Comets on Fire

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I had never heard of this band until last week when my friend handed me their CD to listen to; they're playing at his house on Monday. I was pleasantly blown away--psych/noise/ROCK.

Anyone else heard of these fellas? I gather they have another CD out on Alternative Tentacles (wow!) but I haven't heard that one, just the one on BadaBing.

― Ian Johnson (orion), Saturday, 5 July 2003 15:55 (twenty-two years ago)

I was excited to hear this band but when I finally got the badabing record I was kind of disappointed because it really sounded like sludge. Maybe I need to listen to it in a different setting. I do hear that they are monsters live. But don't go into it expecting anything six organs-y; even though ben is in this band, they sound more hawkwind than gothic folk.

― anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Saturday, 5 July 2003 18:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Hey, talk to me about Comets On Fire

― JasonD (JasonD), Saturday, 5 July 2003 19:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Love this band! Great mix of proto-punk muscle (i.e. MC5) and Hawkwind-like effects swirls. Both records are great.

― John Bullabaugh (John Bullabaugh), Sunday, 6 July 2003 01:53 (twenty-two years ago)

hey, they're recording a peel session type thing (joint performance with six organs of admittance) on my radio show wednesday, to be broadcast next saturday at 10 pm here.

"field recordings from the sun" is the bidness, the s/t one is ok but a little too straightforward for my tastes.

― your null fame (yournullfame), Sunday, 6 July 2003 05:03 (twenty-two years ago)

They just played in Detroit the other night. Reminded me of Monster Magnet in a lot of ways (not a bad thing at all). Wolf Eyes was supposed to headline the show, but someone punched or hit or touched the bartender and she stopped the show. That sucked.

― Jeff Sumner (Jeff Sumner), Sunday, 6 July 2003 15:01 (twenty-two years ago)

dude, you should check out the sunburned hand of the man if you havent.

― faggotry (faggotry), Sunday, 6 July 2003 21:39 (twenty-two years ago)

they are playing with Major Stars & Sunburned in Brooklyn (Thursday, after WFMU broadcast), at a full on Polish techno nightclub. I can't imagine how it happened, but it will be a night to remember.

― autovac (autovac), Sunday, 6 July 2003 23:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Both Sunburned Hand Of The Man and Comets on Fire are playing tomorrow night! Hooray for me! And I probably won't evne have to pay!!

― ian Johnson (elmo oxygen), Monday, 7 July 2003 04:14 (twenty-two years ago)

This show ruled; where can I grab more Sunburned Hand stuff? I picked up the tour CD, and it's pretty mind-expanding. I hear good things about Jaybird, but only seen it available as an expensive import LP on eBay; does anyone know if it's still possible to get the self-released CD from the band?

― Ian Johnson (elmo oxygen), Wednesday, 9 July 2003 22:52 (twenty-two years ago)

I've seen these guys play a few months ago (with Kinski and Earth), and they were playing first of the three, but the other two bands pretty much agreed they really should have been the headliners...

My only minor complaint about their live set is that they have basically two songs... "Freakout For A Fuck Of A Lot Of Minutes" and "Slow ambience followed by Freakout For A Fuck Of A Lot Of Minutes"... but even then, it's always a blast to see them on the rare occasion.

I had a huge roll of photos of them live which I posted here one time, but the site I had them on is down. Anyone care for an upload on their host site?

― donut bitch (donut), Thursday, 10 July 2003 00:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Must see this band finally. Must also read Julian Cope's rant about them finally too.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 10 July 2003 00:51 (twenty-two years ago)

I'll host them, db, email me. I caught them at Piano's and thought they were great, though I agree with db to an extent; they're too impatient in a way, they get bored too quickly. Just as something starts developing they whipsaw it into oblivion. Which is also part of their charm, of course. The show sagged in the middle but the beginning and the end were stupendous. I like the main guy's attitude. You can tell he's the main guy because he looks like he took the most acid. He's incredibly laid-back for someone who makes music like that. The other guys have tons of energy. Is it just west-coast bands who really flail with abandon, without looking like they're following an instruction manual in their heads while they do it? Anyway, I got a t-shirt. Anybody who sees them should get one too, they're really cool-looking.

