I Just Read About That…

SOUNDTRACK: ARCADE FIRE Austin City Limits (2007).

Recorded in support of Neon Bible, this concert blew me away.  I enjoyed Neon Bible quite a lot, but seeing the band in this concert setting was really amazing. The band was so exciting live.

From Win Butler’s intense performance (both on stage and in the audience) to his wife, Régine Chassagne’s multi-instrumental extravaganza (even if she does look like Susie Essman when she’s about to go off on a foul-mouthed tirade).  To the exhausting and exhaustive rest of the band.  They never stop.  Even when they’re not playing anything, the are happy to join in on a random drum or cymbal.

Plus, how many bands do you get to see play the hurdygurdy?

There’s just so much going on onstage with this band (and of course they throw in little video screens as well!).  And when Win grabs his mike stand and moves literally into the audience to finish one of the last songs, it was really invigorating (and would have been very exciting to have been in the front row there).

Even though it was televised, I felt like I was there.  Oh, and it wasn’t just the theatrics, the band sounded amazing too.  If I ever get the chance I hope to see them live, myself.

[READ: February 11, 2010] Wet Moon 2

I finally received Wet Moon 2 & 3 in the mail the other day.   I was quite excited to get to them.  And Volume 2 did not disappoint.

It is very apparent from Volume 2 that Campbell is in it for the long haul.  Which is one way of saying that not very much “happens” in this book.  Several plot threads from book 1 are teased out a bit, but nothing conclusive happens anywhere.

But that’s not to say that nothing happens at all.  We learn the identity of the long-haired person whom Cleo runs away from in book one (an ex). We learn a little back story (and about a curious upside-down contraption from the person with no hair (who is named Fern).  We learn that Wet Moon is full of more and more bizarre characters, and that there’s an FBI agent around town.  We also learn that another Cleo Eats It sign has been found, although we don’t know anything more about who did it.

But mostly we get fantastic drawings, interesting characters and fascinating insights into goth culture.  And, perhaps the most exciting moment comes at the end of the book with a big cliffhanger involving Cleo and… no I won’t spoil it.

Oh, and there’s also a mystery cat.

I’m very appreciative of how many plots are slowly unfolding here.  I also really enjoyed the references to The X-Files and Twin Peaks.  The only thing I’m unhappy about is just how suspicious everyone (but especially Cleo) is of just about everyone else.  (Maybe that’s a goth thing).

The story feels like the way close friends talk.  With the same kind of love and animosity that comes up between friends who speak their minds.

And, again, the artwork is amazing.  From the wonderful closeups, to the realistic body shapes, all the way to Fern’s mansion and the statuary inside.  And then back again to Trilby’s own comic book, which contains art that is very different from Campbell’s own style but which still looks very professional.  There’s also a very lovingly drawn sex scene with Trilby and her new boyfriend.

And the back pages feature a complete cast list.  This one page is a perfect place to scout out Campbell’s amazing talent for drawing people.  Here he has a dozen or so characters all of whom are distinct and interesting in their own way, and the characters who are related look related without looking identical.  He really has an amazing drawing skill.

This book is definitely not for the faint of heart.  But if you’re intrigued by the description, you should absolutely pick it up.  It’s a great comic.