Thorns of Life Exist, Play Show
A few weeks ago a friend took me to see Blake Schwarzenbach play a few songs at Matchless Bar in Greenpoint, and now a live show of his new band, Thorns of Life, playing at 924 Gilman Street in Berkeley, California, has made its way onto the internet.
The 41-year old singer/guitarist previously fronted Jawbreaker and Jets to Brazil, but has been mum on the musical front in recent years, teaching undergraduate English courses at Hunter College, and being active in anti-war protests and organizing during the presidential elections in 2004.
Formed in October 2008, Thorns of Life also features Aaron Cometbus – author of the zine Cometbus and formerly the drummer of Crimpshine – and Daniela Sea – a bassist who also plays Moira Sweeney on The L Word.
The band sounds like a very natural progression for Blake, masterfully mixing upbeat rock with thoughtfully woven lyrics as he has done so well in the past. He spells out the chorus of the fourth song into the live set, called I Hate New York, making sure the audience hears the message:
The volume of the vanity/New York is giving me the creeps
Like teeth into a baby's knees/oh baby baby baby please
He might say please, but I say thank you. Here's a video from a show at the Fort recording studio in Brooklyn.
(Photo by Chrissy Piper via Flickr)
