Swans -To Be Kind - Available to pre-order

[Swordfishtrombone]

This album is off da hook (do the kids still say that)? Either way, it's true.

Would you mind posting a pic of the thumb piano? I've always thought that those were cool, and that one looks pretty interesting from what I can see of it.

[Ugly Nora]

I'll do 1 better (I hope). Here is a link where I bought it. http://www.mbira.org/catalog.asp?cat=mbiras

Mine is the Nyamaropa Mbira (B pitch) made by Leonard Chiyanike. Mine looks slightly different, but these are all handcrafted instruments by dudes in Zimbabwe so things will vary slightly. Stock photo from site below. Leonard Chiyanike is one of the better quality builders represented on the site. I asked them to recommend the best quality ones and she gave me a few name. I can't recall the others.

MBIRA is a non-profit organization that celebrates and helps to sustain the ancient musical traditions of Zimbabwe. MBIRA supports Zimbabwean musicians and instrument makers, and their families, through worldwide Zimbabwean music education, recordings, and performances. In a country with 95% unemployment (Nov. 2010), this provides critical support in the daily struggle for survival. MBIRA has also created the largest archive of Shona mbira music in the world, which is a permanent resource for generations to come.

[Swordfishtrombone]

That's awesome. I'll have to look into getting one eventually now that I know where to get a good one + knowing that it'll actually help out with the situation over there. Thanks for the link!

[Ugly Nora]

Yeah they are fun and relaxing to play. It is actually pretty easy to get a nice melody going since all the notes pretty much sound good together. You can also strap a contact mic on it and run it through your favorite pedals.

[musiqueer]

It really changed my views on what music could actually be, and honestly, what it should be (as far as how intense it should feel)

this 1000x times

it's tricky though, because it only shows you how lazy most people are to make anything that makes a mark, anything with an attitude you know

Yeah, definitely. That's what happens whenever I get into musicians/bands that have a distinct vibe to their work. I end up becoming much more cynical when it comes to music, and actually disliking a lot of the bands that I end up hating. "Oh, another 'heavy' rock band that has a singer that listened to too much pearl jam when they were growing up?" "Oh yeah, this other band is sooo cool because they don't even seem to be into what they're doing...".

But yeah, most people could learn a thing or two from Swans.

Sorry for the small rant.

You're right at the point good sir

A day after my semi-rant of not seeing them live now they announced European tour

Btw, here's an excellent M.Gira interview http://thequietus.com/articles/15163-mi ... -interview

[Swordfishtrombone]

Yeah they are fun and relaxing to play. It is actually pretty easy to get a nice melody going since all the notes pretty much sound good together. You can also strap a contact mic on it and run it through your favorite pedals.

Yeah, I've noticed that every video I've seen of someone using any kind of thumb piano that it pretty much always sounds nice. I think I'd have loads of fun with one.

It really changed my views on what music could actually be, and honestly, what it should be (as far as how intense it should feel)

this 1000x times

it's tricky though, because it only shows you how lazy most people are to make anything that makes a mark, anything with an attitude you know

Yeah, definitely. That's what happens whenever I get into musicians/bands that have a distinct vibe to their work. I end up becoming much more cynical when it comes to music, and actually disliking a lot of the bands that I end up hating. "Oh, another 'heavy' rock band that has a singer that listened to too much pearl jam when they were growing up?" "Oh yeah, this other band is sooo cool because they don't even seem to be into what they're doing...".

But yeah, most people could learn a thing or two from Swans.

Sorry for the small rant.

You're right at the point good sir

A day after my semi-rant of not seeing them live now they announced European tour

Btw, here's an excellent M.Gira interview http://thequietus.com/articles/15163-mi ... -interview

Awesome that they announced the European tour. I got pretty lucky with getting my ticket to see them. I mean, I decided to look out of curiosity to see if they'd be coming thru Chicago and found that the price is great. Ordered my ticket basically as soon as I found out that they were $30 to see when they roll thru.

And that came up in my FB feed awhile back. Was definitely a good read. I always like seeing what Michael Gira has to say about things. It's crazy to see how much he loves what he's doing + what he's lived thru. Amazing guy.

[DarkAxel]

I hope there are going to be more tour dates, looks like a pretty small EU tour so far (except for a bajillion dates in Germany)

[Swordfishtrombone]

(except for a bajillion dates in Germany)

This made me giggle since I've seen Michael Gira say about how he approves of their lapsteel guy being German in an interview before.

[DarkAxel]

Hahn looks like a fucking badass in every photoshoot or live photo, he looks like the kind of old guy I want to be, scarred-tree-face kind of guy

basically he looks menacing as fuck. Which perfectly fits what he does

[Swordfishtrombone]

Yeah, he does. I can't think of a single person that has been in Swans that doesn't look like someone that you wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley.

[doommeow]

Looks like Westberg is a part of the kvlt. Mace, maybe?

[doommeow]

Go. Go now. GO.

One of the best live bands ever. I have to imagine this is what seeing Miles in the late sixties would've felt like.

Bass player is an unsung fucking Jedi master. Laying down some of the funkiest shit this side of Bootsy, took The Apostate to a whole 'nother level.

And the wrath of Hahn. What happens when you crossbreed a chameleon and a dragon? Go buy a ticket and find out.

This was my sixth or seventh time seeing Swans since 97, just might be better than ever. Moved beyond conducted exploration to outright creation. Birth.

Go.

[doommeow]

And. Even though they've released what 5 hours of epic best ever essential music in the past two years, half of which only came out a week ago, they are already playing brand new material.

[DarkAxel]

And. Even though they've released what 5 hours of epic best ever essential music in the past two years, half of which only came out a week ago, they are already playing brand new material.

... and that's what I want to be like when I'm almost 60

[Swordfishtrombone]

Dammit doommeow, you're really not helping with how excited I am about going to see them.