Live Review: Fuck Buttons, Growing and Eric Copeland at Market Hotel

Fuck Buttons unleashing their epic sounds at Market Hotel

By John Ruscher

Monday, November 30th, 2009

Market Hotel was packed to the brim on Friday night. The occasion was UK duo Fuck Buttons' first ever DIY show this side of the pond (a Todd P event, naturally), coupled with the solid opening lineup of Black Dice's Eric Copeland and Growing.

We arrived as Copeland was coaxing an impressive storm of noise from his array of pedals and knobs. His set turned out to be the loudest and most poignant of the night, mixing together screeching feedback, contorted samples and indecipherable vocals into one powerful sonic assault.

Growing followed and took the night in a more rhythmic direction, employing propulsive beats and complementary experimental guitar, vocal and pedal manipulations. Things weren't quite as atmospheric and drony as the recorded material we've heard from the band, but their set fit nicely between the other acts.

Fuck Buttons were next, and the two quickly proved their prowess on stage. Having released their impressive debut Street Horrrsing last year and followed that up with this year's terrific Tarot Sport, Andrew Hung and Benjamin John Power had a wealth of material to pull from, and their set, like their songs, built gradually into a frenzy of melodic mayhem. Memorable images included Hung hypnotically bobbing his head, twirling knobs and pressing keys, and Power screaming into the microphone of a toy boombox and banging on a floor tom to augment the group's electronic rhythms.

The night's solid performances were further enhanced by the enthusiastic crowd that poured into Market Hotel. Everyone seemed to be enjoying the show, and bodies really started to flair during Fuck Buttons' set. It was the perfect way to break free from the tryptophan sedation of Thanksgiving.

"Surf Solar" by Fuck Buttons: