| Ariel Pink @ Family |
Last night I saw Ariel Pink for the third time at one of my favorite stores, Family, on Fairfax. The first time I saw him play was at The Echo, and it was a disappointing affair. He didn’t have a backing band that time, so he was constantly fiddling with a highly complicated series of analog playback hookups, wearing an ammo strap loaded with cassette tapes. He took so much time fiddling with tapes and knobs that the audience eventually lost interest (with the exception of a few drunk hos who decided it would be a good idea to take the stage and dance drunkenly behind him) and he became visibly despondent, before eventually storming off stage. The second time I saw him play was about a month ago at the closing night for a gallery show, and it was one of his first performances with his newly assembled backing band. The gallery was insanely crowded, but I managed to edge my way up to the front. The band was seemingly tuning their instruments for at least half an hour behind two sheaths of butcher paper that were being illuminated by a sole spotlight, while everyone stood in their place, waiting for something to happen. Eventually the paper was torn down and the performance began, with Ariel wearing a polyester women’s blouse that displayed the panorama of a vibrant tropical city and shiny silver capri pants. He was more relaxed this time around, free to sing his songs karaoke style with just a microphone. The show last night was my favorite so far, as he seems to have gotten quite comfortable with his band, and the songs sounded fantastic. He said he’d be playing a show in L.A. “every day” for the next month at different places, so keep your ears open for future appearances. Here are some pictures: 
After the show we were on our way to Canter’s when a strange man approached me and offered to cut my hair. Of course I agreed, and here is a picture of him and me (sporting the haircut he gave me) on the sidewalk outside Family. 
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That’s awesome that you let him cut your hair! I’ve never really had such an encounter, unless you count the few random times we’ve smoked up with people on the streets, one who called himself Loki the Norse God of Mischief…but that’s another story…
that guy’s gorgeous…I’d let him cut my hair, too.
ariel pink? hmm, i think that’s the act my band replaced when we opened for Of Montreal a couple of months ago. Apparently a bunch of people in the audience were pissed and therefore their impression of Didley Squat was soured.
Although, my band sucks, so maybe their impression wasn’t totally incorrect…
now i’m pissed i missed this show, and the one he played at the echo more recently. we should coordinate next time he plays…and you should get that ‘holy shit’ collaboration w/matt fishbeck if you haven’t heard it yet…