Gira: "Akron/Family are the best band I ever had worked with, and that includes Swans."

It's them and no one else backing Gira on his latest album, The Angels of Light Sing 'Other People'. Improbable as it is, some of Akron's sunshine rubbed off on the notorious misanthrope Gira: "Other People" is the jangliest, prettiest, most accessible record of his career. In an interview with me, Mr. Gira said without the slightest hesitation: "Akron/Family are the best band I ever had worked with, and that includes Swans."

The guys themselves are a little shocked to find that they have retroactiely rewritten a huge swath of New York rock history without even trying; but, as with everything else, they take it in stride. Backstage before the recent sold-out show at North Six (as both Akron/Family and Angels of Light), the band ruminated happily about their unique situation: they are, fater all, the first group ever to release and promote its own album while serving as a backing band to a more famous act, also with a current album. The closest comparison, they point out, would be the Band -- but Rick Danko and Co. didn't get serious about their own music until after working with Dylan.

The Deli