Posts Tagged ‘Mason Proper’
Tuesday, August 18th, 2009
Michigan based band Mason Proper just wrapped up a nice little run through the west coast, playing a bunch of shows with New York’s own Stellastarr. The band has been busy, with their debut album Olly Oxen Free released last year on Dovecote Records and a free, brand-new remix EP, the band is now taking a well deserved break. Mason Proper will return on the 17th of September for Pygmalion Fest with Iron & Wine, RJD2, the amazing Margot & the Nuclear So and Sos and many more.
For more info, go here
This week’s Kuestionnaire features lead vocalist Jonathan Visger as he puts in a good word for ol’ San Francisco.
1. Could you state your name and what you do in the band?
My name is Jonathan Visger and I sing and play samplers and stuff.
2. How would you describe your sound?
It’s a spacious kind of experimental pop. Nice melodies, not cluttered (anymore), very “open.” All the songs have a pretty good groovy beat to them too, nothing too straightforward.
3. What is your favorite local band?
There are a bunch I love, but Javelins always jump into my mind first. They do this great melting guitar thing… really something special.
4. Any concerts that blew your mind recently?
Nothing in particular as of late. Last concert I saw was Animal Collective at the Royal Oak Music Theater. I had a great vantage point to pick apart what they were doing, which is a favorite pastime of mine with bands that don’t just play guitars… and I will say that Panda Bear’s extended drum solo thing was pretty incredible to watch!
5. Any non-musical influences you would like to mention?
David Lynch and Edward Gorey, big time! We take a lot of cues from them in a few areas.
6. If your music was to be the theme of a film/TV show, what would it be?
Very profitable.
7. What musician/artist would you like to collaborate with for a day?
I think we could do some serious damage with Clara Rockmore!
8. What is the album you listen to on a cold rainy day?
Four Tet – Rounds?
9. List four songs you would listen to on a roadtrip?
On this last roadtrip, I particularly enjoyed “Run” by Air, “Nothing in this World” by the Kinks, “Music for 18 Musicians” by Steve Reich, and “Punchbag” by the Bees (Band of Bees in the U.S. I think).
10. Where do you see yourselves in 7 years?
I have absolutely no idea, outside of one way or another still trying to make the best music we can. Other than that, no clue!
11. What is the last book you read?
Just finishing “The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle,” by Haruki Murakami, and in love with it.
12. Is image a factor in music or is it a waste of time?
It’s not a factor in actual MUSIC, but it can be a factor in the music BUSINESS. We suck at it and choose to just be ourselves. It probably isn’t a waste of time to consider if you, you know, want to be successful or something, ha ha. It can enhance people’s perception of the music though, if it’s something a band has naturally… I’d say if you’ve got it, great. If not, you can’t worry about it too much.
13. Any embarrassing moments on stage you would like to share?
We were playing at a venue in New York at CMJ, and the microphone was horribly shocking my face, and the sound guy couldn’t fix it, and the show was already really late, so I took off my sock and put it on the mic and sang into that. Kind of gross, and the mic still shocked me thru the sock. Not my finest moment, but we have a good sense of humor about things like that.
14. Any favorite tour locations?
Our recent show at Slim’s in San Francisco was great! Absolutely one of my favorite venues now, and the crowd was great to us too.
15. Lastly, what is your present state of mind?
Underslept and muddled, but happy.
Mason Proper – 
Fog from Olly Oxen Free (2008)
Mason Proper – Safe For The Time Being (Wallpaper Remix) from Remix EP (2009)
Javelins – Out On the Sand from Heavy Meadows (2008)
Tags: Javelins, kuestionnaire, Mason Proper, Olly Oxen Free, Remix EP
Posted in Kuestionnaires, Music | No Comments »
Sunday, July 26th, 2009
We’re back from Comic-Con 2009! And holy shit what a journey of epic proportions. I’ll be posting pictures and a day to day “what happened” in the near future (probably tomorrow). But for now lets go over the last week of July and what is the August concert season.
Tonight, Band Of Skulls conquer Café du Nord. I’d love to go to this but I’m suffering from a slight cold. BUT these guys fucking rock. Check’em out.
Monday is Spinnerette (ex-Distillers) at the Great American Music Hall, Glasvegas rocks out at The Regency Ballroom, Mika Miko, Judgement Day and Audacity play the Nickel City Arcade in San Jose, and the New York Night Train’s SAN FRANCISCO SOUL CLAP and Dance Off which is a underground retro dance-off featuring Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys, Alternative Tentacles), Cinnamon (Lusty Lady), Kimberly Chun (SF Bay Guardian ), Dave Katznelson (Birdman Records), Jay Howell (Mtn St Mtn), Primo (Oldies Night), Prince$$ Pandora (Lusty Lady), Paul Costuros (Death Sentence Panda, Saturday Soul Party), Jennifer Maerz ( SF Weekly ) and DJ MR. JONATHAN TOUBIN at the Elbo Room at 9pm.
Tuesday has Jarvis Cocker keeping it real at the Fillmore and the Noisettes tearing it up at the Rickshaw Stop.
Wednesday only has Magnolia Electric Co. and The Donkeys at the Bottom of the Hill (which I highly recommend).
Thursday is psychedelic rock act The Warlocks, The Morning After Girls and Gliss at the Bottom of the Hill, Gomez at the Fillmore, and Or, The Whale, El Olio Wolof, Mikael Jorgensen of Wilco at Starry Plough in Oakland.
Friday hosts Portland spazz rock band The Hospitals and the ganglians at Amnesia…and that’s it for Friday….hrm.
However, Saturday has Themselves at the Bottom of the Hill, Stellastarr and Mason Proper at Slim’s, and The Deli Magazine’s DORKFEST 09 hosts the best in Bay Area bands featuring The Heavenly States, 60 watt kid, French Miami, railcars, Anderson Congress and Vitiligo at Café du Nord.
