As it turns out, no head-to-head battle will take place: Hoitoitoi's date was canceled at the last minute in the wake of a disturbing-the-peace ticket, and no makup gig has yet been announced. But interested parties can still check out Hoitoitoi via the Internet, at www.hoitoitoi.com --and those who do will discover that the musical contrast between 16 Horsepower and Jeffrey-Paul's latest experiment couldn't be starker. Edwards's creation uses rootsy instrumentation to dark, fascinating ends, whereas Hoitoitoi finds cellist Rebecca Vera and Jeffrey-Paul handling everything from organs to walkie-talkies, offering up what he describes as "erotic dance grooves. It's sex music. I think it is, anyway.
"I really liked a lot of the groove shows that I saw in Europe," he continues, "and when I watched them, I understood the frustration that a lot of people have with seeing nothing but guys with guitars--so I decided to put grooves and guitars together. I know a lot of other people are doing that kind of thing, too, but I think it's a good direction to go. It's technological stuff, which makes sense, because we started out wanting to be an Internet band."
Hoitoitoi isn't just any computer group; after all, the video clips of rehearsals on its site often find the performers in various states of undress. "It differs from a porn site in that it's obviously personable," Jeffrey-Paul says. "Most porn sites are like strangers you couldn't stand to spend an evening with if it weren't for the sex. But we try to give back what you give to us. We want people to send us an e-mail or send us something else, so that we can see if they're the kind of people we'd want to invite to our rehearsals. And we don't invite just anybody; we're moody. But if we get to know you, we may decide to show you some pretty interesting things."
In the future, Jeffrey-Paul hopes to improve the grainy quality of the images on the site and perhaps even begin Webcasting rehearsals in real time. But he's also interested in performing with Hoitoitoi in clubs and other more traditional venues, his current difficulties notwithstanding. "Our live shows are going to be more audience-aware," he says. "If people want to sit back in a corner and hide, that's fine, and if they want to participate, that's fine, too. It'll be about giving back what we get." As for how wild the stage show might get, he concedes that "Rebecca's pretty busy with the live parts of the music. But most of my stuff's automated, so I'll get a chance to really perform or not, depending on how things are going. And just so you know, I look really good in six-inch heels."
Way back in the June 17 edition of this column, I wrote about scenesters trying to revive the Rocky Mountain Music Association, a well-intentioned organization that's gone through hard times this decade. Unfortunately, the attempt has already hit a snag: Dolly Zander, who was heading up the project, recently issued a release in which she says that there is "simply too much baggage, power madness, heaviness, preference for obstacles and control mongering to overcome" in order to bring the RMMA back. Therefore, she has filed articles of incorporation for a new group, to be called the Colorado Music Association, and has already altered the RMMA Web site (www.RMMA.org) to reflect this switch.
Change is good. On Thursday, July 1, Rebecca Folsom fields requests at the Little Bear. On Friday, July 2, Cabaret Diosa celebrates the release of its new CD, Voodoo Pinata, at the Fox Theatre; the Real Eyes shine at Cricket on the Hill, with Tomorrow at Five and 32; and the Homeless Wonders squat at the Raven, with the Fairlanes, the Gamits, the Messy Hairs and the Hardsoles. On Saturday, July 3, On Second Thought reconsiders at Herman's Hideaway, with the Ryan Tracy Band, and Phantom Freeway races to Ziggie's. On Sunday, July 4, the Dude of Life and Foxtrot Zulu set off fireworks at the Wolftongue Brewery in Nederland. On Tuesday, July 6, Touch and Go's own Delta 72 kicks up a racket at the Raven. And on Wednesday, July 7, the Melvins go to the Fox in support of their new album, The Maggot. Delicious, nutritious, and kids like it, too.
--Michael Roberts
Backbeat's e-mail address is Michael_Roberts@westword.com.