Anyone know what kind of keyboard that one guy plays? It sounds like it's just a groovebox but maybe somebody knows.

email me, db

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Monday, 14 July 2003 14:53 (twenty-two years ago)

yo tracer, i was at that show too. you're otm on all counts.

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 14 July 2003 15:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh no!!!! I got there just as they were playing their first song and I left immediately after nabbing a shirt at the REALLY CROWDED merch table. Those guys are making new fans wherever they play.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Monday, 14 July 2003 15:55 (twenty-two years ago)

tracer, will email you tonight.

― donut bitch (donut), Monday, 14 July 2003 16:19 (twenty-two years ago)

I was at the Piano's show also and pretty much have a "what you said" attitude about it. They were great in five minute intervals, but after a half-hour or so I found my attention wandering and thinking "OK, so what else do you guys do".

― Chris Barrus (Chris Barrus), Monday, 14 July 2003 20:18 (twenty-two years ago)

i saw them last night and almost peed my pants.

― Felcher (Felcher), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 15:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Brian Turner had them on his show yesterday 7/15. You can check out his archives at www.wfmu.org.

― john allen (john allen), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 16:28 (twenty-two years ago)

I am wearing my Comets on Fire shirt RIGHT NOW.

Db/Tracer: was the show you saw with sunburned hand of the man also? they rulllled.

but i'm in canada, so i have to go! ! !

― Ian Johnson, Wednesday, 16 July 2003 20:44 (twenty-two years ago)

five months pass...

Anyone know what kind of keyboard that one guy plays? It sounds like it's just a groovebox but maybe somebody knows.

I'm not sure about all of it, but I think there's an oscillator in there somewhere. I definitely know there's a mixer&effects pedals through which the vocals run; ridiculous.

― Ian Johnson (orion), Wednesday, 24 December 2003 05:20 (twenty-one years ago)

should I go see them on New Year's Eve even though I find the first record unlistenable sludge?

― anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Wednesday, 24 December 2003 05:40 (twenty-one years ago)

I might come with you.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 24 December 2003 06:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes you should go see them. They are amazing live.

And the vocals are run through an oldschool analog delay tape machine deal. and oscillators!

― Ian Johnson (orion), Wednesday, 24 December 2003 06:31 (twenty-one years ago)

four months pass...

that WFMU set is killer.

― stevie (stevie), Monday, 26 April 2004 11:18 (twenty-one years ago)

I read about them on LTPJ, and j0hn made them sound so fucking awesome. Then I downloaded a song by them, and was like, "What the fuck IS this?"

― Serya (Z_Ayres), Monday, 26 April 2004 18:47 (twenty-one years ago)

I HEARD THEY ON SUB POP NOW

― duke seen, Monday, 26 April 2004 18:58 (twenty-one years ago)

two years pass...

the new one, Avatar, rocks hard.

― electro-acoustic lycanthrope (orion), Monday, 15 May 2006 15:33 (nineteen years ago)

Must get this.

― TRG (TRG), Monday, 15 May 2006 15:52 (nineteen years ago)

Avatar is good. I don't hear the punk rock that the press kit claims, but there are some nice stoner grooves on there.

― Uncle Tom (Uncle Tom), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 05:10 (nineteen years ago)

Agreed on the stoner grooves.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 05:23 (nineteen years ago)

Is this on Sub Pop again?

― DJ Mencap (DJ Mencap), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 08:05 (nineteen years ago)

I need to hear this too. Whens it out?

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy (Kerr), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 12:00 (nineteen years ago)

Ethan Miller has a solo thing coming out on Birdman soon, too.

― Tripmaker (SDWitzm), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 12:20 (nineteen years ago)

august 8, says the sub pop site.

― lil' merzbow wow (haitch), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 12:36 (nineteen years ago)

Excellent thanks. Last time I got a promo for like £2 off ebay months before it came out. I guess they've got quite well known since then so not much chnace of a repeat.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy (Kerr), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 12:41 (nineteen years ago)

You know, I'm beginning to think more with time that they were at their best during their earliest efforts. Nothing since Field Recordings has grabbed me in quite the same way.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 13:47 (nineteen years ago)

Yeah, I definitely preferred Field Recordings to the last one, and would be surprised if they could blow me away like that again. Still curious to hear what comes next.

