Maserati played a stunning set with Sleepy Eyes of Death and Mono just a few weeks ago. I vividly remember my friend and I discussing the compelling drummer at length. He was utterly amazing. We were lucky we were there.

Unfortunately, drummer Jerry Fuchs fell down a broken elevator shaft Saturday night (11/7-09) in Brooklyn. He died early Sunday morning at the age of 34.

Fuchs also drummed for !!!, Juan MacLean, Turing Machine and Vineland.

Chunklet (Fuchs was a contributor) has posted a lovely, sad obituary. The Village Voice's Christopher R. Weingarten summed it up succinctly when he wrote this morning, "Jerry Fuchs was that totally fucking amazing monster drummer you saw play in at least one show in the last 10 years--it could have been with Maserati, Turing Machine, !!!, or the Juan MacLean, as he completely decimated his hapless kit and mesmerized everyone no matter what band he was in."

at Neumo's

I've been talking with my friends lately about how difficult it's becoming to conjure up new and exciting ways to describe noise rock bands. You can only use the term "wall of sound" or "epic guitar swell" so many times before it begins to sound repetitive. As much as I sincerely worship post-rock giants such as Mogwai, Mono, Explosions in the Sky and local greats Kinski and Bronze Fawn, what can I possibly say anymore that is new? Considering this, there I found myself again at yet another noise rock show with a notebook in my hand and a boatload of anxiety in my chest. Three bands with no lyrics and nothing but walls of sound and epic guitar swells to describe. Eeek!

Sleepy Eyes of Death started out the night surrounded by fog and lights, rocking the large-ish crowd early in the night with sounds reminiscent of some 80's futuristic movie soundtrack. My friend actually leaned over and whispered "This sounds like it should be in Blade Runner." Sleepy Eyes of Death are madmen onstage and kept pace by alternating a nice mix of electronic and post rock. Through their short set, they made good use of reverberated snare, crazy sampling, and embryonic drumbeats.

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I really really really need to clear off a bunch of albums off my desk, and considering I don't work for Maxim and can't just make up my reviews, I've sat down, poured myself some nice, strong (Dunkin' Donuts) coffee and decided to get down to business.

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