Energy Runs High @ Slim's
This semester's concerts are certainly becoming some of the greatest shows I've seen in a long time. Tonight's was no exception. I just got back from Slim's where Architecture in Helsinki drove the place crazy, but I'll get to that in a few paragraphs. First, the opening bands...
The first band of the night was Still Flyin'. Not surprisingly, I hadn't heard of them, but they were quite possibly the most energetic opener I've ever seen. They had no less than 19 people on stage at one point (I believe a few were guests, but at least 16 composed the actual band). With their own horn section, one member whose sole function was to dance around the stage and generally spaz out, and a plethora of entertaining adolescent anecdotes to lead into what each song was written about, these guys were amazing. $5 later, I held a copy of their only album, amusingly put out on CD-R in the cheapest packaging I've ever seen. Free pin too. Later in the show (between the second opener and AiH), I saw the 'dancing guy' walking around, so I went over and told him they played a great set. I also informed him his part was integral to the brilliance of the show. He was genuinely surprised that I stopped to compliment him, and was even more astonished that I asked him to sign the CD. He did, and in return asked if I wanted any of his rum and coke. I declined, but all in all he was a good chap.
The second band, Dr. Dog, I had heard about randomly, but they're definitely still an obscurity for the most part. The lead singer, who could pass for a less-weathered Tom Petty, looked as if he believed he was in 1972. His long teased blond hair and obnoxious sunglasses worn indoors only furthered this point. For all intents and purposes, he might of well have been, for their music was definitely a throw-back to some great 70's rock, with the sound of good, clean rock 'n roll fun. Similar to Blue Oyster Cult at times and Neil Young at others, the Philadelphia natives certainly made up for the number of people on stage with an increase of raw rock power.
Architecture in Helsinki. These nine aussies put on one hell of a show. I bought a t-shirt from the booth headed by one of the band members, which is always fun to see. They put the entire venue in a trance for almost two hours, even inviting the 'dancing guy' from Still Flyin' up on stage to dance for them for a while. Their songs were well played, a few covers were done, energy ran high. They ended their set with an encore during which they had every member of all three bands come on stage, all wearing fake bushy moustaches. The reason was realized when they soon went into a slightly drunk rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody, 35 people and all. I commented to Marina that this was quite possibly the best end of a show I have ever seen, but it didn't end there. They had the other two bands leave the stage, played one more song of theirs, and led into one last song of theirs, bringing everyone back once more to complete it. Terrific show.
Long post. Need sleep. Good night Berkeley.
The first band of the night was Still Flyin'. Not surprisingly, I hadn't heard of them, but they were quite possibly the most energetic opener I've ever seen. They had no less than 19 people on stage at one point (I believe a few were guests, but at least 16 composed the actual band). With their own horn section, one member whose sole function was to dance around the stage and generally spaz out, and a plethora of entertaining adolescent anecdotes to lead into what each song was written about, these guys were amazing. $5 later, I held a copy of their only album, amusingly put out on CD-R in the cheapest packaging I've ever seen. Free pin too. Later in the show (between the second opener and AiH), I saw the 'dancing guy' walking around, so I went over and told him they played a great set. I also informed him his part was integral to the brilliance of the show. He was genuinely surprised that I stopped to compliment him, and was even more astonished that I asked him to sign the CD. He did, and in return asked if I wanted any of his rum and coke. I declined, but all in all he was a good chap.
The second band, Dr. Dog, I had heard about randomly, but they're definitely still an obscurity for the most part. The lead singer, who could pass for a less-weathered Tom Petty, looked as if he believed he was in 1972. His long teased blond hair and obnoxious sunglasses worn indoors only furthered this point. For all intents and purposes, he might of well have been, for their music was definitely a throw-back to some great 70's rock, with the sound of good, clean rock 'n roll fun. Similar to Blue Oyster Cult at times and Neil Young at others, the Philadelphia natives certainly made up for the number of people on stage with an increase of raw rock power.
Architecture in Helsinki. These nine aussies put on one hell of a show. I bought a t-shirt from the booth headed by one of the band members, which is always fun to see. They put the entire venue in a trance for almost two hours, even inviting the 'dancing guy' from Still Flyin' up on stage to dance for them for a while. Their songs were well played, a few covers were done, energy ran high. They ended their set with an encore during which they had every member of all three bands come on stage, all wearing fake bushy moustaches. The reason was realized when they soon went into a slightly drunk rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody, 35 people and all. I commented to Marina that this was quite possibly the best end of a show I have ever seen, but it didn't end there. They had the other two bands leave the stage, played one more song of theirs, and led into one last song of theirs, bringing everyone back once more to complete it. Terrific show.
Long post. Need sleep. Good night Berkeley.