Daniel Brigman doesn’t own an MP3 player. Since the Alibi doesn’t discriminate against music lovers without gadgets, we asked him to improvise. He generated five random numbers to guide his track picks, and blindly plucked five CDs from his backpack. Brigman curates local DIY performance space Moldspores and runs micro-label Featherspines. As Father of the Flood, he performs drone and percussion-based, black metal-infused noise, and also plays bass and provides vocals for self-described “spiritual / black metal / sludge” trio Contortionist. In addition to hosting shows, Moldspores houses a record annex and lending library. Curious readers can find books and zines on anarchism, animal rights, art, civilization, communism, DIY, ecology, gender studies and more. For more info on the library, visit: tinyurl.com/moldsporeslib.On Friday, Brigman performs at an eclectic concert along with Los Angeles-based ambient drone soloist Kevin Greenspon, local viola de gamba solo project Hedia and experimental guitarist Eric Ortega.
Song Roulette
1) “Seasick” • The Jesus Lizard • Goat “Fucked up in the flood, stoned / And get soused by the sea.” This band evaded me for far too long, and nothing in their catalog should be overlooked. The frantically disjointed vocal delivery on this track always brings me to a place of eager unease—encouraging a reach for the Geodon (Ziprasidone).
Song Roulette
2) “This Is A Picture” • Shellac • Terraform “You know where they keep angels? Heaven, that’s where.” A certain reverend once told me, “There are two paths in life and one will always be Steve Albini.” Although this song may not encompass some of my more cherished characteristics of their work, it’s a damn good song from a great album. And as far as I am concerned, this is one of the only bands that has done everything right.
Song Roulette
3) “The Anal Staircase” • Coil • Horse Rotorvator“Take a hollowpoint revolver / Shoot down the rapids of your heart / Blow the fucking thing apart.” My closet-goth is surfacing. From the hedonism of the AIDS-ridden London gay club scene to intoxicatingly hermetic seclusion, Coil has been a creeping force for over 20 years. In this 1986 single, they execute a nontraditional approach to electronic music that exalts the occult and all hellish deviance.
Song Roulette
4) “Out In The Streets” • The Shangri-Las • Shangri-Las – 65!“He grew up on the sidewalks, streetlights shining above / He grew up with no one to love / He grew up running free / He grew up and then he met me.” A truly heartbreaking tune, unlike so many of their puppy-love teenage drama songs. While the wallflowers of suburbia continue to whine and wail, this is Mary’s revelation that she has domesticated her once-dangerous bad boy into a lifeless, predictably loyal type of sap. Where have all the boot boys gone?
Song Roulette
5) “Drug Song” • Dave Bixby • Ode to Quetzalcoatl“Life used to be good / Now, look what I have done / I’ve ruined my temple with drugs / My mind is gone.” A remorseful song sung from the redeeming hippie heart of a ’60s Grand Rapids-born Bixby about destroying his life with too much grass and acid—removing himself from reality, never to return, and, in his loneliest moments, crying unto God for sanity. Nowadays, this heart-bleeding born-again is being internationally sought after to play songs from this privately pressed record, to his amazement. He states, “All I ever did was plant seeds at some point and walked away, feeling bitter.”
Daniel Brigmanwith Kevin Greenspon, Hedia and Eric OrtegaFriday, October 19, 7 p.m.Moldspores923 11th Street NWTickets: $5, all-agesmoldsporesabq.blogspot.com
