Background: Few things get my genetically weak heart pumping like the ambiance of a concert, and summer is feasting time. Assumingly to cater to those thankless, condescending college heathens1, the performance side of the music industry really starts cranking during those class-free months of quickly warming bottom-shelf beer, baseball filled Sportcenters, and shit manual labor jobs2. Because America is run on the sweet, sweet science of capitalism, when something is demanded, it is often supplied, which leads to a flux of shows throughout the summer. While I have had the opportunity to see several impressive acts these last few months3, Les Savy Fav and Rush, the last two bands I have seen, stack up to one another in some interesting ways.
Music: Musically, both of these bands have a competency that is rarely paralleled in their respective genres. Rush is a force unlike any other in popular music. A three-piece prog-rock tour de force, Rush has remained in the American musical landscape by releasing the occasional hit single (“Tom Sawyer,” “Fly By Night”) but more importantly by maintaining and embracing an unique image and ethic, as well as sustaining a rigorous touring schedule that has rewarded them with rabid fans the world over. While much is discussed over the inimitable voice of Geddy Lee, the virtuosic instrumentalism of Lee (bass), Alex Lifeson (guitar- very underrated player), and Neal Peart (drums) proves to be a considerably more potent presence- it is as meticulous as it is dazzling. The band possesses some characteristics, particularly their obsessions with science fiction4 and anti-rock-star image, that make a majority of music journalists treat them as a pointless niche band because clearly their time is better spent editing cover articles about Sting’s (hilarious) spiritual beliefs. The bands experimentations in song structure and nearly flawless technique give the songs a longevity that most- I’d argue Moving Pictures is a better album than anything released by the Police.
Les Savy Fav come from a very different place. Originally formed in the mid-90s by a group of Rhode Island School of Design5 students, the hard-to-define rock group records in bunches, tours in bunches, and rests in bunches. I was first exposed to Tim Harrington and co. later last year with the release of their third(ish) main release Let’s Stay Friends, having read its countless rave reviews and being intrigued by this lead singer who supposedly made Wayne Coyne look like James Blunt. The album is excellent, a bizarre combination of Weezer, Black Flag, Television, youtube, alcohol, and (judging my Harrington LOTS of) oreos that never goes for the Van Halen exit but is not so 'indie' as to not contemplate such a thing. “Rage in the Plague Age,” a propulsive anthem about Medieval Times, exile, and partying exemplifies all of the bands strengths, from a half way point that completely changes the rhythm of the song to Harrington’s desperate “Didn’t You?” howl at the end. “The Equestrian,” “What Would Wolves Do,” and “Getty Lee” are all at this elite level of song writing and musicianship, not to mention the band’s countless B-sides and singles, released sporadically over their roughly decade and a half existence. Les Savy Fav are a great example of a band being able to be influenced by other music without merely copying them. With the band currently at the height of its popularity, it will be interesting to see if LSF take this momentum and take the next big step, or go back their respective ways. I know for what I am hoping. Round Winner: Draw- Comparing the two is pointless.
Performance: Performance- one of the most underrated parts of a concert. I say that because most people are satisfied merely hearing any version of a song they like as long as they are crushing $10 drafts and looking at attractive/terrifying people during the process. I think the best example of this is a band like Widespread Panic, a band nationally recognized for its endless touring schedule as opposed to any particular song or album6. People treat these concerts more as social functions than performances, because in my experience seeing the band (5 times- I know, I’m a rook) Widespread isn’t going to do anything to upset anybody- they’re going to pick from their thirty to fifty go to songs and rock. While the crowd does vary from the young woman who is tripping over her leg hair whilst taking rippers in front of her infant to the faded-tat-wearing parking lot warrior, the majority of these crowds were/are/going to be Greek types who just want to get a belly full of mind altering substances. Rush’s performance is similar but more intense. The tip-top light show7, the screens that would go from screens of the forest during “The Trees,” to showing South Park characters do a hilarious introduction to “Tom Sawyer,” and particularly the audio-visual mind-fuck of seeing such loud, powerful music come from three squirrelly looking Canadian guys all add to the performance. Neal Peart’s roughly ten minute drum solo about 2/3s of the show through once again lead to a loud thump at the concert as people were passing out due to over-stimulation. Besides that, the band was very by the books- they played some new songs from their fan favorite Snakes and Arrows, some aforementioned hits, and some album tracks like “YYZ” for both Rush and Guitar Hero fan boys alike. I compare watching a Rush concert to watching a show like House- it may not be as mentally stimulating or socially conscious as The Wire, but it’s a solid idea executed almost flawlessly. Simply put, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel to enjoy a car-ride.
