BXI: Live Review, Photos and Video from Brooklyn Masonic Temple, 9/7/10

BXI released their debut 4-track EP last month (on Southern Lord) and Tuesday night marked the band's first concert performance. While the band played just a twenty minute, their set left me feeling fairly satisfied as the power of the collaboration between Boris and Ian Astbury was clearly in evidence.



The band started with "Teeth and Claws" from the new EP which is the most "Cult-ish" song from the new disc but the song is tempered by Wata's textured guitar leads. Following the order of the new EP, the band next went into the punky "We Are Witches". Regretfully, the band skipped over their psychedelic, swirling reinterpretations of The Cult's "Rain" (which features Wata's wispy vocals) but rather went into a hazy cover of The Doors' "The End". This came off quite well and was a perfect lead-in to the thundering, mystical ballad "Magickal Child".





The evening's challenges started though a little ways into "Magickal Child" when the power blew. After a short period of time, with Ian Astbury making cracks about Greg Anderson's hair dryer and a heckler in the audience yelling for "LA Woman", the power came back and the band finished their last song.

When I interviewed the band before the show, Ian and Atsuo mentioned that they would like to continue this collaboration. I'm looking forward to hearing both a full-length and a full set sometime in the not-too-distant future.

Links:
Boris
Southern Lord

BXI - Interview with Ian Astbury(The Cult) and Atsuo (from Boris), NYC 9-6-10

BXI is the collaboration between Boris and Ian Astbury (The Cult) and Southern Lord just released the debut recordings by this group. This finely-crafted four-song release, simply entitled BXI, was tracked and mixed in Tokyo in late April. Astbury’s iconic vocals are a perfect match for Boris' raw and emotive songwriting style.

Tomorrow night, BXI is making its first full-length performance at Brooklyn Masonic Temple as part of show with Jesse Sykes, Sunn O))) and Boris. I had the opportunity to talk with Ian Astbury and Atsuo earlier today about tomorrow night's show, the new EP, the first BXI live performance (which took place in Sydney earlier this year) and more.



Tickets for tomorrow night's show are $30 and are going quickly.

First BXI Performance - Sydney, Australia May '10


Links:
Boris
Southern Lord

Brett Scallions (Fuel, The X's) To Replace Ian Astbury in The Doors

Brett Scallions, most recently of The X's, has been picked as new singer for The Doors (Riders on the Sotrm). Brett has the following quote on his MySpace page:

"Well, we got the new singer. Brett Scallions from Fuel. He's going to be great! Big voice, commanding stage presence. Prowls like a cat. 6 feet tall, 165 lbs. Blond spiked out hair. Wears leather like it's licorice. I'm really excited about his joining the band. We auditioned him on the day after Robby and I received our Star on Hollywood Blvd. Two other guys came down (they will remain nameless) but Brett blew them away. Robby, Tom Vitorino (Riders manager) and I looked at each other and said "He's the one!" The next day we called Brett back and went to work. This is going to be serious fun. And the new songs are going to be great with Brett's voice on them. I can't wait to tour and for all of you to see him. It's a new era!"

- Ray Manzarek