Bitchin Bajas

The new record is fantastic. There is a multi cassette release in the works. The "no cd's" thing isn't elitism, they just prefer analog.

i'm not annoyed by what i perceive as elitism, i'm annoyed by not getting a download w the LP

seems like industry standard at this point

we're complaining about two separate issues (not making CDs, not offering download codes -- the latter is DC policy afaict, the former up to the band?)
either way, i'm looking forward to more people enjoying this band

There was a bit more guitar iirc, plus they brought in some percussion loops for the last piece. Pared down to 3 players for the 2nd half.

oh ok, so it was more like the regular show
good to know!
i'm glad you enjoyed it!

I liked that they did that song named after Water Wrackets, which is one of my favorite Peter Greenaway things. They have good taste obv!

haha I listened to that one on spotify, my mind wandered and I genuinely forgot that I wasn't actually listening to a terry riley album!

I dig this

I was stood in a record store earlier today holding a copy of Vibraquatic in my hands. I put it back in the rack though so I guess I flunked the test?

fuck yeah bitchin bajas!

Why didn't you buy it? That was the wrong choice.

They did a whole soundtrack for Water Wrackets!

cos i already had an armful of awesome records! also the cover art was a bit iffy. xp

Guess I can't argue with that. It's good though.

I bet it is! I actually got Water Wrackets off emusic and that was very good.

Pared down to 3 players for the 2nd half.

3rd dude played sax mainly or exclusively iirc. was good to see how different the main set was from what they're presumably normally like!

looking fwd to this. krausened is fantastic

Frippertronics / Alice etc is totes my wheelhouse but can't, won't, on principle, listen to a band that can't come up with a better name for themselves than Bitchin Bajas. Sorry. What if I choke to death on a cookie and this is the last thing they find on my turntable? "Looks like he checked out to...'Bitchin' Bajas.'"

I know, but you should still give it a try. It has been a few years and I've come around. I prescribe time and patience.

yeah, it's remarkably terrible. plus when they appeared, i was boycotting all beach-related band names & chill 80s ephemera in general. but the lecher's right. they're like harrison bergeron.

Don't call me that! Geez.

I know from having an unfortunate moniker, obvs. A lifelong burden!

all apologies. meant only in respectful jest.

Tell that to the Nestlé corporation, buddy :)

:)))

Frippertronics / Alice etc is totes my wheelhouse but can't, won't, on principle, listen to a band that can't come up with a better name for themselves than Bitchin Bajas. Sorry. What if I choke to death on a cookie and this is the last thing they find on my turntable? "Looks like he checked out to...'Bitchin' Bajas.'"

― Jimmywine Dyspeptic, Saturday, July 13, 2013 6:54 PM (1 month ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

i think they are very deliberately trolling with their band name (and album titles). certainly evokes four non blondes or a jimmy buffett cover band much more than any of their musical reference points.

Saw them today, & despite them arriving late and only getting to play for ~20 minutes, it ruled. Nice mix of guitar, mostly sax (a little flute), and keyboard/oscillator (?) running beneath it all, along with some pre-recorded percussion tracks. great guitar sounds...wished the set had gone on for 60. took some video i'll put up at some point.

love the new record, too.

so sad that some people won't listen to them because of the name! lol

awesome band, good people, great music

Maybe someday they will accept live percussion :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzWX9V894so

ha, love the grass cam!

I couldn't help but just chill in the shade on a grassy patch. Wasn't anyone around when they started, but a good 30 or 40 accumulated behind me by the end of the jam.

nice!

personally i love the band name

i hope they call their first album with a drummer "hit with the rhythm stick"

love this drone + sax noise https://soundcloud.com/bitchin-bajas/rip-this-joint-stones-cover

it's kind of a mess but i like it anyway

SMOKIN'

Last night I saw them perform Terry Riley's In C with 20+ extra musicians, many of whom i have never seen before (and some I have) -- i'm really curious who coordinated this performance? getting 25 (26? some people were out of my view) people in the same place once is a challenge, but ostensibly they had to practice at least once? Also, I know the score is fluid and can be adapted -- who was in charge of that? I could have stayed after to ask, I guess but I don't like to bombard people with questions after they spent roughly an hour playing music in a room that was getting increasingly hotter as the hour went on.

Overall it was great!

that sounds rad

I think that the three Bajas coordinate all of it.
They are remarkably talented and well connected.

I know that Dan has arranged performances of In C before, and Cooper has been recording with a diverse group of musicians working in Jazz, Rock, and Folk styles.

There is a collaboration with Joshua Abrams Natural Information Society forthcoming that I am pretty excited about.
I saw them play in St Louis earlier this year and enjoyed it a lot.

