John Hancock seems to have always been the slightly more out-there member of local favorites Awesome New Republic, continually releasing his own, more experimental material during the band's down time. The latest addition to his solo oeuvre is a new vinyl-only album, Antenna Death, out now on 10K Islands/St. Ives Records. (10K Islands is the latest incarnation of Honor Roll Music.)
A couple of the tracks have been kicking around since last year, like "Wet Added," whose video you can check out here. The latest to get an official video, though, is "Not Scared At All," with this clip directed by Jorge Rubieria, in which Mr. Hancock appears to wander from Little Haiti into the mangroves of Biscayne Bay.
Both the video and the song itself have a gently psychedelic, back-to-nature-thing going on. And if the most obvious point of comparison for Awesome New Republic is something like Prince, probably the most obvious point of comparison for this Hancock solo track is Animal Collective. This, and the rest of Antenna Death, boasts lots of creepy synth with bubbling, vaguely World Beat-style percussion that's a more cerebral departure from ANR's usual dancefloor fare.
However, none of the material will sound anything like that on Friday, when Hancock plays a "solo" show with the help of 11 of his friends in a jumbo-size backing band. The gig at the Vagabond marks the official CD release party for Antenna Death, as well as the major birthday celebration for Lolo Reskin of Sweat.
John Hancock. Doors open 10 p.m. Friday, June 11. The Vagabond, 30 NE 14th St., Miami. Admission is free before 11 p.m., $5 after. Age 21 and up. 305-379-0508; thevagabondmiami.com
