October 29, 2012 by A.S. Van Dorston

Bitch Magnet were such a massive influence in the 90s, particularly in the transition from post-hardcore indie rock to avant rock sub-genres like math-rock and post-rock. Umber (1989) and Ben Hur (1990) were big favorites at my college radio station, and directly influenced at least two bands from just my circle of college friends – Mesentary (named after the best track on Ben Hur) and Dwindle, and countless others throughout the world, including Don Caballero, Unwound, Mogwai, Rodan, June of 44, and recent bands like Battles, The Men, Errors, Grails and Disappears. I was surprised they didn’t sell out the small Empty Bottle venue on the very last stop on their tour, most likely their last show ever. For some reason their legend has not grown quite the same way as their contemporaries Slint, despite the fact that Ben Hur is nearly as great and influential as Spiderland (1991).

But there was certainly enough interest from fans to convince the band to reunite after over 21 years after Temporary Residence Limited reissued their three albums in a great remastered bundle at an affordable price last year. The band formed in 1986 when Sooyoung Park and Jon Fine were at Oberlin College. Drummer Orestes Morfin joined the next spring, and their Star Booty EP (1988) soon drew rave reviews in the indie underground press. They were joined during part of their tenure by former Squirrel Bait guitarist David Grubbs, who also played in Bastro, and went on to avant rockers Gastr Del Sol. Sooyoung Park formed Seam in Chapel Hill before relocating to Chicago, Fine was in Vineland, Mothra, Don Caballero and Coptic Light, while Orestes played with Walt Mink for a couple years. Despite the fact that the members were scattered in Singapore, Canada and New York, Ian Williams of Battles convinced them to reunite to play All Tomorrow’s Parties Nightmare Before Xmas fest in London. The band also played dates in Seoul, Korea and Tokyo, Japan before touring Europe. They reconvened for five more dates in Asia last spring, and again a couple weeks ago for an abbreviated U.S. tour of Seattle, San Francisco, New York, Brooklyn and Chicago.

I was stoked to finally see this legendary band live. I recognized a handful of faces of local rock cognoscenti from back in the day, such as Bundy K. Brown, who briefly played with Seam along with Tortoise, and William Shin who also played in Seam. The band sounded as powerful as ever, with Orestes’ odd but heavy-hitting meters, Jon’s blistering riffs and Sooyoung’s vocals ranging from creepy whispers to open-throated shouts. Bands today could still take lessons from them in dynamics and sequencing. At the end of the set, Bruce Lamont of local avant-metal bands Yakuza and Bloodiest took the mic for a blistering hardcore tune. It sounded like it could have been a Minor Threat cover, but couldn’t place the lyrics, which I could only discern the repeated “in your head.”

Opening the show was promising power trio Electric Hawk. Their heavy instrumental rock is engaging, especially the rhythmic pyrotechnics of their first few songs from drummer Noah and bassist Graham. The guitar was pretty buried in the live mix, and was hard to discern if it was any good.

Posted in: Live, Reviews

Tagged: Bitch Magnet