Allstar Magazine - March 24, 1997
Mazzy Star Lulls L.A. In Fundraiser
Los Angeles - Hollywood Moguls
March 21, 1997 (Pirate Radio benefit)
We all know that rumored Jane's Addiction reunion never happened and
isn't exactly on the horizon. But those attending the fundraiser for Los
Angeles, California's pirate radio station, KBLT, at Hollywood Moguls
Friday (March 21) had high hopes after seeing Perry Farrell, Stephen
Perkins, and Eric Avery in attendance. (No signs of Dave Navarro, though).
Avery was there with his new band Polar Bear, while Perkins was alongside
Mike Watt and Nels Cline in Banyan.
With a noisy start, Polar Bear shook off the winter's hibernation to the small
crowd as they plunged through four songs, including "Water." Then the Dust
Brothers played.
Mazzy Star then took the stage after an inordinate break and played a
handful of tracks from their most recent album Among My Swan including
"Disappear" and "Flowers in December," and from the previous albums,
"Mary of Silence" and "Ride It On." But singer Hope Sandoval's reserved
approach -- she mostly stared at the floor in dark lighting -- failed to
significantly connect with this audience. So when, after a not- so- rousing
applause, the band retook the stage for one last song, "So Tonight That I
Might See," it was to scattered enthusiasm, and an otherwise successful night
ended on a perplexed note. -- Simon Rust Lamb
Spin OnLine - March 24, 1997
Mazzy Stuns Hollywood!!
Los Angeles - Hollywood Moguls
March 21, 1997 (KBLT benefit)
A rare club appearance by Mazzy Star was one of the highlights of last
Friday's KBLT benefit at Hollywood Moguls in Los Angeles. The
well-attended show also included sets by ex-Jane's Addiction bassist Eric
Avery's new project, Polar Bear, keyboard innovator Money Mark,
experimental supercoalition Banyan, and local glam-pop darlings
Touchcandy. The impressive lineup was assembled to raise money for
KBLT, a local microradio station covertly operating in the Los Angeles area.
While the "pirate radio" broadcasts have been going on for over a year
without any FCC interference, the station's operators conceived the benefit
to raise a "nest egg" in the event of future legal problems. And the fundraiser
was a rousing success. Held at a relatively small venue, the show had been
long sold out, with hopeful crowds clustering around the door for the
evening's duration.
One time Angelenos Mazzy Star don't make it into town much anymore (this
was the second time since the release of their most recent album, Among
My Swan) and the faithful -- mostly male -- were crowded up front for their
set. Singer Hope Sandoval, clad in a pretty, lacey blouse and bathed in
violet light, made a striking centerpiece to Mazzy Star's languorous rootsy
blues. While her stage presence has often been described as offputting or
aloof, tonight she stood right up front and sang straight to the audience, her
voice mixed strongly and clearly. Other highlights included the intense
noisemaking of Banyan, featuring Mike Watt, Nels Cline, and Stephen
Perkins (two bands tonight featured ex-Jane's Addiction members; Perry
Farrell was spotted hanging out; guess all those legendary differences are
being placed to rest), and a late-night set by Touchcandy. Although most of
the crowd was trickling out by the time Touchcandy came on, singer Dave
Willis' hammy, charismatic moves and the band's New Wave exuberance
provided the purest fun of the lengthy evening.
-- Mara Schwartz
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