A Les Savy Fav concert is like trying to play Jinga with your mouth- its fun, hard to approach, and utterly ridiculous. While waiting for the group to come on, some innocuous tuning and strumming was getting the audience interested until who do I feel brush my right shoulder than Tim Harrington himself. It would only get weirder- the entirety of the show consisted of him walking, crawling, and [add joyous, infantile movement here]ing all around the crowd, kissing people, changing outfits, and otherwise adding to a greater sense of anarchy. Adding to this was a(nother) huge goofy looking bastard running around the crowd and screaming and trying to rile up the crowd, a guy who minus the sweaty nipple marks and seeming complete lack of self-discipline sort of looked like a Jehova Witness in terms of dress. If this sounds like a mess, I described it accurately. The amazing thing, though, was that the band, who plays very timing-based quick, angular music, did not miss a beat- even amongst this carnage that was going on that seemed like a mix between Dali and a port-a-potty, the band maintained composure, never breaking “I’m an indie rocker” demeanor unless to laugh at Harrington stripping down to his very skimpy red athletic (?) shorts. But as charged and creative as Harrington’s manic seizure was at times, he messed up pretty badly on one thing- he rarely, if ever, sings. The band plays a loud brand of music that is strengthened by a commanding lead singer- Harrington preferred to roll around in the mud and spit water over people over attempting to sing the song8. His diatribes in between songs were hilarious if puzzling, where Harrington would talk about the need to swallow people hole or some other wacky shit- I was sober and could not really translate what-in-the-fuck-this-dude-is-saying but felt it did add to the show as a whole. So, as a straight forward rock n’ roll show, Rush dominates, but if you are more in the mood for an avant-garde kiss-off to rock n’ roll convention, Les Savy Fav might be more your thing.
The Fans: So, there you are at work, thinking “why in the hell does he call it ‘versus’ if he merely is going to say either side wins if dah-dah-dah? I like my blogs with bulletproof arguments!” First off, simmer down now, as I’m getting to the victor. Now, when comparing two things that have so much in common and whose differences are merely arguments in taste, it is in the small things where victory and defeat are realized. In this case, that small thing is the fans. The fans at the Rush show were exactly how the fans at a Rush show should be: long-haired, tons of acne, Rush t-shirts9, drinking beers, and a cloud so thick of stick-icky smoke that one step into a common area is a life-long pass to failed drug tests. The fans knew the music and were enthusiastic about it- there was loud applause after the first few song recognition notes of every tune, which would directly lead to excitement from fans, like myself, who may not be too familiar with some of Rush’s “deeper cuts.” They would laugh at Lee’s jokes, participate when they knew it was appropriate, and keep the energy continuous for a two and a half hour show. Simply put: what you wanted in a Rush crowd.
The Les Savy Fav crowd was both boring and condescending by comparison. While I have no doubt most of the people who were fighting tooth-and-nail for leg space were highly anticipating LSF, at the same time, they literally fought all that way just to stand and try to look like they didn’t want to be there. Its an odd circle, these indie rock shows. I like the genre because most radio-friendly genres try to sell you, or rather, make you buy into another culture- if you listen to Toby Keith you better fucking have some jeans and some Confederate apparel, or if you listen to Chris Brown, you better have a tramp stamp, or at least the top of your underwear showing. It’s the obsession over image which can be sickening, and ideally, is what brings people to music where there isn’t necessarily a message or product to be bought. It is about enjoying yourself and the music in anyway you so see fit, but without taking away any enjoyment from your fellow concertgoers. If you go into a rap concert dressed like you are about to go yachting or going to Ozzfest looking like you are about to weekend at Ibiza, you will be criticized if not beaten, badly. These tight little groups of fans feel intimidated by an outside source even listening to their beloved albums, and as a consequence either think you are there to ridicule or don’t have the mental capacity to capture the subtleties of Lil’ Wayne’s wordplay. That is exactly the thing I am trying to avoid when I go to a lesser known group, particularly a group where a majority of the show is the lead singer openly making a fool of himself. But no, indie rock crowds don’t like to dance, they don’t like to sing along, they don’t want to applaud- they just want to be there in humorously ‘chic’ clothing10, bitch about what songs are not getting played, and, of course, stay long enough to tell fellow music listeners I saw _____ in ______ on ______. For those of us who were howling along too loudly, sweating a bit too much, or simply deriving too much pleasure from the show, you were gawked at and mumbled about by 100 pound kids (half of weight is tattoo ink) who don't understand the concept of how a lively audience at times can in fact lead to a state of synergy that leads to everybody involved having a better time. Now, as I’ve seen from numerous shows, not the least of which the Flaming Lips, Wilco, and Battles, this is not automatic from an 'underground music' crowd. When a popular indie rock band is playing well with an attentive, fun crowd (like those three bands) there is nothing better- the people love the music for all the same reason, but aren’t so jaded by what they are doing is “cool” or “buzzworthy” that they can’t enjoy the concert- the fucking reason they bought the ticket in the first place. Les Savy Fav, you put on a great show and I plan to see you the next time you are in my area, but until that point Rush wins this North Carolina concert throw down.
1 I should know- I was/ am one.
2 Aren’t those, for like, poor people?
3 Who in the hell would of thought They Might Be Giants would put on such a great show?
4 They did make an album entirely about the year 2112
5 Yes, this is the same college the gay brother from Wedding Crashers wanted to attend
6 I have hundreds of friends who would love to disagree with me on this point, but I think my ability to see the band with more objectivity is obvious when you see the amount of bootlegs and recordings people acquire from WSP. I refuse to call them the Dead for the new millennium because of their lack of a unique catalog, but I still applaud WSP’s fans, who are some of the most rabid out there.
7 Always been curious as to who designs/ runs these things
8 And if he did sing he sounded like Haley Joel Osment
9 Rush is one of the few bands I can think of where it is completely legitimate to wear one of their t-shirts to one of their concerts. The other two are Kanye West and the Police, because both of those guys are such egotistical dicks that their performance is probably strengthened by seeing consumer idolatry in the audience.
10 Who in the fuck thought tight jeans, an ironic t-shirt, and designer shoes would be such a fashion trend/ plague?
No comments:
Post a Comment