I’ll try to make the Themselves show and the Magnolia Electric Co. show, but it’s a pretty empty week overall. See you out there!
Mason Proper – Lock & Key
French Miami – The God Damn Best (edit: this song is amazing)
Magnolia Electric Co. – Little Sad Eyes
The Warlocks – So Paranoid
Tags: 60 watt kid, Alternative Tentacles), Anderson Congress and Vitiligo, Audacity, Band of Skulls, Cinnamon (Lusty Lady), Dave Katznelson (Birdman Records), El Olio Wolof, French Miami, Glasvegas, Gliss, Gomez, Jarvis Cocker, Jay Howell (Mtn St Mtn), Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys, Jennifer Maerz ( SF Weekly ) and DJ MR. JONATHAN TOUBIN, Judgement Day, Kimberly Chun (SF Bay Guardian ), Magnolia Electric Co., Mason Proper, Mika Miko, Mikael Jorgensen of Wilco, New York Night Train's SAN FRANCISCO SOUL CLAP and Dance Off, Noisettes, Or, Paul Costuros (Death Sentence Panda, Primo (Oldies Night), Prince$$ Pandora (Lusty Lady), railcars, Saturday Soul Party), Spinnerette, Stellastarr, The Deli Magazine's DORKFEST 09, The Donkeys, The Heavenly States, The Hospitals, The Morning After Girls, The Warlocks, the Whale, Themselves
Posted in Concerts, Music, This Week In Bay Area Live Shows | No Comments »
Friday, December 26th, 2008
Best EPs of 2008:
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One Day As A Lion - One Day As A Lion: The Rage isn’t back, but the passion of Zach is.
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Cool Kids – The Bake Sale: Hip-hop is not dead, it’s alive and well with The Cool Kids.
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The Decemberists – Always a Bridesmaid: One song bugs me, but the rest is lovely.
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Animal Collective – Water Curses: An exciting view into what’s in store for 2009.
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Air France – No Way Down: I don’t need a new Avalanches record, all I need is this EP…and this lamp.
Best Gadget I Couldn’t Live Without:
Best Music Blogs of 2008 (aside from Gorilla vs. Bear and Brooklyn Vegan):
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Motel De Moka: Stunning artwork mixed with the best minimalistic, experimental, and ambient music I’ve never heard of.
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ipickmynose: His weekly song obsessions quickly become my song obsessions. Plus his view into the Bay Area indie scene helps me understand this strange new land I’ve found myself in.
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Captain Obvious: His library of covers is unrivaled as well as his detailed and spot-on album reviews.
Best Books I Read This Year:
Biggest Musical Disappointments:
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The Ben Folds album…blows
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Kanye West experiements…fails
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No Portishead US tour
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Foo Fighters just can’t rock like they used to
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Scarlett Johansson covers Tom Waits, nuff said
Most Anticipated in 2009:
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Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavillion
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Dan Deacon – Bromst
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Mastodon – Crack The Skye
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dredg – tba
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M. Ward – Hold Time
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Division Day – tba
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Jeremy Enigk – Ok Bear
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Cage – Depart From Me
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Weatherman Album?
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The One AM Radio – tba
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The Decemberists – The Hazards of Love
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Andrew Bird – Noble Beast
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Rival Schools – tba
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Kiss Kiss – The Meek Shall Inherit What’s Left
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The Arcade Fire – tba
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Battles – tba
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Manchester Orchestra – Mean Everything To Nothing
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mewithoutyou – tba
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Cursive – tba
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Burial – tba
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Wilco – tba
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Menomena – tba
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The Album Leaf – tba
Other Songs That I Loved This Year
Astro Raw – I’m The One With A Smile
Beach House – Gila
Bill O’Reilly – Bill O’Reilly Flips Out (Dance Remix)
Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy – So Everyone
Chairlift – Evident Utensil
Cloud Cult – Everybody here is a Cloud
The Cool Kids – A Party (For Everyone) (Logarhythmik remix)
The Dear Hunter – Battesimo del Fuoco
Delta Spirit – Trashcan
Department Of Eagles – No One Does It Like You
The Dodos – Fools
Entire Cities – Talkers
Facing New York – Cops On Bikes (WP PM5K RMX)
Frightened Rabbit – Fast Blood
God Is An Astronaut – Remaining Light
Grizzly Bear – While You Wait For The Others
The Hold Steady – Stay Positive
Jolie Holland – Mexico City
The Limousines – Very Busy People
Little Joy – Brand New Start
Lykke Li – I’m Good, I’m Gone
Mason Proper – Friendship
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Jesus Of The Moon
Port O’Brien – Fisherman’s Son
Portugal. The Man – Lay Me Back Down
R.E.M. – Supernatural Superserious
Rye Rye – Tic Toc (ft. M.I.A.)
Sennen – Your Hand In Mine
The Sound Of Animals Fighting – The Ocean And The Sun
Vampire Weekend – Ottoman
White Denim – Sitting
Tags: Astro Raw, beach house, Bill O'Reilly, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, chairlift, Cloud Cult, Delta Spirit, department of eagles, Entire Cities, facing new york, Favorites of 2008, Frightened Rabbit, God Is An Astronaut, Grizzly Bear, Jolie Holland, Little Joy, Lykke Li, Mason Proper, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Port O'Brien, Portugal. The Man, R.E.M., Rye Rye, Sennen, The Cool Kids, The Dear Hunter, The Dodos, The Hold Steady, The Limousines, The Sound of Animals Fighting, Vampire Weekend, White Denim
Posted in Favorites of 2008, Music, News | 9 Comments »
