The Mae Shi

The Mae Shi

21 July, 2008
by: Domzig

LA is going through a funny period right now. It seems that every kid who picks up a guitar or a pair of drum sticks has suddenly become a musical genius. Let’s see, you’ve got Mika Miko, No Age, Gowns and Health all making this skate punk - meets - noise - meets - Brain Eno’s brain stuff that is some of the most creative music that has come out of anywhere in ages. Don’t believe me? Then just stick the tag ‘The Smell’ into Last FM and prepare yourself for a torrent of musical wonderment.

The Mae Shi are one of the bands at the forefront of this movement. A collective array of sunshine that name checks Liars, Deerhoof and the Beach Boys all in the same breath that is more than enough of a lure to coax the likes of me out of Stokey on a Tuesday night, even if I have to go on my lonesome.

OK, by the time I’ve navigated London’s tubes and buses the night is in full swing, and I arrive in time to catch Johnny Foreigner’s last sweaty song. They’re OK, but on the strength of one song it’s hard to say how good they are- although our contributor Ben was fairly unimpressed. Oh well…

15 minutes later and The Mae Shi kick off in typically weird style. Standing on the stairs just behind the bar, they troop through the crowd to the stage whilst singing ‘I have everything’. It may seem like nothing, but this is actually quite impressive when you factor in the fact that you can hear what they’re saying even though they’re not miced up and surrounded by about 500 people.

After that the set bounces along like a Catherine wheel, with songs that fly off on tangents seemingly at random. One second they're going all screamo and the next they’ll suddenly glide into some harmony vocal thing, making for one of the more riveting shows I’ve been to for a while.

That being said, it’s a good time to catch these guys at the moment, as they seem to be at a zenith. The new songs are poppy and well sing-a-longable whilst the old songs gnarl out like a business guy having a heart attack. As the energy levels increase the band seem to less and less interested in standing on stage and singing, with parts of the night being performed under a sheet, the guitarist having periodical wanders and the lead singer singing a couple of songs from the bar.

Right at the end, the guys decide to invite the crowd on stage for a love-in finale of singing and hitting things. Cue fucked off bouncer, who seems to remain annoyed as the band attempt to bypass the stage and let the crowd play drums, guitars and cymbals under a white sheet. What the fuck is wrong with letting kids on stage? Pennywise and Minor Threat used to do it and it never caused no harm.

As this is a Drowned in Sound show, I’m entitled to free beer, which I dutifully accept in the picturesque KCLSU bar that has one of the most breathtaking views the Thames at night I've seen so far. As I sit and booze like the free-loading scumbag I am, I’m led to the conclusion that whilst free beer and The Mae Shi rule; fascist bouncers do not.

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Domzig