Watch: Weed “Actual Air”

22 Apr 2014 — Johanne Swanson

On the click of the track the film begins to flicker, and with two guitars and some warped 16mm Vancouver’s Weed and video artist Chris Ando give us a break from the rest of the noise. The only discernable words on "Actual Air", an exclusive from the tour-only tape Sing Nervous II, are the closing low voice of a friend: "That sounded really good." It’s an appropriate affirmation for such a meditative track with the repetitive imagery mirroring the melody. The instrumental song wallows in this melody, bending on the solo’s hook. It’s a glimpse into the earliest stages of Weed's songs, which are usually noted for their sludgy complexity – see their first full-length Deserve, out last fall on Couple Skate Records. Ando’s undersaturated lens zooms in and out on a grainy figure jump-roping in slow motion and cuts to some forgotten waving caution tape hanging off a phone pole. It all feels like a gift made for your your eyes and ears only, furthered by the fact that the song is the only one we’ll be hearing off Sing Nervous II.

The physical tape along with the rest of the old demos and rarities on it is solely available in basements and art spaces across North America on Weed’s “as always all ages” spring tour. The remaining dates are below.

4/22 Boston MA - Warehouse Show
4/23 Providence RI - Psychic Readings w/ Cool World + Mother Tongue + Fat Creeps
4/24 Syracuse NY - Enron Jr
4/25 Pittsburgh PA - The Shop
4/26 Detroit MI - Black Lodge
4/27 Ann Arbor MI - Totally Awesome Fest
4/28 Chicago IL - Animal Kingdom w/ The Funs + The Hecks + Earring
4/29 Milwaukee WI - Ground Zero w/ Technicolor Teeth
4/30 Eau Claire WI - Basement Show
5/01 Minneapolis MN - House Show w/ We/Ours
5/02 Fargo ND - New Direction