Qui and Lozen Last Night at the Crocodile

“Please hold your ‘woo woo’ until after the set.  This is going to be good” – David Yow   Last night I watched Qui and Lozen put on an amazing show at the Crocodile Cafe.  I had heard some good things about Lozen, but hadn’t had the chance to see them.  They are a female duo (sisters?) from Tacoma.  Their music is heavy and driving.  Normally I’m not really into music that is staight up metal, but their’s has just enough artsy touches and unconventional song structures to keep me interested.  I picked up a copy of their album, Enemies Against Power.  I like it, but it doesn’t quite sink its teeth in the way their live show did.  Here is a non-album clip from Youtube.  (thanks to Youtube, you never have to go out into the world and experience things first hand ever again)

364 days before last night’s show, David Yow was here in Seattle (remember?) for one, of only three, Scratch Acid reunion shows (the other two were in Chicago, for Touch and Go Record’s 25th anniversary party, and Austin, their home town).  Qui is Yow’s latest project, all though they existed for a few years as a duo before Yow became involved.  In Qui, just like Scratch Acid and the Jesus Lizard, Yow is a menacing force.  It’s as if some crazy guy that can usually be found ona street corner yelling obscenities at everyone that passes by, wandered in and grabbed the mic.  Qui is more abstract than Yow’s previous bands, lacking obvious hooks.  From the moment they took the stage until the final note, they had the entire place, which was only about half full, mesmerized.  The show ended, just like their recently released album, Love’s Miracle, with a cover of Pink Floyd’s “Echoes”, which is strangely, fairly straight forward.  This is one of the songs Yow did not sing.  The other was “Apartment”, which he called their best song (he’s probably right).  Easily one of the best shows I’ve seen all year.  If I had lost my faith in music, this show would have restored it.

In between Lozen’s and Qui’s sets, Kinksi’s album, Airs Above Your Station, was played over the PA.  This made me excited to see Kinski at the Crocodile on September 27th.  Helms Alee, a band I’ve already raved about, is also a part of that show.  (Can anyone out there that may be reading this confirm whether or not the drummer of Helms Alee is the guitar player in Lozen?)

-by Matt Koroulis

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