? That's because you were almost in dream land yourself, right?

I agree with you that the dual drums attack worked very well, in my opinion better than doing a song like Hooch with two drummers, you know? But then again, this is what the Melvins are right now, this is what they do, and that's why we love them. Looking forward to see them again tonight.

yeah that 2drummer thing... I think it was exactly what my rant was. that I don't like it so much, but on the other hand that's what the melvins are/what they want to do and that's the reason "we" like them...


dreamlike... like I said... in a very pounding way, but it was sort of psychedelic heaviness that went on & on. bit like a very wild river or something like that. brutal but it's still in 1 flow. does that make sense?!