I saw the books last month in SF…No one I know (apart from you) would even give them the time of day, so I went alone and was similarly impressed. I think the non-rockstar attitude is tremendously important for any band, especially in todays music industry where people are looking for a personal connection. I’ve still met only one other band who mingle so comfortably with punters – SF’s John Vanderslice.

Another great “found sound” band, but more in an organic pots-and-pans way, is Califone. I saw them at Bottom of the Hill the week after the Books and the different approaches were striking…Califone look like any other band, ‘ecpt one guy sits at the back in front of a table covered in junk, and sometimes plays a floor-tom and cymbal. It sounds gimmicky, but it’s a carefully crafted orchestra.