Ah, the recording job -- that explains it! I would gladly ask Cooper in person (I see him ALL THE TIME) but I'm a complete failure at cold introducing myself and he always seems busy. I feel lucky to be on the far periphery of something this cool though! I like where they're headed.

New album is excellent, BTW. Should have a review running soon.

Can't wait to hear & obtain the new one on wax...and see them play in a couple weeks. That Terry Riley show sounds awesome.

Baja O'Riley

haha!!

know what else was weird? i just read the part in my eno book about the happenstance recording of no pussyfooting, and how it was just old fripp and eno noodling around, and to sit there and hear almost 30 ppl play this strange captivating influential ~avant garde~ composition to a hot room full of people in 2014, it made me glad to be able to see the inheritance of 50 years of pushing the boundaries of what is considered music. i'm glad they are celebrating their inheritance, i guess! it's an honorable artistic gesture.

That sounds incredible! I've been in hot rooms listening to dozens of people playing long compositions but nothing as exquisite as what you're describing.

lol @ Baja O'Riley

i know this i sound like a one trick pony ..
but will any of this bands material appear on cd ?
not into doing the digital/vinyl option ..
summary : i really want this stuff on cd.

That used to be my dream — to be in a band that opened for a band I would have gone to see. Congrats on achieving my dream! I haven’t heard new BBs yet but I do enjoy Air circa Moon Safari.

I love the new album, especially "Graut"

Shame I won't be able to see them this time out, they're opening for Stereolab here but only on the first night -- sold out, and my ticket is for the second night.

opening for these guys next month! and then stereolab is playing the following night ... what a way to spend a Monday and Tuesday.

https://img.evbuc.com/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.evbuc.com%2Fimages%2F1078135363%2F190851412173%2F1%2Foriginal.20250721-190659?crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&w=1000&auto=format%2Ccompress&q=75&sharp=10&fp-x=0.497714246725&fp-y=0.304474708171&s=defed07a46998e099727858a303dd7ab

damn tyler

lucky duck

Eight hour jam session encore or GTFO

annoying they aren't coming to minneapolis

i'm amazed they're playing Denver! I've never seen 'em, though I caught Cave back in the day.

RIP can cover band Cave (afaik)

every now and then the Cave instagram will post something and I'll think there's something brewing, but I don't know ...

'graut' is incredible

wowwwwwww @ “graut”

I bet everybody I know can be found here

I don't even have a blacklight and I still want this

https://bitchinbajas.bandcamp.com/merch/bajascillators-blacklight-poster

https://f4.bcbits.com/img/0041304580_10.jpg

Everyone above otmfm about Graut. Hot damn

i will have to revisit because i was a bit underwhelmed by the new one. but the poster is cool

Damn, was hoping the was an I Love Style thread.

― how's life, Saturday, July 13, 2013 9:44 AM (twelve years ago) bookmarkflaglink

lol

i will have to revisit because i was a bit underwhelmed by the new one

had the same reaction until I played side 2. But yeah, side 1 hasn't left much of an impression yet

Bajas were magical in Denver last night — do not miss 'em if they're coming through your neck of the woods. I was grinning ear to ear throughout.

Can't get enough of "Graut", it really is amazing, but I'll be honest the first half of the new doesn't hit me as hard as some of the previous albums.

they've got a LIVE GRAUT LP they're selling at the merch table on this tour ...

between BB, necks, and [ahmed] i'm having a lot of live music fomo this year

and autechre

shit they're in slc tonight at the arcade bar

New one hasn’t clicked for me yet, sounds pleasantly decent but like their soul’s not in it or something, hoping that’ll change with more listens although I’ve preferred the couple live sets I’ve seen of theirs to any of their albums for the most part.

here for this

https://bcmc.bandcamp.com/album/stash

oh wow. "kaleidoscope" is awesome. so i guess this is bitchin bajas related? sorry i'm clueless. it's already grabbing me more than any bitchin bajas i've heard tbh.

yah it's Cooper Crain on organ, sorry!

👍

haha "kaleidosmoke" even. crucial pun.

their last one had one good song ("ripple in high tide) so i am hoping this one has more structure. bill mackay is such an interesting guitarist i have hope.

ha I was gonna say "LL to thread"!

lol
i got the impression from listening to the first one that it was a drag city supergroup type pairing

I listened to the new track. Definitely more energetic than most of the last one!

They should invite me to open for them. I’ll go first and play for 20 min. My music is not dissimilar and hell why not? I have more persuasive factors but not sharing rn I’m manifesting

i listened to the free preview track on bandcamp from the last one and liked it too! first time i've heard bill mackay afaict - he's giving me some conny veit vibes tbh.

ll should definitely be opening for them.

I'm not really into this one, I keep expecting to hear Jim Morrison chime in

wow this is excellent stuff

It reminded me of Terry Riley/John Cale only minus the drums (I enjoy imagining my own drum part to drumless music)