Review
Live Review: Zaptra at La Casa Blue
- Author:
- Review Date:
- 12/18/2007
Nov. 16, 2007 La Casa Blue - A lot of my college years were spent listening to Saddle Creek releases and fantasizing about Gretta Cohn. For me, she represented the ultimate indie goddess. Petite and demure, gracefully stroking that cello, I knew if I fronted Cursive, not only would she have eyes only for me, she’d also let me have all the limelight.
Now I’m not sure, but I think that indie-girls might have an analogous thing for Art Paz, Dave Grohl’s doppelganger and sole owner and proprietor of Zaptra (get it?). Mr. Paz’ electronica is of the Radiohead-Album Leaf-Postal Service/Dntel variety and, like Jimmy Tamborello, he can do it all himself thankyouverymuch. Perched behind his Powerbook, a Korg Electride MX 2000, and an electric guitar, he loops and mixes and blips and warbles in an indie world all his own.
Each song in a Zaptra set carries a little surprise. I was especially moved by his use of a 1989 Fischer Price Mic and Radio Mixer during “Wish” (Art’s Myspace profile pic gives you a little preview: www.myspace.com/zaptra). And I think everyone at La Casa Blue enjoyed his set closer, a spoof on the Foo Fighter’s “Everlong.” Art didn’t know the words, and neither did anyone else, but hey, he looks like Grohl, so Rock n’ Roll, right?
As for the music itself: there is a noticeable New Wave undercurrent in most of what Paz does. Now, I’m not talking about the usual Joy Division rip-off stuff you hear these days. It’s a lot more experimental—sort of what you get in some of the early 80’s stuff where a one-hit wonder is sitting around like, “You can do anything with these ‘keyboard’ things!” Of course, Zaptra’s keyboard is a Mac and, as far as I can tell, those are a helluva lot more versatile. A number of his tracks are based around two chords, often the one and the five. These lay the foundation for different melodies which slither in and out (think “Ceremony” by New Order). Check out “How’s Your F***ed Day” on his Myspace page for a good indicator.
Indie Chicks of world: I don’t know if Art is single or not, but with those headphones and the my-eyes-are-closed-because-I’m-sensitive-but-I’m-still-ROCKING face he does when he really reaches for a note, I’d start Myspace-messaging him yesterday if I were you.
Now I’m not sure, but I think that indie-girls might have an analogous thing for Art Paz, Dave Grohl’s doppelganger and sole owner and proprietor of Zaptra (get it?). Mr. Paz’ electronica is of the Radiohead-Album Leaf-Postal Service/Dntel variety and, like Jimmy Tamborello, he can do it all himself thankyouverymuch. Perched behind his Powerbook, a Korg Electride MX 2000, and an electric guitar, he loops and mixes and blips and warbles in an indie world all his own.
Each song in a Zaptra set carries a little surprise. I was especially moved by his use of a 1989 Fischer Price Mic and Radio Mixer during “Wish” (Art’s Myspace profile pic gives you a little preview: www.myspace.com/zaptra). And I think everyone at La Casa Blue enjoyed his set closer, a spoof on the Foo Fighter’s “Everlong.” Art didn’t know the words, and neither did anyone else, but hey, he looks like Grohl, so Rock n’ Roll, right?
As for the music itself: there is a noticeable New Wave undercurrent in most of what Paz does. Now, I’m not talking about the usual Joy Division rip-off stuff you hear these days. It’s a lot more experimental—sort of what you get in some of the early 80’s stuff where a one-hit wonder is sitting around like, “You can do anything with these ‘keyboard’ things!” Of course, Zaptra’s keyboard is a Mac and, as far as I can tell, those are a helluva lot more versatile. A number of his tracks are based around two chords, often the one and the five. These lay the foundation for different melodies which slither in and out (think “Ceremony” by New Order). Check out “How’s Your F***ed Day” on his Myspace page for a good indicator.
Indie Chicks of world: I don’t know if Art is single or not, but with those headphones and the my-eyes-are-closed-because-I’m-sensitive-but-I’m-still-ROCKING face he does when he really reaches for a note, I’d start Myspace-messaging him yesterday if I were you.