Wax Fang

Jims James of My Morning Jacket takes his recommendations seriously. Back in July The New York Times asked James The Question: “Whacha listening to?”

His response:

Scott Carney

He's a guy from Louisville. I went to high school with him, never knew him, and he moved away to Pittsburgh. "Black and Endless Night" (scottcarneymusic.com) came out in late 2005, and I couldn't believe it was from this time period: it's got a futuristic energy, a lot of elements I've never heard work before. A combo of all these things you remember from the past. You can sense some David Bowie in it. It's so unique, it's hard to place. The cool thing about it is he made it by himself. Every single instrument is played by him, and he paid attention to the details. Enough people don't pay attention to the production of a record. Lots of people think about the songs or where they're going to record. They think about everything but how the record's going to hit your ears. The production is amazing, the songs are amazing. It takes you to a different place in the future.

That’s a nice little shout-out for a local Louisville act, but James took the hometown hospitality one step further and brought Scott (and Carney’s former Heavy Friends) on tour with him this fall.

Earlier this year Carney added bassist Jake Heustis and drummer Kevin Ratterman to his do-it-all-yourself act and formed Scott Carney and Heavy Friends, a name that was promptly dropped for the ultra-vicious Wax Fang.

Every compliment that James gave solo Carney in The Times has to be re-offered to three-piece Wax Fang, especially in a live setting. I saw them play a set at Louisville’s WFPK studio this summer, and the live interpretations of Carney’s songs off of Black & Endless Night, the accompanying projector show and the well-time theremin freak-outs kept me mesmerized. I’ll be interested in hearing new material…

(Because I know they have it: Cannibal Summer [Live])

…and seeing how they respond to a big crowd in the Louisville Gardens on Wednesday when My Morning Jacket returns home for (what’s becoming) their annual Thanksgiving-Eve show.

From Black & Endless Night: Bi-PolarBear

Another Jim James’ NYT pick, The Slip, will begin opening for MMJ on Friday, Nov. 24, kicking off the second leg of what looks to be a lengthy tour. Here’s their Guitar Hero song everyone loves.

Even Rats