Not on the Guest List

Lightspeed Champion sure gets around

So immediately after watching this I had a dream where a supposed friend of mine planned a horrendous birthday party for me. Both in the dream and real life she is a supposed friend and in the dream she asked what I wanted. I gave a precise list and then she goes and arranges a slumber party in my former elementary school Edwards. That would be great, only it's her plan to show horror movies-which is the opposite of great. The second the guy comes out in the ski mask on screen I am screaming and screaming, so the party immediately switches to live entertainment. Only it's my least favorite band (I can't remember who, but it surprisingly wasn't Weezer).
Anyway, with enough protest, I get my way and Klaxons come out to close out my party at midnight. Mind you in my dream this is all occuring in Portland. Yeah. . . so close to reality.

So here is Dev, ex-Test Icicles as he's so frequently billed on every DJing flyer known to man in London (Nambucca, People Are Germs, Cyrille Regis, Spiel Club). He's performing above with Klaxons, in which resides one of his good friends Simon.

Here he is with Whirlwind Heat. They toured with Test Icicles earlier this year in the UK.

'How Do You Do' Lightspeed Heat MP3

Oh god-and Acid Slutz too. Best give up while ahead. I'd be here all day listing all his collaborations and projects, all of which sadly no longer includes Naked Babes.

Myspace: www.myspace.com/lightspeedchampion

Whirlwind Heat + Be Your Own Pet at El Corazon

So I'm finally blogging about this! I wanted to so bad night of, but I didn't yet have a blog.
Arrived in Seattle after my bus was two hours late, then spent two and a half hours walking in the grizzly heat to find the venue that was only two blocks away from the bus station to start with!!!
Upon entering I was a bit in shock.

Yes it was a very early show, but only eight people had turned up to catch Whirlwind Heat's set! Even so, everyone was very into it- their frantic dancing and guitarless sound intact, with one girl getting a special thank you for being so vocal and some of BYOP came out to support-Jamin in the audience, Nathan on stage for a final song.

The venue filled out a bit more for when Be Your Own Pet made their way on stage. It was SO different seeing them in the US!

Gone was the audience that knew every lyric. Gone was the audience incitement for them to really tear up the stage. There was enthusiasm, but in a very unparalleled way and it seemed very apparent that this was the last stop of a possibly grinding tour. The band seemed fatigued and Jemina experienced several coughing bouts. It'll be interesting to see how their set evolves within the US in comparison to the UK and east coast cites (where it seems to be hovering near the same fever pitch as noted by Robert Christgau) and also if it'll begin to reflect their seemingly endless tour dates that continue to be announced. Fingers crossed, though I know it's unnecessary :)

There was a lot more I wanted to say at the time about the show, but since it's been a while, I have forgotten.
More photos after the jump