Photo by Julien Kelly-Gross
Hailing from Boston, dance-noise subversives Model/Actriz are ready to disrupt and amuse you. The trio draws from a variety of styles fusing charged guitars, texturized vocals and purposefully and intense drumming. Cole Haden, lead singer, projects certain grittiness and confidence in his singing — creating a conversation within the group that we are just lucky to witness, and listen. Attached to their dynamic and over-driven arrangements are a sequence of volatile encounters and energetic void that’s nothing but an open door to your inner mind. They’ll be joining us live this Thursday, August 8th for our zine release party, but you can start getting acquainted now with a few of their favorite things.
JACK
1. Talkin’ like a cowboy
When you’re having a hard time speaking what you truly feel, my friends and I find that speaking like a cowboy helps open yourself up and speak with a little more emotional vulnerability. Plus the southern drawl sounds nice. Like butter sliding across a hot pan.
2. Peas the Cat
Peas the cat recently moved from Brooklyn to a small 1bd cottage in upstate NY where he’s taken to climbing trees, chasing birds, and killin’ rats. Big love to Peas and I hope he finds the life he’d like to live as a true wildcat.
3. Caving
If we’ve talked in the past two years I’ve probably already run your ear off about caves. They contain an ancient feeling of timelessness that’s truly astounding. Can’t really find that elsewhere.
COLE
1. Glitter Tube by Creatology in Caramel
Bought glitter once for a Die Antwoord concert in high school and have worn it almost every day since then. My color preferences and style have gone through many iterations, but about 2 years ago I started wearing primarily this color. I’m about to finish the first tube of it and I just restocked for the next 10 years.
2. Playing with the cat who lives downstairs through the screen on my porch
Such a tease. We can only give each other high fives – the closest we can get is when her claw penetrates through the screen and pricks my finger a little bit. If I put my hand at the top of the window she’ll climb up the screen and just hang there and look around. That’s the best.
There hasn’t been a time so far that I’ve read this poem without getting choked up. For what is essentially an ineffable subject I am in awe of the preciseness and brevity of her words.
4. “Hyperballad” – Bjork (Live in Paris Volta Tour)
My love of Bjork is unconditional, but I know for a fact that this one pops off. I love hearing the “woos” when everyone recognizes the bass line. I think this is one of my favorite vocal performances of hers, and I love seeing her smile when she listens to the audience sing it back. The song is triumphant in its original form, but here she drops a major curveball at the end.
RUBEN
1. Sitting on a covered porch during a summer storm.
It’s just really good. A feeling of stillness in the middle of elemental rage. The world seems to stop in the middle of a storm, and for me it is a rare moment where I am able to slow down.
2. Learning somebody else’s music.
I just started trying to learn all the exact drum parts to My Chemical Romance’s The Black Parade. On top of the parts being a fun challenge as a player, there is something special and unique about following so closely in somebody else’s creative footsteps. It is such a weirdly intimate way to know somebody and a truly bizarre way to absorb music.
3. Herb gardens.
No disrespect to flowers, but my heart is with the herbs. I love walking through an herb garden and reading soil tags while smelling the pungent and functional plants. Sturdier and earthier than their floral counterparts, herbs are the gristle and ligament of the garden.
Catch Model/Actriz this Thursday at The Broadway — tix here
