After playing two packed shows at Berlin’s West Germany venue and a sold out concert at HAU 2 theatre, John Maus finally does Berghain – him being one of the most stunning, daftest, berserk and intense performers of our time.
[audio:xxx-xxx.mp3]When John Maus wasn’t playing keyboards for Animal Collective, Panda Bear, and Haunted Graffiti, he was writing and recording his own hermetic, experimental, and oftentimes misunderstood compositions.
Drawing on artists like David Bowie, Scott Walker, and Joy Division, Maus’ swollen, distorted, and unabashedly strange debut Songs was more or less reviled by any and all music critics within earshot. Commenting on Maus’ vocal style, Drowned in Sound’s Mike Diver said that while some listeners “…will hear a little Nick Cave in it…others will hear a man crapping out of his mouth.”
John Maus | Believer
In spite of the harsh criticism (much of which Maus posted, to hilarious effect, on his MySpace profile), Maus continued to generate new material. His second album, Love Is Real, was released on Upset the Rhythm in 2007. Four years later, he returned with We Must Become the Pitiless Censors of Ourselves, which featured some of his most dynamic and nuanced music to date.
As support plays Gary War, who shares Maus’ love for cheerful-noisy lo-fi synth pop.
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John Maus & Gary War LIVE
Dj: Doodcast
Saturday, 03 December 2011 | 20:00 CET
Berghain | Am Wriezener Bahnhof | 10243 Berlin/Friedrichshain
myspace.com/johnmaus | myspace.com/garywargarywar | berghain.de
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