― TRG (TRG), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 13:54 (nineteen years ago)

I really liked Blue Cathedral a lot.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy (Kerr), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 14:10 (nineteen years ago)

this just in: comets on fire is coolio!

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 14:11 (nineteen years ago)

I wish i could hear this album NOW.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy (Kerr), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 15:30 (nineteen years ago)

I also think Blue Cathedral is great, better than Field Recordings. I want to hear the new one now.

― Tripmaker (SDWitzm), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 15:34 (nineteen years ago)

I think Field Recordings is their least interesting record.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 15:46 (nineteen years ago)

blue cathedral is my favorite, can't wait for the new one. and for the dude upthread commenting about them having "two songs", they would agree. when i saw them live, they played for about 30 minutes and then asked "so, would you guys like some more psychedelic guitar jams or would you like some trippy organ jams". we voted "organ jams" and then they promised to end w/ a couple of guitar jams, which they did. awesome show.

― 6335, Tuesday, 16 May 2006 16:35 (nineteen years ago)

SEE THEM LIVE. EPIC.

― ddb (ddb), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 16:43 (nineteen years ago)

two weeks pass...

wow the label blurb wasn't lying about the singing. i can actually make out lyrics. crazy.

this is great.

― pinder (pinder), Thursday, 1 June 2006 23:23 (nineteen years ago)

While it's a different sort of thing, I prefer Growing's live sets to Comets on Fire's live sets. But maybe that's just because I've seen growing more often.

― trees (treesessplode), Thursday, 1 June 2006 23:49 (nineteen years ago)

Is Avatar the best album of the decade thus far, or is it just giving me exactly what I want to hear right now?

They've really developed into an entirely different beast. Tempering all that lunacy and fitting it into songs! I'm gobsmacked.

― Brooker Buckingham (Brooker B), Friday, 2 June 2006 01:56 (nineteen years ago)

I don't hear the punk rock that the press kit claims

I think "Holy Teeth" is the punk one. It's the shortest song on the album and the beginning almost sounds like 80-85 Bad Religion.

― pinder (pinder), Friday, 2 June 2006 16:07 (nineteen years ago)

they have nice t-shirts.

― DV (dirtyvicar), Saturday, 3 June 2006 17:12 (nineteen years ago)

Skipping 12 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

cheshycat OTM about Howlin' Rain. I want something very specific from a Comets on Fire album. I can appreciate what they are doing, and I'm sure it makes them a better band, but Avatar is a let down. Especially after Blue Cathedral

― Dan Floss (Dan Floss), Thursday, 14 September 2006 02:09 (nineteen years ago)

This one sounds way better though. I always thought it was weird that Blue Catherdral sounded worse than the self release.

― Bunyip (Bunyip), Thursday, 14 September 2006 02:20 (nineteen years ago)

I dunno, I like Avatar a lot more than Blue Cathedral. Paying attention to songwriting is a good thing for most bands. I saw them live last week, and while the freakout portions were great I was most impressed by the more structured parts, where it actually mattered that each musician was on the same page.

― Sean Braud1s (Sean Braudis), Thursday, 14 September 2006 17:39 (nineteen years ago)

I actually think I like this a lot more because of hearing Howlin' Rain first; nice to hear them integrate some of those ideas into their usual style.

― bernard snow (sixteen sergeants), Thursday, 14 September 2006 17:45 (nineteen years ago)

i'm liking it more now.

― M@tt He1geson: Real Name, No Gimmicks (Matt Helgeson), Thursday, 14 September 2006 17:47 (nineteen years ago)

I dunno, either. I really like the Howlin' Rain album because it is not Comets on Fire, and not subject to the same expectations. I really like the Colossal Yes album for the same reason. Maybe Avatar will grow on me more, once I digest it in the same way that I have Blue Cathedral. After the S/T album and Field Recordings, Avatar just strays a bit far from what, to me, is the knitty-gritty of the appeal of Comets. Avatar is undoubtedly a smart move for them, and it shows growth and progression and attention to songwriting, etc., but it just doesn't do it for me. Having said that, I am planning on returning to Avatar many, many times.

x-post

― Dan Floss (Dan Floss), Friday, 15 September 2006 03:43 (nineteen years ago)

two years pass...

