Melt Banana - Classic or Dud?

So Melt Banana is great. Really really great. And they're nice people, too.

They are one of the best live bands I've ever seen--tighter than a mosquito's tweeter, and aggressive in a _joyful_ way that few bands can pull off. Plus, they're really fun to watch. And their T-shirts are totally ace.

Yes on the textures, obviously. I get basically the same agenda from both, though: gleeful stop-start spurts of chaotic scree, dropping into recognizable grooves every so often, then just as quickly dissolving into bash and clatter. And then they both have Mike Patton guest. Hmm ... if only Patton could introduce them and get a Fishtank project going ...

Anyway, I think what I'm thinking is that Melt-Banana tugs the rock template in sort of the same logistical directions that Kid 606 digs electronics.

Nitsuh, you answered your own question! ;-)

And I did say they were nice folk.

I've never been to a Knitting Factory show where there has been lots of movement. The Philadelphia crowds are always more fun and exciting. Having said that, Mondays show had the crowd going crazy the whole time. They did 3 encores, and people were still chanting for more.

They were great last night, but better six weeks ago. I told my friend (who'd never seen them before) "they've been on tour for six weeks straight, so they seem a little low-energy." She turned and boggled at me. They did rev up all the way for the encore, though, inc. "My Generation." And I think my friend may be going to see them again in Montclair, NJ tonight.

Well, if you're going to go and compare things to the average enthusiasm of a Knitting Factory show, sure, things got intense. Bigger pit than at the Low show, even! But compared to what I was expecting for a MB show...

Uk please also thx

Saw 'em tonight at Dante's in Portland--as always "RRAGG" was the third song they played--I somehow think that's kind of hilarious. (Maybe it's because they also like looking at the crowd right after it to see who's never seen them before, because they're the people who have expressions on their faces like "did they just do that?") They also pulled out a cover of Devo's "Uncontrollable Urge." If there's a guitarist who uses pedals more expressively these days than Agata, I don't know who it would be. And I am very sure there's not a better English-language lyricist whose native language isn't English than Yasuko Onuki.

That was better than last time, if anything. Dunno if the stage divers* added anything.

*Strictly speaking you can't dive from the Adelphi stage. It's more about clambering upward and booting people in the ear.

I hope I get to see them in Brighton on Monday.

How come no one on the internet has found or talked about the Saturday Night Live sketch from like 2001 where Horatio Sanz was Iann Robinsonn there was a japanese band called Crush Papaya featuring Poehler and Maya and them? And they played really short loud abrasive songs and then said all quiet.. "thankyoo."

Shouldn't that be like LOL OMG Noize D00d supermeme 4 alltime? But there's no trace of it anywhere on the internet :/

― Whiney G. Weingarten, Sunday, July 27, 2008 11:27 PM (9 months ago) Bookmark

THIS:

http://snl.jt.org/detail.php?i=2002040612

I hope I get to see them in Brighton on Monday.

Hey, I was there! So, so good. Too bad the guitar player has the swine flu.

New LP. "MELT BANANA - Lite Live Ver 0.0" . with added electronics.

http://www.boomkat.com/item.cfm?id=236333

oh, it's old songs (based on my sample of 3), done live, with synths.

Just been added to spotify, I'll hopefully give it a go tonight

http://open.spotify.com/album/5wxbpJgu7YrHSQqXh8gqeq

played Monkey Man by the specials last time i saw them. ruled.

Why have I never gotten into this band before? They're just incredible, and on tour:

http://www.myspace.com/AZAP
http://www.songkick.com/artists/152850-meltbanana/calendar

SO GOOD live

Melt Banana/Daughters(not so much)/Lightning Bolt still ranks in the best shows I've ever seen. That was about 7 years ago too.

new lp

http://www.geocities.jp/azaplink/mb/mxbx.html

bah, frames

http://www.geocities.jp/azaplink/mb/i_az009.html

whoa, geocities

so, who's in the band at this point?

just the two of them judging by the bit i just read.

sample here:
http://www.tinymixtapes.com/chocolate-grinder/premiere-melt-banana-the-hive

interview here:
http://ghettoblastermagazine.com/2013/from-the-horses-mouth-agata-and-yako-melt-banana-on-fetch/

north american tour dates:
http://www.geocities.jp/azaplink/mb/i_2013tour.html

that new track ain't bad. sounds like melt banana alright.

