The New Haven Advocate November 17, 2002 by Kathleen Cei And Your Bird Can ... Swim? What do "birds, vampires, cowboys, turtle kings, talking amplifiers, pet pigs and plain old heartbreak" have in common? They're all subjects of Jargon Society songs, according to Lys Guillorn, whose old Danbury-based band is reuniting at Brass City Records on Nov. 9, minus a cellist "who's far away at grad school. Right now it's just two guitars and drums, three voices. It's darkly poetic rock with dueling lead guitars a la Television, so a fan once said." Since JS's breakup last November, Guillorn's been working on a solo record, which she plans to "self-release within the next few months." The solo record's guest list is impressive: "Dean Wareham (Luna/Galaxie 500), Robert Quine (Voidoids/Tom Waits/Lou Reed), Glen Mercer (Feelies), Brenda Sauter (Feelies) and Stanley Demeski (Feelies/Luna). And me, of course, playing mostly everything and singing lead and backing vocals." The Brass City Records gig starts early (6 p.m.), with five other acts on the bill. Guillorn elaborates: "The Damien Pratt, who set up this show, is an original pop genius ... from Brooklyn, N.Y. He's like a one-man Cheap Trick. (He's so rock & roll, he's got a 'The' in front of his name.) Ham Steak is a whimsical giant blond-afro-ed guy from Brooklyn, Conn., who has been doing the DIY thing for years ... just released a new one his year, called I Think Therefore I Ham. ... The Sawtelles (Southington, Conn.) ... play what they call 'nerve rock,' which is poppy and moody." Also on the bill are Ken Cormier from "Bristol, ... a solo poet-songwriter who uses a boombox rhythm backing track, and plays along with his guitar and talks/sings rhythmically," and New York City's Una Pong. Guillorn's new duo, the River Birds, will land on Wallingford's Planet Bean on Nov. 8, with Farewood and The Sawtelles. She and Bird buddy "Adam G. from Hatestick, who's been doing home-recording stuff for ages ... had our first show together at the Buttonwood Tree in September opening for Ham Steak, and it felt great, so we want to keep going. We'll bring in a drummer to do some electric shows, but right now it's just us acoustically (though I do use effects and whatnot when I play lead)." Both Birds are songwriters: "It's sort of 'low country.' ... with sparse guitar arrangements." ...