Death Ships / No River City - The Mill (7.12.06)

Last night, Agent Disco, Grendel, and I went downtown to Iowa City's Mill for a Death Ships show. For Disco and me it was the second time seeing the band in just over a week. The week before we were at Gabe's farewell show. And while it was great to see that show last week and to be there for the debut of a fifth member of the band--a new bass player, Joe Galloro--that farewell show had a jam-packed lineup. This meant a short set from the Ships (easier to type than to say).

The show last night at the Mill was good--nice and long. Standouts include "Great American," "Story Never Gets Old," and "Remains to Be Seen." The lap guitar on "Little Mystery" sounds great; Galloro appears to be a smart addition. He's as talented as Randall Davis (who's moved onto lead and lap guitars), and we all agreed that as the band absorbs this new member they'll be writing songs that make more use of that second guitar. Right now, Agent Disco noticed, on some songs Davis is duplicating Dan Maloney's guitar parts, who's pretty much been the only axe wielder till recently. They're in transition.

Maloney also mentioned something about the completed LP, Seeds of Devastation. I didn't catch everything but heard "September 1." I'm guessing they're letting the label release it? Anybody got the skinny on the record? Say it ain't so? I was hoping to have this before the end of the month.

Stream yourself some Death Ships: myspace.com/deathships

Much to my head-this-morning's dismay, we stuck around for a big chunk of the headliner's show last night, too: No River City. I've got less to say about these guys than I do for their openers, but I did dig their sound.

This Atlanta band is led by the seated fellows in the middle, the mustachioed Drew de Man (which has got to be an alias) on vox and rhythm guitar and Nathan Green on keyboard and accordion.

At its best moments, the band reproduces the twangy pop that buttered the Jayhawks' bread. There's a bright, chiming lead guitar (take note, Ships!) and a solid rhythm section.

At the band's weaker moments, they slip into over-familiar schmaltz. Trying to connect with a sparse mid-week audience, de Man (wearing a Prairie Lights T-shirt) described a "perfect Iowa summer night" that led to the writing of "Way Home Soon." While we appreciated the effort and the repetition of the location ("Hey, that's where I live!"), Grendel and I agreed that Iowa can inspire better creations than that particular song. And hell, the band can write them too.

This was a minor complaint when taken with the whole. If they come back through Iowa, I'll see them again.

Hear some No River City for yourself. You can stream four of their songs (even the Iowa tune) at, well, you know: myspace.com/norivercity

Comments

[agentdisco]

I've had a couple of their songs in my head all day (Deathships). It's clear these guys have the talent and drive to really take advantage of their new lineup. Vocally as well. Should be fun to listen to and watch over the coming months.

And can I just say God bless The Mill. Where else can you go on a Wednesday night, watch great live bands, eat falafel, drink cheap beer, sit in a BOOTH (next to a 60-year-old pimp and his harem), have incredible service from Kate Winslet, and only pay a $5 cover. Huh? What's that? Oh. Right. NOwhere.

[Adam Havlin]

Our cd's are for sale NOW. 10 bones. Contact me or the Deathships through deathships@gmail.com.

[TJ]

Thanks for the news, Adam. I saw that this morning after I posted over at The Air Strange and hadn't had a chance to get the news posted here. I'll be picking up my copy post-haste.