Just saw a double-dose of the Plastic People of the Universe at Joe's Pub - most excellent. Sax and clarinet player Vratislav Brabenec is one of the most captivating performers, bopping around to the dark, swirly motives of the band with his own jagged and wonderful sense of melody. Sadly, I never got to see them with Milan Hlavsa, but tonight their new bass player, named Ana?!?, kept the groove well and added sultry vocals to many of their best tracks, changing their brooding a tiny bit. If you're interested, a documentary about the band is been screened at the NY Czech Center on Tuesday, May 24. Will be there, no doubt.