we saw: Oxford Collapse

"Your So Sweet, Thanks For Asking"

(Photo by LikeATeenSpirit)
Sunday night Oxford Collapse played an acoustic set at Sound Fix. Sound odd? Yeah, it kinda was. Granted the guys were extremely open about how they had "never done this before", play acoustic that is. We weren't surprised, because honestly it's electricity which propels Oxford Collapse's tattered and bedraggled pop into a whirlwind of exhilarating and enticing basement punk . They mentioned attending one of Levon Helm's near legendary Midnight Rambles the night before and the 'loose' vibe of the Ramble certainly made its way into the Sound Fix Lounge. However, the vibe didn't do much for the songs, which were sort of sloppy, sort of shitty, and sort of unbearable. I only say this because I really like Oxford Collapse, its just that they were incredibly awkward in trying to pull together this acoustic set. Yet they went against the grain and did it anyway. They played a few songs off BITS and a couple of admittedly butchered covers, including a Frightened Rabbit tune and Bob Dylan's "When I Paint My Masterpiece."

Regardless, I've been listening to their latest, BITS (just released on Sub Pop), and it's pretty darn sweet. "The Birthday Wars", a song they opened with (I think) at Sound Fix, is all the woozy, bass heavy bashing we've come to expect from the Brooklyn trio (mp3 and video below). Fortunately, Oxford Collapse is throwing an ELECTRIC CD release show Thursday at Glasslands, which will feature the following:

fun n' games, decorations, streamers, comedians, clowns, mimes, capoeria, mud wrestling, midget wrestling, wheelchair basketball, tupperware parties, a preview screening of the new BATMAN, WWF all-star "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan, a very special appearance by someone very special, beer pong, Darth Maul, the Groovie Ghoulies, how to learn braille, chimichangas, 5th wave ska, legendary A's slugger Dave Kingman, Violent Bullshit, Mario Cantone, and the usual gang of i'jiots.

Luckily, I don't think there will be any mandolins in attendance on Thursday.

Oxford Collapse- The Birthday Wars (direct download)

Oxford Collapse "The Birthday Wars"