NOISE TODD C OLE
COMING OF AGE No Age bring art-punk to the masses TARA MORGAN You can hear the low whir of traffic and muffled chatter on the other end of the receiver as No Age’s Dean Spunt talks candidly about his band’s philosophy: “Music for us … is more of a spiritual experience, more of a community experience, something that can really invigorate you and make you excited,” says Spunt. “It’s not just for the sale of alcohol.” Spunt and bandmate Randy Randall are in New York City for the night. Though the dancey, noisey, art punk duo—who were nominated for a Grammy for Best Recording Package in 2008—could easily fill one of the city’s medium-sized venues, they decided to play two smaller shows instead: one at a Brooklyn skate shop and the other at a revamped dive in the West Village. “We wanted to keep it small, keep it Dean Spunt (L) and Randy Randall (R) are Age-nts for change. real,” says Spunt. “First, we make sure it’s not a big shitty venue where it’s just like a bar. We like to feel like we’re connected, sometimes I get a little bored, like I want when artistic opportunity blows a kiss. In make connections and have more fun.” to go play tuba or something. I want to try 2009, the duo scored Jean-Jacques AnIn fact, when No Age lugs their limited different stuff. I want to make mistakes and naud’s film The Bear and, more recently, gear to the Treasure Valley on Monday, I want to learn and I want to let my friends provided the soundtrack for futuristic Nov. 29, they will shirk larger spots like know what I learned.” fashion mavens Rodarte. Not to mention, Neurolux or Visual Arts Collective to The words “friends” and “community” the late-20-somethings opened for their art play the all-ages Flying M Coffeegarage in Nampa. According to talent booker Nathan punk predecessors Sonic Youth and a newly pepper almost every sentence Spunt utters. Though No Age has hit it big by indie stanreunited Pavement at the Hollywood Bowl Walker, the smallish venue has garnered a dards—they’re signed to Sub Pop and were wide-reaching reputation for its good vibes. in September. written up in The New Yorker—the guys do “We’re not just making music … we’re “We may not have the biggest venue or their best to avoid the industry’s underbeldesigning records and making jeans and the largest-paying crowd or even a nicely ly—the “culture vultures,” as Spunt making clothes and making sound collages stocked bar, but we strive to make it a dubs them. and making art,” says Spunt. “We do all positive stop on the tour through various “When it’s a product at the end of sorts of shit because you can’t just tell yourintangibles,” says Walker. the day and all about the music business, self, ‘The creative thing I do is play guitar.’ Despite the buckets of Internet love it’s not fun,” says Spunt. “Although it It doesn’t work for us.” dumped on No Age for their catchy 2008 looks like we’re integrated in that to some What does work release Nouns and degree because of Internet culture, we’re for Spunt, it turns the 2010 fuzz-pop really not. We’re just doing our thing with out, is drums. noise bomb, EveryMonday, Nov. 29, 8 p.m., $8 adv./$10 door our friends.” Though the musician thing in Between, the And No Age’s network of friends keeps formerly played bass Los Angeles skate FLYING M COFFEEGARAGE 1314 Second St. S., Nampa expanding. From Brooklyn hipsters to in the hardcore punk punks have stuck to 208-467-5533 Nampa teenagers, the duo’s blend of poppy group Wives (with their DIY roots. The flyingmcoffee.com Randall on guitar), he art punk continues to charm a wide swath group got its start of music fans. Their now-iconic blockpicked up percusat the L.A. all-ages, sion and vocals when letter, rainbow T-shirt—which Spunt’s vegan-friendly venue mom and brother personally screenprint— the two split off to start No Age in 2006. The Smell—notable for incubating acts like has even shown up on Radiohead bassist Spunt’s feverish drumming guides No Age’s Health, Lavender Diamond, Mika Miko distortion-heavy sound, helping to frame his Colin Greenwood. For Walker, having a and Captain Ahab—and they continue to band like No Age play the Coffeegarage barely-discernible vocals through Randall’s play similar venues, where they can engage gives kids and of-agers alike the opportunisquawking guitar and random electronic directly with their fans. ty to build community through a collective chirps and swirls. “We just do what makes sense,” says musical experience. “Initially, when we started the band, Spunt. “Not many bands are willing to do “There is no better outlet of expression, I had never played drums and sang in a that: Check in with your friends and your vehicle of change, source of shared experiband before and I was like ‘I just want to community and figure out what to do, not ence, or consumer of time for me than mutry that.’ It was really challenging,” says just do what bands on the Internet do.” sic,” says Walker. “Kids is people, too.” Spunt. “Now I can do it pretty well, and But that’s not to say No Age turn away WWW. 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