Hollywood Voltairing
So, my ears are ringing. I forgot to bring my ear plugs and the bands were a bit louder than we usually have in Austin. I could actually feel the air move across the hair on my arm when the drums hit.
The first band, Demonica and the Darklings, were OK. I liked their vocalist, bass player and drummer and I really liked that they had a belly dancer in the background as part of the act. But they had a violinist in the role of the lead guitar, which isn't fundamentally a bad thing, but for some reason she was only playing very simple phrases. I'm not sure if she was a beginner (from some of the (mild) tuning issues I wouldn't be surprised), or if they simply decided to give her a simple role. But it rubbed me the long way - there were many places that screamed "insert guitar/violin solo here" and I got whole notes.
Igor Spector was pretty neat, but the sound guy had them way too loud for me. Musically, they tend to sound a lot like the B52s - a very intense strumming guitar, driving drums, and fun lyrics. I eventually had to move out of the line of fire and then it became almost impossible to understand what the singer was saying. I wouldn't mind listening to them again in a quieter context or with earplugs.
Voltaire was fun (as usual). He ended up playing a fairly short set - I suspect it was only about 8-10 songs. I'm not sure if it was because it was a week night or if something else happened. There were about two songs that I didn't recognize and the ordering of the set was a bit "funny" (for instance, he did an instrumental for the second song).
Observations of the Hollywood audience vs. the Austin/Elysium audience:
1. The crowds were about the same size - about 120-150 people. Voltaire mentioned that they actually had to move to the larger hall at The Knitting Factory due to the number of people.
2. There's more (and better) dancers in Austin.
3. Austin audiences tend to sing more in key.
4. About the same percent of people seemed to know Voltaire's songs and music.
5. There were many more obvious couples in the Hollywood audience. In some cases it was _very_ obvious (XPDA).
6. This was definitely a goth audience, same as Austin. Austin tends a little more towards the Victorian/velvet than Hollywood. Also, Austin seemed to have more burgundy and reds where Hollywood was almost all black and white.
Oh, and Kris and my Mom decided that they would drop me off and then figure out something to do while I was at the concert. Evidently, they first went to Pink's (waited an hour to get a hot dogs which they ate in 5 minutes), then they went back to Hollywood Blvd and wandered around looking at the footprints and stars. Then they decided to get some dessert and the only restaurant open was Hooters, which is where I found them when I got out of the concert at midnight. They evidently just got through singing and demonstrating YMCA to the staff there.
I'm almost sorry I missed it. Almost.
It were a fun evening.
The first band, Demonica and the Darklings, were OK. I liked their vocalist, bass player and drummer and I really liked that they had a belly dancer in the background as part of the act. But they had a violinist in the role of the lead guitar, which isn't fundamentally a bad thing, but for some reason she was only playing very simple phrases. I'm not sure if she was a beginner (from some of the (mild) tuning issues I wouldn't be surprised), or if they simply decided to give her a simple role. But it rubbed me the long way - there were many places that screamed "insert guitar/violin solo here" and I got whole notes.
Igor Spector was pretty neat, but the sound guy had them way too loud for me. Musically, they tend to sound a lot like the B52s - a very intense strumming guitar, driving drums, and fun lyrics. I eventually had to move out of the line of fire and then it became almost impossible to understand what the singer was saying. I wouldn't mind listening to them again in a quieter context or with earplugs.
Voltaire was fun (as usual). He ended up playing a fairly short set - I suspect it was only about 8-10 songs. I'm not sure if it was because it was a week night or if something else happened. There were about two songs that I didn't recognize and the ordering of the set was a bit "funny" (for instance, he did an instrumental for the second song).
Observations of the Hollywood audience vs. the Austin/Elysium audience:
1. The crowds were about the same size - about 120-150 people. Voltaire mentioned that they actually had to move to the larger hall at The Knitting Factory due to the number of people.
2. There's more (and better) dancers in Austin.
3. Austin audiences tend to sing more in key.
4. About the same percent of people seemed to know Voltaire's songs and music.
5. There were many more obvious couples in the Hollywood audience. In some cases it was _very_ obvious (XPDA).
6. This was definitely a goth audience, same as Austin. Austin tends a little more towards the Victorian/velvet than Hollywood. Also, Austin seemed to have more burgundy and reds where Hollywood was almost all black and white.
Oh, and Kris and my Mom decided that they would drop me off and then figure out something to do while I was at the concert. Evidently, they first went to Pink's (waited an hour to get a hot dogs which they ate in 5 minutes), then they went back to Hollywood Blvd and wandered around looking at the footprints and stars. Then they decided to get some dessert and the only restaurant open was Hooters, which is where I found them when I got out of the concert at midnight. They evidently just got through singing and demonstrating YMCA to the staff there.
I'm almost sorry I missed it. Almost.
It were a fun evening.