Joan Of Arc’s Don’t Mind Control
Empty Bottle, Chicago
Friday, January 22, 2010
Even Tim Kinsella’s many detractors must admit his Joan Of Arc has been progressive. Over the years, he has been the stem of a rapidly regenerating art-rock hydra, shuttling collaborators in and out to suit his unpredictable musical ambitions. And Friday night, they all come home to roost.
“Don’t Mind Control” doubles as a concert and album for the band’s 15th anniversary, to display the many fields from which Kinsella has drawn his 41 co-conspirators. Instead of regurgitating specimen JOA album tracks, the album allows both the familiar (brother Mike, whose industrious Owen threatens to out-proliferate JOA) and the old-school (Euphone and Ghosts & Vodka) to send postcards. Unfortunately there’s no Cap’n Jazz reunion — the band from which Joan Of Arc and The Promise Ring sprang — and a number of projects clearly fell from the same tree, it’ll be a welcome homecoming for one of Chicago’s most endearingly provocative — if, at times, aggravatingly so — and enduring institutions.
A special Slick Conditions performance is also planned.
— Steve Forstneger
Category: Stage Buzz, Weekly
