111 Minna

Okay, here's my new and improved list of the coolest things in the world. Number one: James Bond movies, especially in the coolest movie of all time, Diamonds are Forever . Number two: foods that can be eaten, and are equally tasty, cold or hot. That's all I have. Sorry, I'm busy. I don't have all day to think up world's coolest lists. It's true. Just recently I went to the New Native show at 111 Minna, and that took up a big chunk of my day. Not that I minded, I had heard New Native's demo tape, and I was psyched to hear them live. 111 Minna is a pretty cool place to see a band. The trendies know it. They were there.

at 111 Minna

But 111 Minna isn't cool because the trendies go there, it's cool because the bar has Humboldt Hemp on tap. But, this tragically hip space isn't just a place to drink beer and catch bands with cool demo tapes, it's an art gallery with exhibits like Pop Tarts--female artist and their "grrrly work." How cool is that?

(Need I mention that Pop Tarts taste just as delicious cold as they do hot? Coincidence? I think not.)

So, I just hung out with the trendies, drinking Humboldt Hemp, and looking at the grrly art work, waiting for New Native to come on. I have to admit that I expected them to break out of their three minute radio-packaged songs and into...oh, I don't know...twenty-minute experimental drum solos that would give Micky Hart a run for his sounds-of-the-rainforest money. Or wander into ambient guitar improvisation, or jazz 'n' funk jams that members of Santana and Phish would fnd excessive.

I was wrong.

On their song Unwanted, the lovely and talented Seti Mayet sings about "control." And New Native is all about control. They use it to constuct songs with world beats, ambient guitar, rock and jazz riffs, and soulful melodies all tucked neatly into essential pop tunes that could make even the most reserved of trendies want to sing out loud, and hit the dance floor.

New Native promises me that they''ll be a regular attraction at 111 Minna. Which is good news, because you don't have to be a trendy, or drink Humboldt Hemp, to appreciate the controlled, genre-jumping, soulful pop aesthetic of New Native's oh-so cool sound. New Native's sound is so cool, in fact, that if the producer of the next James Bond movie--and right now, I'm talking only to you Mr. or Ms. Bond movie producer --was looking for a cool new band to perform the title song, New Native could do it with coolness to spare.

Hmm. Theme song for a James Bond movie? Coincidence? I think not. Check these guys out before they get too cool for even 111 Minna.

Melinda Whitehouse

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