Pitchfork

All photos by Jen Ray

NovemberFest at the (Art) Garage was something Columbia, South Carolina-- a city resigned to being passed over by touring bands-- very much needed. Indeed, having the Slits, the Mountain Goats, Jennifer O'Connor, Richard Buckner, the Apes, Venice Is Sinking, Two Dollar Guitar, and others play in the same week at the same venue was almost too much for our overlooked town. But if anything, the DIY vibe that swept through the festive week gave us a sense of spirit and, hopefully, identity.

The Slits / The Apes [11/07/06]




The Apes rampaged the room, while the Slits-- who said it was their best show in seven years-- nearly emptied it.

The Mountain Goats / Jennifer O'Connor [11/08/06]




The Mountain Goats, cloaked by John Darnielle's sincere and evocative sentiments, made it OK to feel...anything.

Richard Buckner [11/09/06]


Richard Buckner, who used loops to fill spaces between songs, became a one-man theater production.

Venice Is Sinking [11/11/06]


Venice Is Sinking's summer sonnets were squeezed by blanket-to-your-nose parlance, and an impressive collage of lush sounds.

Two Dollar Guitar [11/12/06]


The swampy and jangly exuberance of Two Dollar Guitar, featuring Sonic Youth drummer Steve Shelley, was enhanced by friend Shelby Bryant, who drove from Greenville, SC, to tweak synthesized noises.

The only thing that would've made NovemberFest better? If Columbia area native Ben Bridwell, of Band of Horses, had played. We've accepted, though, that you can't have everything in Columbia.