February 25, 2006
View Comments | Post CommentStars at Black Cat
Tonight I went to see Stars at Black Cat. Part of the U-Street hipster scene, Black Cat is a horrible place to see a show. The main room is quite long from stage to back, and the stage is only about a foot and a half high. If this weren't bad enough, the lead singer of Stars is maybe five-foot-six. This means anyone under twelve feet tall can't see them. Surely the place is hip, with its brick inner walls and kitsch paintings in the stairwell, but one would think the scenesters would latch onto a more suitable venue.
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The opening "band" was Magnet. Stars did the obligatory thanks to the opening band, saying "they" were good. Magnet, incidentally, consisted of one person. If you are a single person and you wish to have a band consisting solely of you, the band should be named after you. Yes, that also applies to Bright Eyes, Caribou/Manitoba, Cat Power, Iron & Wine, Neutral Milk Hotel, The Russian Futurists, Self, Rogue Wave, etc. Maybe Magnet gets off the hook because they are apparently from Norway, and I guess they do things differently over there. The singer for Stars said, "Everybody in Norway writes great pop songs and has great trousers. I don't know how they do it." That was funny.
Stars was pretty decent, but they were very weird live. The two main people were moving and interacting in strange ways. Someone said the last time they saw the band, the lead singer had announced that he was on acid. As a result of their weirdness, they kind of came across like a parody of an indie rock band.
UPDATE: Here's a picture I found of the lead singer doing the kind of strange stuff about which I'm writing.
In fact, while seeing them, I kept thinking that was what it would be like if The State did a skit where they made fun of the indie rock scene. The lead singer would be played by Thomas Lennon, and the other (female) singer actually looked a lot like Kerri Kenney (if she had a female-female baby with Juliette Lewis). They were acting quite dramatic and hilariously. Then Ken Marino would play the second guitarist, Ben Garant (with a wig) would play the bassist, Joe Lo Truglio would play the drummer, and Kevin Allison (in drag) would play the violinst.
Oh, and If, just once, a band would forgo the now-obligatory fake encore, I think they would instantly become my favorite band ever, even if their entire preceding set had been terrible. At least this concert was mercifully free from crowd surfing, picture-taking, and the band addressing the crowd as the city in which the concert is held ("Hello, Washington, D.C.!").
Posted at February 25, 2006 2:22 AM | Comments (10)
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It's nice to hear that 5 foot 6 guys can make it as lead singers. Though I suppose they also need musical and vocal talent, so I'm still out.
And in fairness, Rogue Wave is kinda named after Zach Rogue. Not to mention, when I saw Rogue Wave, they had a full band. Still, you raise a valid point.
Posted by: Mike at February 25, 2006 11:11 AM
Angie Aparo did a parody of the "encore" thing when he played his solo show at Vandy a couple of years back. He stood on the back of the stage, hands to his ears, pretending not to notice the crowd cheering... it was funny...
Posted by: Jeff at February 25, 2006 12:38 PM
Actually, Mike, the lead singer looked just like you. I even text messaged Ben Stark and said so. Here's a picture. Don't you agree?
Posted by: David Barzelay at February 25, 2006 2:27 PM
I think Angie Aparo does that joke at every show. I've come to accept the encore thing b/c, in case you haven't noticed, I like to work myself into a frenzy at rock shows. I actually have seen bands where the "fake encore thing" didn't happen. It was usually a sign that the crowd didn't like the band...so the venue would start playing background music pretty quickly to lessen the embarassment.
And, Mike, David did indeed send text me and say that (after asking me which Presidents had died in office and which were assassinated) (I can't believe I forgot FDR in the voicemail!). Looking at the picture....I can see the resemblance. Short, kinda curly hair. Hey, Mike, don't you aspire to be that guy?
Posted by: Ben Stark at February 25, 2006 3:13 PM
I think you could make the argument that a band called "Self" is indeed named after the sole member.
Posted by: Joel at February 25, 2006 3:32 PM
bright eyes (or conor oberst) has a band. he writes all the music but he definitely doesn't play it by himself.
i absolutely love torquille campbell. i thought the 2 lead singers' weird interactions were entertaining, and i think his weird movements are just him getting way into the songs. but i did see them in an awesome venue where the 5ft 6 height didn't hide him from everyone.
and i also seriously hate the encore bit but it seems that EVERYONE does it. i dont know why. it's annoying.
Posted by: Ula at February 25, 2006 4:29 PM
The frontman from Stars looks like he heads a new-wave band or something. Like maybe a Flock of Seagulls or perhaps a Talking Heads.
Posted by: Daniel at February 25, 2006 4:34 PM
Bright Eyes is Connor Oberst. He may require multiple people to perform the parts he records, but rest assured, oh Ula, dearest, it is all Connor Oberst.
Posted by: David Barzelay at February 26, 2006 1:30 AM
And good call, Joel.
Mike, it looks to me like you're in perfect position to front a band. Reasonably decent voice (great after post-production adjustment); diminutive stature; ability to appear to be way too into the music; mediocre-looking girl singing beside you in 50's retro-wear. I think you can pull this together, Mike. But you need a new name. Unexpectedly Sober won't work anymore.
Posted by: David Barzelay at February 26, 2006 8:41 AM
Well, since right now it's just me, I could take your advice and call myself something really creative like "Mike Mott". Or my post-U.S. moniker, which is "Surprisingly Abstemious".
You're right about Connor Oberst. I was actually going to raise the same argument about Neutral Milk Hotel, but even though they were a band, it was pretty much just Jeff Mangum.
And I guess that guy bears a passing resemblance to me. I'm cuter though. And way more modest.
Posted by: Mike at February 26, 2006 11:06 AM
