by jon bosworth jaxvillain@yahoo.com
Downtown’s ArtWalk started with ten to twelve artists setting up in front of the Jacksonville Landing and selling pieces that ranged from Jaguars-inspired football art to gaudy oil paintings of wildlife. Often amateurish and consistently unattended, no one thought the ArtWalk idea would take off back then. But in the several years ensuing, the event has become one that throngs of Jacksonville’s hipsters can’t wait to attend. Along with this interest, the events included have steadily grown. From a few easels in front of the Landing to entire buildings opening their doors to become makeshift galleries to live music at Burrito Gallery and Moon Colony Razorblade, this event has become one to pay attention to. Unable to attend the event myself, I asked local music connoisseur Don Dusinberre to head downtown and report on the show taking place at moon Colony Razorblade. This is his report:
On a balmy November 1st, regional bands Tuffy and The Yusge performed downtown at Jacksonville’s premier independent record store, Moon Colony Razorblade. As a part of the monthly ArtWalk held on the first Wednesday of each month. Moon Colony Razorblade moves aside its CDs, records, and colorful underpants for the auditory arts. Belinda Carlisle also performed that evening, but despite my best effort, the Scotch eggs and Newcastle at nearby London Bridge Pub stole my attention a bit too long.
A four-piece Tuffy stretched the width of the room with an assortment of goofy little amps and a big lo-fi sound. Omitting the bass guitar altogether, their heavy-handed strumming amidst the constant din of noises (both intentional and incidental) recall the sound of a mid-nineties 4-track recording. It was refreshing to see a group perform without taking themselves too seriously. Tuffy plays their songs unabashedly, and it’s rare to be able to relax and witness some guys playing songs for themselves first. Their music is best suited for those times when you want to listen to something with a steady rock beat and simplicity, requiring nothing more to enjoy it than a boombox or the crappy stereo in your very used Sentra.
Soon after Tuffy finished their songs, it was time to head outside where The Yusge were ready and waiting to churn out their set. Duos are growing more popular as of late, and bands like Lightning Bolt and Death from Above 1979 have proven that performing with only a bassist and a drummer doesn’t mean you don’t know any good guitar players. Having never heard The Yusge before, I was curious to find out just how this duo would make their music interesting despite limited instrumentation. They present a full, savage sound with their ample musical acuity and growing songwriting skills. Their drummer is highly adept at pounding out some pretty snazzy fills at a relentless pace while the bass player’s fingers tapped furiously to create the intricate soundscape they may soon be known for. The Yusge is a talented duo poised to make a significant impact in Jacksonville’s music scene. By the way, their name is pronounced like the Olympic sport luge, but with a Y instead of an L. Pretend there’s no S in it at all, and say it with an attitude that says you knew them way back when.
ArtWalk happens on the first Wednesday of each month in downtown Jacksonville. Start at JmoMa, the new library, or Burrito Gallery and get a complete listing of what is going on and where.
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