The Parsons Nose - 15th July 2004

 

I think we all get a bit musically jaded from time to time (I do anyway) but please bear with me folks, cos this is a bit long, and a review of a band you've never heard of… But I was invited out by a (mutual) old pal last night, and I'd like to share this experience with you.

Have you ever been asked to come see a proud parent's kid play in their band's first ever gig??

I have, on several occasions, and it's usually a bit painful to say the least. But last night I was invited to attend the LIVE debut of THOUGHT FORMS at a nearby pub named The Parson's Nose.

The P.A. and everything was pretty minimal, no coloured lights and there wasn't room to swing a cat (even if one wanted to) and THOUGHT FORMS were on first…natch. Oh dear.

A good looking long-haired guy named Deej got stuck into some serious pedal worship while stroking his guitar in a most professional manner. (My ears & hopes picked up immediately :)

Lead singer and guitarist (didn't catch his name) began to organise things for the opening song, saying “this is our single.”

A very pretty young woman named Charlie picked up a bass… and yet another attractive young lady hit the drums so hard my hat fell off!!!

Hang on, there's only one woman who smacks a drum like that… By gad `twas Emily Grace McMullen herself! (Also on vocal harmonies:) She's been in other bands of course. Recorded with Jeff Kelly and had a long-favourite Green Pajama's song named after her, by golly. And that's not all. But her drumming is now getting truly GOOD.

Before I'd recovered, the 2 nd number really slayed me and the whole thing took off. I don't know the name of any of the numbers they played… but you may as well call the whole performance “Thought Forms” and be done with, coz every number was refreshingly different and melded into one-another. A little like Paik at one moment, with a recent bit of Animal Collective close harmony work in the few actual songs… and then they're all sitting on the floor… amps humming & strange blurts and drones (a'la the D.R Triad) surrounded us in a quieter, dreamier space (which I would've loved to have remained in for the rest of the evening) before they all jumped up, apologised for being “depressing” & slammed us with a fast, parting shard of energy!!! Woof!!!

Out into the English West Country lanes, driving home surrounded by looming, sacred hills; our ancestors in burial mounds (6000 years already) silhouetted on the skyline; careening `round corners… cursing the fact that I hadn't recorded the gig I'd just witnessed.

by Rod Goodway