"Get Over Yourself LA" Maybury at Cranes 2-4-09

Lets get his straight. You’ve heard a lot about Nick Maybury from us. Shouldn’t we be sick of him by now?
Well, we’re not.
Redhead he’s not.
He completely denies it.
Thank god. Because if he were any easier on the eyes, my eyes might fall out. And he does everything himself, his posters, his hair, his management, writing, songs.
What a treat we got, to hear him sing. It was wonderful, and how ridiculous to be assured it will be even better next time, when everything he touches is brilliant and perfect. Someone’s obviously got a perfectionist streak about him.

Some of us are catalysts. The sort of high vibration frequency that shakes you out of a malais, reminds you to love life again, reminds you that discipline and dedication do pay off. Or inspires you on to do your own art.
Maybury has the genius that won’t let me sleep, and that propels me out of bed with a bolt, to write a review at five thirty in the morning.
I might as well completely embarrass myself by saying that Nick Maybury’s music and his virtuoso touch which adds so much to all the bands he plays with, makes me a little ill, a little nauseated, a little nervous before shows, that we should be permitted to be in the presence of such greatness.
Dan from (the hysterical) Warlords of Rock and Roll and Thunder and Lightening put it in almost exactly those words. That he is so honored. And Nick, even post-show could not drop the guitar, and was playing unsolicited lead bits on a mini acoustic along with the band behind the front door, or bits of chords unrelated.
Someone quipped, “can’t you put that down for once?”
Obviously not.
If the poster is any indication,
Nick Maybury’s “Get over yourself LA” show supported a much-needed rallying cry “love is the only answer” with peace symbols and rainbow colors. Funny, because Tuesday night I was listening to Talking Heads the “the Book of Love” from album “1977” writing about how someone needs to write a book about love, in the abstract sense, with non-violence, and and an end to cruelty in mind.
Having just been dumped in an oh-so-LA fashion via email by a “best” friend, the “Get over yourself LA” message seemed more apropos than ever.
It all kind of reaffirms a rating system on which Nick scored an infinity symbol, which unfortunately I have no keystroke for . . .
As it is music that puts us in touch with the divine, or the darkness, or especially in regards to Nick’s voice and lyrics, an honesty and innocence, and forthrightness which is most likely missing from our plastic city experience.
Cranes on Wednesday a.k.a. the Beechwood Rocker’s Society, was started three years ago by talented singer songwriter Lissie.
I feel lucky to have had an invite to the February 4 Wednesday night show.
When I saw Cam Powell, sitting on the floor with a rainbow glow-stick light saber type thing, I was like wow, look at Cam.
You see Cam is mythical in his own right. With a voice and intensity that might make your hair fall out of your head, he is the frontman and lyrical poet from Thunder from Heaven, my favorite LA band.
What to expect was a total mystery. Nick said it would be him and his laptop. House music? I don’t know.
What happened was layers and layers of rich sonic dreaming and guitar played with the bow and I could hear Ireland, and feel airplanes, and felt too humbled by it to even be in the same room.
And then Nick began to sing, which I never thought I’d hear. And allusions aside, I still can’’t stop thinking of Thom Yorke and his solo work, though I’m usually thinking of Johnny with his love for noise and effects. I didn’t want to even hear the innocence of Nick’s lyrics and proceeded to pile into a booth in the back of Crane’s tavern with Joseph and Eva. Eva went up to take pics, as I worried about how we need an audio record of all this greatness.
Like Beechwood rockers gone Peel sessions or Austin City Limits.
Nick said I could get some of the mixes, upon which he layered live guitar, loops, and vocals. Lucky me.
And then Cam Powell took to the stage to vocalize in that which might only be described as metal industrial plus punk, plus pure chatisement . . . “Get over yourself LA” layered over what began as the Celtic ambient, melodic loops. And Nick’s mellower voice was a perfect balance to Cam’s shrieking imprecation, with lead guitar popping in and then . . . .
What are they? Who are they? What is it called? Nick Maybury, yeah. But then Nick+Cam at the end of the set was . . . . peace signs aside, I’m thinking I’d call it the Razorblades, it was so punk freaky. I’m worried that Thunder might get jealous I have a new favorite band “Nick+Cam.”
Which reminds me of what Nick said about providing an escape from the everyday for the onlooker.
Or what Cam said about making music that transcends particular love but is a “Love song with the earth,
Living with the fear of death . . . ”
I’ve been told I’m too old to follow live music. But this is something I really care about. If I could share my excitement with anyone, I’d love to let them know . . . how talented are my friends, and how lucky we are to be young and flourishing.
Upcoming shows include
Sunday March 1st Cinespace (Thunder with Sorcerer and Devil’s Orchestra). It will be new material with Cam from Thunder and Nick doing who knows what? And as a local devotee, I would humbly request “more please” when it comes to whatever just happened at Cranes Wednesday evening February 4, 2009.
And in the meantime check out Andy Clockwise Feb 8 at Cinespace.
Houston (from Memphis Tennessee) and lead singer from the kicking, foot-stomping Mitchell’s Folly was in attendance, and promised a good show Wednesday February 18th at Cranes.
So check that out as well.