[ music + culture]
GRINDIN’
PHOTO BY JACK NEILA
This will be the band’s third show back since the neartotal 2020 cessation of live music, but TTN have been working nonstop on new music, first in a storage unit and then at the new band headquarters in far-off DeBary — collaborating with producer/beatmaker Byson and Dan Reaves of Trotsky’s Watercooler. BY MATTHEW MOYER “Dan approaches sound the same way we do,” says Ryder of Reaves. “He’s got a really good ear.” The TTN two are putting the finishing touches on their he evening of May 29 had a valedictory air to it, an and he was writing a ransom note, and guitarist Benjamin (ahem) return to normalcy, or as normal as possible Gregory looked like a member of Carcass who’d wandered second album, leaning in hard to the industrial (literally) for the outer fringes of the local music scene. Flush into the wrong gig, with his impressive mane flailing every- side of their sound. “This most recent release that we’re with vaccinations and unaware of the looming Delta vari- where. And, wait, was that State Rep. Anna Eskamani in the coming out with was heavily inspired by my job right now,” ant, a large crowd of heads packed their way into Will’s crowd taking video? (In fact it was; just scroll back on her explains Gregory. “It’s supposed to sound like heavy equipment and metal recycling.” Pub to check out the likes of Tinnitus Rex, Alien Witch, official Instagram for proof.) As for Saturday’s show, besides debuting the new lineup Fast-forward a little over three Bongus and Trotsky’s Watercooler. months and TTN will be taking the — “It’s going to be exciting,” says Ryder, “just the two of us But the night belonged to electroTTN stage at Will’s Pub again on Sunday. this time” — they’ll be playing alongside longtime confedergrind group TTN. The mood is now more muted in ates and post-poppers OhTwo, rising young hip-hop star Pared down from a quartet the last with Choppa Girl, OhTwo, Jon Ditty & live-music circles, and masks are Choppa Girl and even their high-school punk band Baby time we’d seen them pre-pandemic Jordan Arena, Baby Adam back. TTN are a different band this Adam, resurrected after a 10-year hiatus. to a trio, TTN had a newfound con8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 12 “The difference between TTN and Baby Adam is that I time, too. Slimmed down to a duo fidence on a much bigger stage than Will’s Pub, 1042 N. Mills Ave. (the two aforementioned Bens), bleed less when I play in Baby Adam because I’m not having previous house show ventures. willspub.org TTN are more focused and intent to stretch my fingers to hit the notes,” points out Gregory This was a deconstruction and $10 than ever on the work above every- helpfully. reconstruction of rock spectacle, “Who was it who said, ‘You’ve got to bleed when you thing else. skittering electronics melded to “There’s a time to sit around and mess around and hang play?’” jokes Ryder. distorted-guitar stomp, complete with matching jackets “Probably me,” deadpans Gregory. out and there’s a time to get work done,” explains Gregory adding an element of Devo to the whole affair. And with that, it’s back to the factory. The heart of the band was easy to spot. Percussionist Ben of the personnel shifts. “At the moment it’s just us two and I Ryder played a drum machine live like it was a typewriter think we’ve got a pretty good system.” music@orlandoweekly.com
For Anna Eskamani-endorsed avant-rockers TTN, evolution is the prime directive
T
orlandoweekly.com
●
SEPT. 8-14, 2021 ● ORLANDO WEEKLY
37
