June 2002

Time for a nap

Eddie June 27, 2002 No Comments

Deftones side project Team Sleep gets ready to saw a few logs of its own

Most side projects are abysmal, lacking scope. Perhaps they’re done for ego, or money. That isn’t the case with Sacramento’s Team Sleep, which features extremely gifted Deftones vocalist Chino Moreno and the drumwork of Hella’s Zach Hill.

After a successful West Coast tour, Team Sleep’s self-titled debut will be released by Maverick, Deftones’ longtime label, next year. Although the band’s members have busy schedules—Hill is also working with Primus’ Les Claypool; Moreno is busy writing songs for the next Deftones opus; DJ Crook and guitarist Todd Wilkinson are working on a yet-to-be-named project—Team Sleep managed to find time to write and record its CD, some of which was mixed by Terry Date, the noted record producer who’s worked hard-rock alchemy with Deftones, Soundgarden, White Zombie, Pantera and others.

“Terry is very subtle,” Wilkinson says, “and he really doesn’t get involved too much in song structure—mostly just sounds.”

Wilkinson, a guitar player from Sacramento, played his first proper live shows on the band’s last tour. He’s one of Moreno’s best friends, dating back to their high-school years. “I started playing when I lived with Chino about 10 years ago,” Wilkinson recalls. “He showed me how to play a few simple songs—mostly Smashing Pumpkins. From there, I experimented on my own. Using a four-track [home recorder] has influenced the way I play a lot; instead of learning how to play well, I learned how to layer parts. I’m influenced mostly by moods, not any guitar stuff specifically.” Wilkinson cites Smashing Pumpkins, Dinosaur Jr., Built to Spill, the Cure and Elliott Smith as influences.

The first shows of Team Sleep, which may tour later this summer, featured as support act a reunited Phallucy—a band that included Deftones drummer Abe Cunningham. Like any good tour, the shows had high and low points. “Knowing that certain people would be at the L.A. show made me nervous,” Wilkinson says. “It bugs the shit out of me, because I really shouldn’t care what they think, but I let it get to me still. Also, I had a lot of family there. I’m sorry for being so vague with the ‘certain people’ and ‘they,’ but I think you can imagine to whom I am referring.”

Not really. The usual crowd of L.A. music-biz hangout artists? Madonna?

“The best show was, for a number of reasons, San Diego,” Wilkinson continues. “It was the night after L.A., about midway through the tour. We woke up in San Diego and parked at the beach on a warm day. Everyone felt as though the pressure had been relieved, and we had fun all day. The club was a little corny, but it was a fun show. Because we were relaxed and confident, we got loose. I think that made us perform better.

“The worst was Santa Cruz,” he adds. “Sonny [Mayugba, guitarist for Phallucy and Daycare and editor for snow/skate magazine Heckler] kept trying to get me to play a solo during the last song. I did, and it sucked. It was getting close to Christmas and we were burned out. It was still fun, though—we just lacked the energy.”

Wilkinson says that all of Team Sleep members now live in Sacramento, now that DJ Crook moved here from Los Angeles. “It’s hard to get us all in one room at the same time,” he says, adding that occasional collaborations still occur. “I’m trading tapes with Dan [Elkin] from Pocket for Corduroy,” he says. “Me and Crook are working on other stuff that may or may not become Team Sleep. I’m lucky because I have many friends who are both cool people and not involved with other bands but, however, good musicians.”

The band’s chosen moniker is said to describe the band’s ethos and soundscapes. It evokes a bond between the members, based on Wilkinson’s humble beginnings as a high-school pal of Moreno’s. “The vibe of the music is somewhat sleepy,” Wilkinson says. “And I suppose that we are a team.”

(SN&R)

Team Sleep: not for Cheeseballs fans

Eddie June 20, 2002 No Comments

Harlow’s usually isn’t the place to catch local music live. Sure, local promoters bring in offbeat national acts and locals during weekdays. But Harlow’s, on weekends, relies on such cash cows as Double Funk Crunch, Wonderbread 5, Tainted Love and others to pull in a crowd willing to pay from $10 to $20 to hear covers.