Hooray, I was wondering when their next thing would be out

whole album streaming:
http://www.spin.com/articles/melt-banana-fetch-a-zap-records-interview-album-stream/

"now touring as a Sparks-gone-grindcore spazz-pop duo"

Aw... I'll miss the rhythm section. The bassist was great and I saw them with their original drummer and also with Dave Witte filling in. Always a great show.

everyone's on the internet are saying the album is great.

now i say that too.

this album reminding how much Marnie Stern owes to MB. Not even sure it's a conscious thing w her, but so much of this sounds like tighter, no-nonsense (and less pop, but that's not really where I'm going w this) takes on what she does

how is the show these days? missed the gig last night due to my car getting towed and being overdrawn, so somebody say they are not as good in 2k13, thx

they are not as good in 2k13, thx

(never saw them, just to make you feel better)

I've seen them about ten times over the yrs and last night, while certainly different, was still great and as awe-inspiring in its way as the "classic" line-up. It was insanely loud, almost too loud, approaching Sunn-levels. When I read about "crazy" dance music or electronic music or what have you, it never sounds particularly crazy or intense to but MB was very crazy and intense last night.

Glad I went.

I can confirm that they are brainblastingly good in 2K13

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66nVdjVHs48&hd=1

Nice clip! I'm excited to see them for the first time this week.

that was like the 3rd and 4th song of the set, things got crazier from there. kind of impressed with a vocalist and guitarist keeping up that kind of energy level over an entire set with just backing tracks.

My first show is tonight. Got roped into working the door but it still should be amazing. And now free!

http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/2014-01/enhanced/webdr06/9/11/enhanced-buzz-10821-1389283254-23.jpg

Just bought the new album and it sounds great but I probably missed a tour? Did they come to glasgow last year?

don't think they've played in the uk in the last 3 or 4 years or so

they are playing london in may though.

can't remember if i missed them last time or not - haven't heard the duo stuff, don't know if i fancy seeing them in that format

They're touring over there soon.

london date, 28th may 2014: https://babayaga.ticketabc.com/events/baba-yagas-hut-pr-20/

Played Supersonic in 2012, I think? Set of two halves, first set was in the style which has ended up being 'new' Melt-Banana, and second set was the full band 'old' Melt-Banana.

Forget that, must have been an earlier year than that because they played in the pool.

2014
20/05 Colchester Arts Centre
21/05 Leeds Brudenell Social Club
22/05 Glasgow Mono
23/05 Newcastle Cluny 2
24/05 Manchester Fat Out Festival
25/05 Birmingham Rainbow Warehouse
27/05 Sheffield Queens Social Club
28/05 London Heaven
29/05 Norwich Arts Centre
30/05 Bristol Fleece
31/05 Cambridge Portland Arms
01/06 Southampton Joiners
02/06 Brighton Green Door Store

(from facebook)

Finished listening to the album. It might be the best one I've heard yet (still need 3 or 4 of the early albums) but definitely the most consistent I've heard, quite a bit heavier I'd say. Really brilliant.

Bought a ticket to their upcoming show. It will be my second time.

Does anyone sit and read the lyrics? Really difficult to follow.

"Candy Gun" showed up in my Spotify discover playlist, thank you for introducing me, Spotify.

that may be my least favorite song on fetch but it's still great!

Woot!

Saw melt Banana at the garage with DJ scotch egg. Always meant to catch then again. That was 2005 but tonight is the night.

They are doing their own merch. They scare me, slightly.

are they still playing as a duo?

xp I also saw Melt-Banana at the Garage in 2005 but it was the other night with Narcosis/I'm Being Good/Bullet Union. I saw them a few years ago as a duo around the time Fetch came out. Think that was the 3rd time I saw them? Was thinking of going to see them in Brighton on this tour but timing wasn't good.

it's so hot my banana definitely feels like it's melting today

xp to self in fact this is documented upthread back in 2005

just the two of them, yes. agata with the facemask and guitar and yasuko doing everything else via midi(?) and that controller thing she uses (one-handed) that looks like a playstation portable.

they were loud and bright and pixel perfect again last night but something didn't click for me and i was paying less attention to what they were doing than to how they were doing it. and the obvious hard work they've put in and all the practice (neither put a beat wrong) just detracted somehow. the 300 other people there seemed to be really into it though.

they were on the merch desk until the support band finished and then spent the interval sorting out their own gear. a minute after they finished agata was back on the desk and yasuko was breaking her stuff down. made me wonder whether the entire tour was just the two of them doing everything on their own (and how lonely that would be).

(it's a Numark Orbit - https://www.facebook.com/NumarkOrbit/posts/638933552825050 )