I Just Read About That…

[ATTENDED: October 3, 2019] Des Ark

I had never heard of Des Ark.  This show was a double bill of Screaming Females and Team Dresch and I had kind of forgotten there was another opening act.  So I didn’t look into them at all.

I was amused when the drummer came out and was texting on his phone before their set began.

Turns out that drummer is Ashley Arnwine who I had seen play with Waxahatchee (that band was fantastic, too).  He is also in the band Pinkwash.

The other two guys in the band were brothers Chris Taylor and Mike Taylor who were both in Pg. 99.

But these three guys are just with the band for this short (5 day) tour.

Des Ark is really the creation of singer/guitarist Aimee Argote.  Des Ark has three albums out Loose Lips Sink Ships (2005), Battle of the Beards (2007) and Don’t Rock the Boat, Sink the Fucker (2011).   In between these she released three live albums from Durham, North Carolina radio station WXDU: WXDU v. 1 (2006); WXDU v.2 (2007) and Live at WXDU Vol. 3 (2013).  On these she plays new songs which may or may not make the next record.

Note the dates. That last WXDU record was from 2013.  And, it turns out that Des Ark hasn’t played live (despite being amazing) for over three years.  Why is that?

 because main member Aimee Argote quit music for the past three years. She posted a lengthy statement explaining on her hiatus on Instagram, which reads in part: “I left music because I felt unsafe, exhausted, unsupported, poor as shit, and my body was super, SUPER fucking broken. I had no plan, no health insurance (w/ chronic health issues), no stability, and I knew I would never have consistency in my life or in my relationships if I was going to keep touring as much as it would take for me to make a [pretty shitty] living.” She also later added, “Being talented isn’t enough. It simply isn’t enough to keep me or others safe in an industry that tries to destroy women, POC, and queers at every turn.”

But I didn’t know anything about this when Aimee came out on stage and started playing and singing.

Aimee came out and started playing some great guitar and walking around the stage.  She absolutely rocked out and then would walk over to the other guitarist (not sure which is Mike and which is Chris) and lean her head on his while she continued to shred the guitar.

The music she has created is angular and intense with interesting and unexpected guitar riffs and chords.  I was hooked instantly by “No More Fighting Cats, OK?”

I didn’t know these song titles until looking them up now, but her song titles are awesome.

Aimee was excellent at playing some very pretty quiet melodies and then easily switching over to big chords.  The wonderful “FTW, Yall!!!” also included that lovely riff at the end.

She was always in motion when not singing-either walking to the guys and jamming with them or standing off behind her mic, playing to the speakers.

“It’s Only a Bargain if You Want It” started out really quietly with Aimee playing the quietest guitar imaginable and her voice barely squeaking out before evolving into an incredibly loud and raw song.

I don’t know if I could pick a favorite song but, oh how much I loved the riffage going on in “Send Jolley to Raleigh.”  That riff is so great.

Aimee introduced “Ashley’s Song” (and pointing to Ashley the drummer who I assume had nothing to do with it), by talking about when she had to tell her mom that she was abused and how supportive and wonderful her mom was.  Then she told us that her mom was in the audience and would totally fight back if anyone slammed into her.

She also told us that that was supposed to be the last song until Donna Dresch, who was standing in the wings, told her that she had to play one last song, “and if Donna Dresch tells you to play something, you play it.”

For the final song Aimee switched to a baritone guitar. She played the quiet and pretty “Girls Get Ruff.”

It was truly an unexpectedly wonderful performance.

I would have loved to talk to her after the show (and buy her CD) but the merch line was insane, and I just wanted to get home.

But wow, am I excited to have heard Des Ark.  Their recordings are a little less intense than their live show, but they do capture the music wonderfully.

SETLIST

1. No More Fighting Cats, OK?
2. FTW Y’ALL!!!
3. It’s Only a Bargain If You Want It
4. Send Jolley to Raleigh
5. Ashley’s Song
6. Girls Get Ruff