So Thursday’s last-minute show with Team Sleep, the new project featuring Deftones frontman Chino Moreno, was an anomaly on the club’s June calendar. Listed as a Soul Clap gig with special guests, the only promotion—sans a few color handbills at record stores—was a small mention on the Harlow’s calendar the night of the show. Unless you were hooked into Team Sleep’s e-mail list or visited www.teamsleep.com, you probably missed this rare appearance. But over 300 fans did show up.

Although Team Sleep stalled for what seemed an eternity—the show didn’t start until after 11—the band did not disappoint. With ex-Pocket for Corduroy guitarist Dan Elkan joined by Todd Wilkinson and Moreno, the guitar firepower emanating from the stage was larger than life, like an indie version of the Allman Brothers Band. On songs such as the opener “Blvd Nights” and crowd favorite “Solid Gold,” Team Sleep played with renewed vigor compared to its last Colonial Theater show—and appeared confident in its material.

Drummer Zach Hill, with his single-kick calisthenics and tricky stickwork, was the true star of the night, though. Unlike his current band, Hella, whose set lists usually time out around 20 minutes and feature a nonstop barrage of neo-prog rock played at 150 beats per minute, Hill showed his ability to lay down deep, cutting grooves behind his fellow bandmates, plus Rick Verlaine and DJ Crook. On tunes like the off-kilter “King Diamond” and “Kool Aid,” Hill was even afforded the opportunity to take center stage and mix up the beat contingent.

Among the many local celebrities in the audience was Moreno’s Deftones bandmates Chi Cheng and Abe Cunningham, plus members of Will Haven, Tinfed, and various 720 Records bands. Moreno’s followers, who made up more than half the audience, knew all the words to some of Team Sleep’s unreleased material, tracks like “Mercedes” and “Acoustic One.” Chalk that up to the wonders of Internet streaming. Team Sleep’s upcoming release is due in the fall.

A friend described the show in three words—“majestic,” “engaging” and … well, the other one eludes me. For the sake of argument, a simple “magnificent” will suffice.

(SN&R)

Luna’s got the tunes, if you like folk music

Eddie June 6, 2002 No Comments

Sacramento’s never really had much of a coffeehouse club circuit. Sure, if you counted places like Capitol Garage or Bella Bru for their ability to both serve a hot cup of joe and book live music, you might argue otherwise. But unlike San Francisco’s scene, the chances of finding a venue that was content with mostly acoustic music was next to nil.

So leave it to Art Luna—the owner, booker, cook and manager of Luna’s on 16th Street downtown who, over the years, has developed a loyal following of Lunaheads who will support live music from national and local acts—to carry the torch. From such out-of-town acts as Bitch & Animal and Norway’s Poor Rich Ones to locals like Sean Hayashi and Jacob Golden, Luna has maintained a high level of artistry without affecting the cover charge. His door prices range from free to $5.

A recent Wednesday night showcased two bright young local talents, Ruebi Freyja and Sarah Nelson. At one time Freyja was a Luna’s employee/waitress; Nelson is better known—until now—as the longtime girlfriend of Jackpot’s Rusty Miller. Unlike any other Wednesday night, the talent quotient, polished or not, raised the bar for these informal gatherings to new heights.

Freyja couldn’t have looked more at home, nestled as she was comfortably atop a barstool on Luna’s tiny 5×5 stage. Her set was akin to early Mazzy Star or Hope Sandoval’s latest work; it worked well given Luna’s spacey decor and earthy vibe. At times she stared at the ceiling as if to exclude the audience, only to return with a delicate chorus and a somber anecdote. At others, her strumming was augmented by the sweet sound of ceiling fans and the usual café business. It was during these moments of near-silence that Freyja, in all her splendor, shone brightest.

Nelson played a nice set of porch-styled odes that might best be compared to Lori Carson in her Golden Palomino years, or post-Poi Dog Pondering Abra Moore. Although some of Nelson’s endings were rather abrupt or, better yet, had no ending, there was an inherent charm in her onstage demeanor and her ability to work the crowd. Aside from the contributions of one rowdy friend, her set was thoroughly enjoyable. With her legs crossed and her hair slightly disheveled, Nelson’s “couldn’t-give-a-fuck” attitude couldn’t have been more apropos.

For the 30-plus patrons who filled the handful of tables, the show was more than a $4 commitment; it was a chance to realize what a treasure we have right here in Midtown.

(SN&R)