"Soup Smoke" is the jam. Could work in a beardo/balearic set, too.

― Daniel_Rf, Wednesday, 1 July 2009 13:49 (sixteen years ago)

(without bothering to Google anything) = Have they put anything out since Avatar? Where have they been?

― Metro Video Centers, Wednesday, 1 July 2009 14:03 (sixteen years ago)

Comets is pretty much dunzo....Ben Chasny (Six Organs of Admittance) said early last year that he was no longer in the band and Ethan was/is focusing all his energies on Howlin' Rain; whatever label HR is on really wants them to be a crossover act...

― Malcolm Money, Wednesday, 1 July 2009 14:24 (sixteen years ago)

:'(

― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Wednesday, 1 July 2009 14:36 (sixteen years ago)

that's shitty news. they were really great.

― borntohula, Wednesday, 1 July 2009 15:13 (sixteen years ago)

Ethan was/is focusing all his energies on Howlin' Rain

oh god, what's the bigger tragedy, CoF being done or this?

― next stop: NOWHERE, i wanna get off (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Wednesday, 1 July 2009 15:16 (sixteen years ago)

Shoulda gone to see them at that Sub Pop anniversary, I was already in Seattle. S'alright, I guess, saw them play three awesome shows. Colossal Yes is cool and all, but I'm gonna miss Utrillo playing rock drums, he's awesome.

― Trip Maker, Wednesday, 1 July 2009 15:25 (sixteen years ago)

Ethan was/is focusing all his energies on Howlin' Rain
oh god, what's the bigger tragedy, CoF being done or this?

Dunno. I haven't heard much yet, but the limited EP on Three Lobed isn't half bad...

― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Wednesday, 1 July 2009 16:08 (sixteen years ago)

D U N Z O

― Jesus X, the Arthropod Barrista (res), Wednesday, 1 July 2009 16:11 (sixteen years ago)

one month passes...

rawk fukken music man

― yes! no rabies! (Lamp), Monday, 3 August 2009 00:06 (sixteen years ago)

u can tell a song will rock esp hard if it has "whiskey" in the title

― yes! no rabies! (Lamp), Monday, 3 August 2009 00:07 (sixteen years ago)

^ like whiskey still/whiskey man by rusty wier

― wilter, Monday, 3 August 2009 00:09 (sixteen years ago)

Anyone a fan of that first Howlin Rain album, released a couple years ago on Birdman? I picked it up for $3 the other week, haven't listened to it yet...

― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Monday, 3 August 2009 02:08 (sixteen years ago)

five months pass...

"beneath the iceage" sounds so fucking sweet in january

― kamerad, Friday, 8 January 2010 19:50 (fifteen years ago)

and hells yeah about howlin' rain, both albums. they ride a wicked allmans wire, a less heavy baroness, but still mighty fine music

― kamerad, Friday, 8 January 2010 19:51 (fifteen years ago)

ach, I had a brief flash of hope that this would be about a new album, finally. But I appreciate the sentiments anyway.

― FC Tom Tomsk Club (Merdeyeux), Friday, 8 January 2010 20:00 (fifteen years ago)

avatar tie-in revival!

― Ward Fowler, Friday, 8 January 2010 20:21 (fifteen years ago)

"sour smoke" groove of 2006. arik m. roper artist of the decade

― kamerad, Friday, 8 January 2010 20:24 (fifteen years ago)

one of the best things about the 00s imo

― i am not down with ppl farting on salami (stevie), Friday, 8 January 2010 20:25 (fifteen years ago)

"sour smoke" groove of 2006.

OTM. What happened to this band? Their website's news section hasn't been updated since mid-2008.

