Listed
Listening to: The Rest (Everything All At Once)
To recap for those in the back, I’m doing a series of posts on the latest three music-related nights in the past month or so. First was the Breeders show with the geriatric moshers. Then Of Montreal and Janelle Monae blew my brain into little bits. Now the final incredible music night –the On Another Note label launch showcase at Cameo in Brooklyn.
Five bands played their hearts out for an intimate crowd of maybe 100 at most (half of whom were members of the other bands). I got to stand mere feet from the stage and inches from soon-to-be-wildly-famous musicians. I would bet money on most if not all of these bands making it big, they are that talented.
Before I wax poetic on the bands, I’ll set the stage for how awesome a night it was destined to be. I was all excited not just about seeing the bands but by the fact that I had been put on The List for the show. I didn’t even really care about not having to pay, and the show wasn’t sold out – I only knew what a sweet, secret little thrill it would be to be able to say “I’m on the list.”
So I walk up to the money-taker-guy, and it all goes to plan. He asks if I’m there to see the show, I say yes, he says that’ll be $10 and I say, “I should be on the list” trying to act all cool, like “oh, yea here I am on another list. Happens all the time. La ti da.” He asks my name and then checks his paper, front and back, and says, “You’re not on here.”
Things were about one quarter of a second from getting awkward and potentially violent, when the person whose list I was supposed to be on walks by. Let me preface this by saying I’ve never actually seen this guy’s face clearly. He is in a near constant state of high-powered accomplishment, and appears as a blur to the untrained eye. So he doesn’t walk as much as blur towards me while juggling flaming chain saws, eating a meatball sub, cementing a recording deal on his cell and riding a unicycle. Only a slight exaggeration.
Anyway, he sees me, says “Oh yea!,” grabs the guy’s pen and scribbles my name on the paper. Which technically speaking, put me On The List.
Not as satisfying, but still pretty cool.
Regardless, it was all fabulous. First band up: Swimming in Speakers. All very talented (and funny), and lead singer Meadow has the most gorgeous, distinctive voice. They didn’t do my favorite song (In Knowing), but what they did do was really, really fantastic so they are forgiven. During one song various instruments being played, besides Meadow’s voice, were a cello, violin, mouth harp, guitar, drums and I think a Didgeridoo. Crazy, and very good.
As an aside (what? An aside? On this blog? Yea, whatever) my daughter does the most adorable and hilarious “robot” to In Knowing. I’ve been trying to get it on video for months but she refuses to perform on command. I offered every form of bribe, but not even lollipops for dinner worked. She won’t give me anything if I want it too much. So proud [sniffle].
Second band, Meeting of Important People. Excellent live band, great stage antics, great sound. Need to hear more by them for sure. They brought a few Super Fans with them who were as entertaining to watch as the band was at times.
Third up, Very Loud Band. Kidding. Band is called The Hush Now. Music was not really my cup of (loud) tea, but the band was having a great (ear-splitting) time on stage, seemed to be pleasing the majority of the (deafened) crowd, and from what I can tell are lovely (high decibel) people. Let me tell you that when I say that two chords into the first song as I was fishing around in my purse for ear plugs and then found some, and I almost wept with joy, I am telling the absolute truth.
Fourth, The Rest. No offense to any of the other bands on the roster, all of which you should see live and buy all their albums, you NEED to see The Rest live and buy all their albums. You’ll thank me later, I promise. At first it seems like they’ve got about seven too many people up on stage, but then they start playing. A waterfall of pure musical fairy dust cascades over your head (sorry, the lead singer Adam reminds me of a manly version of Pippin Took, hence the fairy dust). OK, a more appropriate and less LOTR-fan-girl comparison: a musical cloak of pure golden elven light wraps around you.
In all seriousness, the music is beautiful, as is Adam’s voice. It’s transporting and divine and mesmerizing and all those good adjectives. The band is tight. They are super talented. In the week following the show I listened to nothing but their album Everything All At Once. It’s on my iPod, my laptop and iTunes, and in my car. If I could have figured out a way to implant it directly into my cerebral cortex I would have done it (are you listening, Steve Jobs?). Suffice to say, good album.
And I haven’t even gotten to the best part… they fed me! The lovely and talented Anna gave me a home-baked muffin. I tell ya, as hungry as I was by 2am, they could have sounded like crap and I would still love them. How many times have you been fed by the band you went to see? My guess is that number would be pretty darn low.
Final act, Pet Ghost Project. They did not feed me, but they are all so nice I’ll bet they would have if they’d thought to bring baked goods. Something to shoot for next time, guys.
Incredibly talented musicians – the Picassos of indie rock. You may be tempted to think their music is simplistic because at times it sounds a lot like noise, but if you take it apart and really listen to it, these guys are brilliant. Not to imply in any way that you have to try really hard to enjoy it. I’m not saying that at all. I’m just trying to sound smart by using a Picasso analogy. Get off my back.
OK, honestly, a lot of the songs off their new album are not completely to my taste, but even so, I watch them perform them and I don’t really care. Great live band. The songs that I do like are the more melodious, lyrics-based ones like “Age of Automatics” and other stuff off their 2008 album Cheer Up It’s Raining. In any case, great show by some truly gifted musicians.
Which wrapped up the glorious night, at around 2am or so. And anyone reliant on NYC public transportation in the wee hours can appreciate this: I caught the L within 1 minute of standing on the platform (even tho the sign said 38 minutes!) and then caught the PATH within 1 minute of arriving on the platform and was therefore IN BED IN NEW JERSEY only 45 minutes after leaving the show.
Overall rating for night: exceptionally excellent! Five out of five stars! A night to remember! … especially for those of us sort of listed.
