I recently attended a jam session with the stage-filling, tribal-love machine Dark Meat live at The Echo in downtown LA. First off, I love The Echo as a space. No matter where you are, the small, black space is taken over by the performance on stage (not to mention giant pictures of owls that may be hanging). Dark Meat ruled the world for that hour. Orgy woman, leaf blowers, water guns, face paint, simulated lesbian love and simulated beastial love abound. Yes, a new word "beastial" is what a band like Dark Meat asks for. If you are not familiar with this and, it is composed of about 16 people that all play instruments in unison with each other: 4 people on trumpets, 2 on drums, 3 guitars, and random other people doing random other things. The show was great. The music was great. The songs seem like they would go over fine with a four piece band but its more about filling a vibe and creating chaos that the band is going for than a good song (which they all are, especially "Well, Fuck You Then.")

You get the feeling watching the show that it will all collapse at any moment, but somehow it stays intact. My favorite aspect of the performance was how the band broke the fourth wall so many times. Various instruments were played by a man or woman walking around the audience, playing into your face, ear, nose, ect. He eventually blasted people with a leaf blower while banging a drum. I think he made sweet love to another man at one point, but my recollection is a bit fuzzy navel about it.

All said and done, Dark Meat comes highly recommended for a good show and some great melodies to stick to your head. You will leave deaf, blind, and border line retarded with tribal feast muck love.

Much thanks,
sheehan