OZ Beat: Music That Matters

Weird War / The Rapture / BRMC

The set started strong with 3 cuts from the Scene Creamers CD but quickly turned into a bore. A band that one year ago did one of the most inspired sets I have ever seen, was disappointing last fall and kind of a wate of time last Friday. The new material is very weak and the band seems to be involving into a funk band. That would be just fine--if they could play funk. I love good funk but when it is bad (quite frequently it seems) it is torture. I'm also not getting much of a spark from Ian and his performance has to be at top-level or the band's show to come off. It probably wasn't as bad as I am making it out to be--it was the high expectations that I went to the club with that made the performance seem all that much more lackluster. However, Friday's dismal show was more than made up for last night by BRMC and The Rapture--both bands putting on high-energy tight shows and The Rapture turning in a perfect set from start to finish.
--Dem

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

I wasn't going to go to this show but their sophmore release is so strong I had to check them out. What I have heard for the past year+ was that they were boring on stage and dangerously close to a shoegazer band (in spite of the brilliant songs). They played the Metro which had sold out an earlier hardcore show. Doors were supposed to be 11PM and opening act at 11:30. After well over an hour in the cold waiting in line (yeah, it's cold in Chicago right now) the doors opened at midnight. I've been in this situation before--and at least this time I got to hear the soundcheck while shivering on the street. 12:30 on the dot--BRMC took the stage. The club decided to have BRMC play immediately and the opening act (Stratford 4 play after them--don't think many stayed for that—I sure didn't).

I expected to be into the music but not the band. These kids must have grown up quickly. Absolute confidence from the moment they took the stage. In your face guitar work with the heads held high. A friend I was with said that head down=boring and head up=rock star. Based on this show, it would be unimaginable that BRMC would be lumped into the shoegazer category ever again. They did a nice balance between the 1st and 2d album. I know from their Yahoo group that a lot of their fans dislike "Whatever Happened to My Rock n’ Roll." It was absolutely amazing as the last song before the encore. Their set was so well-paced and they played an hour and a half. The most striking thing about them was not the trade off on vocals. What blew me away was that they were able to trade vocals off within the songs--and able to do it with out playing off each other. I just don't see many bands writing material where vocalists go back and forth within a song anymore. Second highlight--the absolute best encore since The Datsuns!! Granted, this band is never going to be the most exciting visual band that you will ever see--but rock solid drumming and some awesome guitar work that included bass work from Robert that was very unfamiliar to me. Rhythm coming out of the bass that was unbelievable. And when Robert jumped into the crowd and worked the room--the crowd parted to give him the space to show his stuff. Catch them if you can. Their new release is a must have!
--Dem

BRMC club tour, motherfucker, fourth of July, vue in NYC

yo! i know i havent posted in quite some time. eeep. *hangs head* glad to hear everyone is having good times at the white stripes shows. i cannot wait for their summerstage show in nyc and their indoor gigs here as well...

is anyone going to any of BRMC's small club gigs? i am going to try my best to get into the nyc ones, although i know it will be extremely difficult. *wish me luck*

tonight is motherfucker, a fun monthly party in nyc and there is a FANTASTIC band called the fever playing it. (i think i have mentioned them before) they are one of my favorite bands at the moment. their live show rocks, the music has a little bit of sass that separates them from any other band out there right now, and they have a bad ass cover of sheila e's 'glamorous life'. i believe they are going on tour with hot hot heat on the 7th, which is exciting and also a bit sad because i KNOW that they will blow everyone who sees them away and that this will probably be the tour that garners them a lot of attention outside of the city (they have already been featured in countless publications, like time out ny and the voice, and compilations - the 'YES NEW YORK' one and the NEW YORK CITY NEXT WAVE one to name a few). ive seen them play more than 5 times and i never get sick of seeing them. check them out, and find out about my semi-well kept (but not for long) secret that is the fever. www.thefeveronline.com they have an ep out right now that you can buy online but try and see them live if you can because they do not fail to disappoint.

I’m sure many of you know about The Vue. They’re originally from cali. but apparently they have taken up extremely strong holdings in nyc because they have played 6 gigs in june in nyc (one of which was the slasher indie prom which i have to say was fantastic) and 5 of their 7 scheduled gigs in july are during a 7 day period. (the 2nd to the 8th of july) what is up with this band? have they taken up residency here? or are they just making enough money to make it home to the west coast once theyre done touring with HHH? hrmm... interesting question to ponder. another aside note... i seem to see them everywhere i go. bars, clubs, parties, perhaps they are following me? Hehe juuuust joshin!

i will assuredly see them on the 4th of july when they are playing a HUGE rooftop (40,000 sq. ft) party in brooklyn along with a bunch of other bands and djs. should be a good time. moving units are also playing as are the secret machines, vietnam, dead meadow, bad wizard, and cass mccombs...should be a fun 4th of july. hooray.

peace the fuck out!
--Ell