“Natural Born Farmer” Vinyl

Before detailing the show itself, there is a intricately webbed story behind the recent movement of Glassjaw (most of the following details are with great help of the www.glassjaw.net message board).  Back on August 8th, 2010, Glassjaw released the “All Good Junkies Go To Heaven” single and played a coordinating show in the United Kingdom.  Soon after, Glassjaw secretly played a small Long Island venue (Vibe Lounge) on September 9th, 2010 that aligned with the “Jesus Glue” vinyl release date.  Like the 9/9/10 date, Sons Modern put together a show at Maxwell’s in New Jersey on October 10th, the same date that the “Natural Born Farmer” single dropped.  Keeping a consistent pattern, this show was named “Sons Modern Family Gathering feat. Tidal Arms/Happy Body Slow Brain and very special guest.”  Once again, this led to mass speculation, specifically that Glassjaw would be playing the bill.  Now, the previous three singles were labeled with the numbers 88, 89, and 90 respectively, and a short history lesson allows you to know that Glassjaw have attached themselves to the year 1993, the year the band formed (and a number they are likely counting up to).  Putting the pieces together, the writing is on the wall of what is to come.  On 11/11/10 and 12/12/10 there will be two more singles and at least two more shows, filling up 91 and 92 in their catalog.  However, when Glassjaw play January 1st, 2011 in New York City, that date will align with what should be ‘item 93.’  It remains to be seen as to what will be ‘item 93,’ even though one could make an educated guess that it would be their EP with all five of the recently released singles, if not something more.  Regardless, it is an exciting time, to say the least, to be following Glassjaw after such a dormant period of releases.

"Jesus Glue" Vinyl

"All Good Junkies Go To Heaven" Vinyl

Happy Body Slow Brain begun the night with refreshing rock/pop/progressive sound, and entertained the crowd between songs and even pulled out a cover of the Power Rangers theme song, which lead to the quip they should only play television show theme songs instead of original songs.  Once Happy Body Slow Brain finished, Maxwell’s showroom filled to its 200 person capacity for Tidal Arms took the stage, the place was brimming with excitement.  With Harvey Milk-esque growls at times, the psych-rock outfit impressed the crowd with their rhythmically intense set.  While both bands put on a worthy show, it’s hard to say the anticipation of Glassjaw didn’t eventually take over.

The expectations for the show were virtually unknown due to Glassjaw’s presence lately.  Opening with “Must’ve Run All Day,” the crowd was belting each word as Daryl Palumbo hung onto to the microphone stand, as it began perhaps the most intimate set that Glassjaw have played.  Even though the music started, with each song, the crowd anxiously waited for that moment of explosion to come, but instead the reward was much grander.  Following “Must’ve Run All Day,” was Worship and Tribute companions “Ape Dos Mil” and “Trailer Park Jesus.”  While it was nothing groundbreaking, they are songs that are often overlooked in a rather intense catalog.  Even so, there were crowd surfers that hit the stage lights of the low ceiling within Maxwell’s.

Glassjaw – “Must’ve Run All Day”

The next tracks they played are simply irreplaceable, as they played rarities “Convectuoso,” “Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Silence,” and “Secret Song” (from the end of “Motel of the White Locust”).  The transpositions of “Convectuoso” and “Secret Song” were brilliantly done without removing the heart of each song, especially such an unexpectedly heavy version of “Secret Song.”  Finishing their short, seven song set was a new song, “Black Nurse,” a track that has a solid balance of technicality and finesse.  At approximately 10:10PM EST, Glassjaw abruptly ended and began packing their gear as fans looked bewildered at the fact the set was short.  Soon after, it did not take long to realize what they just heard and experienced, because shows like this do not happen often.

Etc. Etc.

• More videos will be posted as they come in.
• Find new music downloads and much more at http://merchdirect.com/Glassjaw
• Latest news at http://www.glassjaw.net/
• “Stars” video http://vimeo.com/15220435
• “You Think You’re John Fucking Lennon” video http://vimeo.com/13648730
• “Black Nurse” @ Maxwell’s
• “Convectuouso”/”Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Silence” @ Maxwell’s
• “Ape Dos Mil”/”Trailer Park Jesus” @ Maxwell’s