― Daniel, Esq., Friday, 8 January 2010 20:30 (fifteen years ago)

― Malcolm Money, Wednesday, July 1, 2009 10:24 AM (6 months ago) Bookmark

― call all destroyer, Friday, 8 January 2010 20:32 (fifteen years ago)

Bummer.

― Daniel, Esq., Friday, 8 January 2010 20:32 (fifteen years ago)

i think the others are focusing on parenting, day jobs.

― i am not down with ppl farting on salami (stevie), Friday, 8 January 2010 20:54 (fifteen years ago)

sellouts

― Early Tuesday morning, a distraught Tequila tweeted (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Friday, 8 January 2010 20:58 (fifteen years ago)

i waaaay underrated "avatar" on this thread. : (

ended up really loving it.

― jealous ones sb (M@tt He1ges0n), Friday, 8 January 2010 21:00 (fifteen years ago)

three years pass...

Back.

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 10 June 2013 14:41 (twelve years ago)

cool news!

― tylerw, Monday, 10 June 2013 15:48 (twelve years ago)

Good to hear, I still regularly put on Blue Cathedral

― Evan, Monday, 10 June 2013 16:03 (twelve years ago)

heyo!

― Bathory Tub Blues (Shakey Mo Collier), Monday, 10 June 2013 16:29 (twelve years ago)

one month passes...

http://silvercurrentrecords.com - enjoying the stuff over here. lotsa rare/live comets, some six organs related stuff, earthless, etc.

― tylerw, Wednesday, 7 August 2013 16:21 (twelve years ago)

four months pass...

well they've still got it
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PH2OVuVkjCw

― tylerw, Monday, 9 December 2013 20:14 (eleven years ago)

vt has some interesting looking cdrs from ethan miller:

http://volcanictongue.com/labels/show/2164

― Ward Fowler, Monday, 9 December 2013 20:37 (eleven years ago)

yeahhhh, check out that link above for silver current records, tons of that kind of thing.

― tylerw, Monday, 9 December 2013 20:42 (eleven years ago)

I was gonna but two or three of em from VT last night before I noticed they were all on the Silver Current bandcamp. don't especially care for VT so I don't feel too bad about it, also if I change my mind it's £10.99 per CDR vs $9.99 + US to UK postage, prolly works out about the same

― screaming lord, such opinion (DJ Mencap), Monday, 9 December 2013 22:07 (eleven years ago)

but = buy

― screaming lord, such opinion (DJ Mencap), Monday, 9 December 2013 22:07 (eleven years ago)

they were astonishing at ATP, highlight of the festival and better than I've ever seen them before.

― the "Weird Al" Yankovic of country music (stevie), Tuesday, 10 December 2013 07:41 (eleven years ago)

^otm^

― Badmotorfinger Debate Club (MFB), Wednesday, 11 December 2013 05:34 (eleven years ago)

damn cuz they were fucking astonishing circa field recordings, some of the best shows of the era iirc

― CANONICAL artists, etc., etc. (contenderizer), Wednesday, 11 December 2013 17:07 (eleven years ago)

yeah someone sent me a recording of the ATP set and it is god like

― tylerw, Wednesday, 11 December 2013 18:50 (eleven years ago)

Well shit, I hope I get to hear that at some point.

― grandavis, Wednesday, 11 December 2013 19:07 (eleven years ago)

same here. was tempted to tape the show with my dictaphone, but was smooshed up against the speaker at the front (and deafened for much of the next week) so it would probably have sounded like garbage.

― the "Weird Al" Yankovic of country music (stevie), Thursday, 12 December 2013 10:12 (eleven years ago)

I was telling my brother last night, they basically played the Comets all-killer/no-filler playlist on my ipod: all the rockin' noisy riffouts and a blissed out blue tomb.

― the "Weird Al" Yankovic of country music (stevie), Thursday, 12 December 2013 10:14 (eleven years ago)

sorry, the dude asked me specifically not to share the show around, but I imagine recordings will surface....

― tylerw, Thursday, 12 December 2013 17:00 (eleven years ago)

Seems that they have established a way to get live stuff out. Glad to wait, and glad to hear that they are ripping it up.

― grandavis, Thursday, 12 December 2013 17:10 (eleven years ago)

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