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the swimmer
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1602 Posts |
 Posted - 11/17/2002 : 12:52:18
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I just got back from the Atlanta show and I saw this site and wanted to add my 2 cents about the bennies.
Short critique - They Kicked Serious Ass.
Longer critique - So honestly I'll tell ya, after seeing Ried Paley ( whom I enjoyed, first time seeing him) then David Lovering (God almighty, that was hilarious. He really loved what he was doing) and being sooooooo antsy to see Frank Black I was NOT in the mood to see another band. I was right up front, and it looked like there were putting all their instruments right in our faces, they had no room. Little did I know.
So I see drums, a guy with a Rickenbacker bass, and a guy with an Epiphone something or other. As I said, I pretty much had my arms folded and didn't feel like standing around through some noisy bullshit, but had to. Standing outside in the cold for 45 minutes, then 3 openers is a little much.
So The Bennies start playing and it starts off a little rough and I am still like "jeesus, why?". (you wanted honesty)
However, about aproximately one minute later, I realized, "This is fucking incredible" and it only got better after that. My body wanted to move, my head wanted to bang just like the frontman, he was really getting into it. Everyone was loving it from my perspective. I can recall one instance where the drummer was doing these amazing snare runs. Suffice it to say, this guy could really fucking hit 'em. Good drummers are few and far between.
About maybe four songs into it (more or less, was enjoying it too much to notice) BOTH the guitarist and the bassist broke a string.
That is serious. Bass strings are not easy to break. They were REALLY REALLY into it and their passion showed through. While the bassist ran off to find another bass, the two remaining members did a number on their own. Very professional, keep the show rolling.
Now, it wouldn't be a critique if it was all good. As an audience member, and a "musician" with his own band, here's the "needs improvement" part.
Maybe, and I say this because it all depends on the context that I have never heard them before last night, but maybe the songs were a little long. I know that's like that part in AMMADEUS...too many notes (There are exactly as many notes as their should be).
Secondly, their set list had 12 songs....the 3rd opener for a headliner maybe should think they are pushing it at 8 songs. Get in, get out, leave em wanting more.
And last was just the sound. When I see a band I don't know, I sometimes feel like, can I not HEAR the vocals, or can I not hear them because I never heard them before (you know what I mean)? Maybe less stage volume and let the vocals come out a bit more. Maybe I am just too old school.
But really, fucking, who am I? I din't get asked to open for The Catholics. I could obviously tell why Frank picked these guys to open. They rock, they got the goods and they fit really nicely with FB&TC and Pixies sound. Not derivitate or imitative, just, in the family. And that is a great family to be in.
Their music was cool, and pyschedelic. It was heavy in just the right way. I dug it and I hope everyone will check them out. I stuck my head under the curtain like a dork, but I really wanted to tell them how much I enjoyed it. The singer said "we had a lot of technical difficulties" but I said we didn't notice or it didn't matter because it was great. Nobody notices when you fuck up if you go on and don't make a big deal out of it. I spoke with the drummer as well and he dutifully reminded me to sign the mailing list. I did. Then I saw the singer again outside and told him again it was great.
They all were nice and humble, which ALWAYS makes me want to listen to people's music more and proves that they are happy they get to be doing what they are doing.
Anyway, I must go to the site so I can learn names if I write any more about them!
"Winter blows through my coat"
the what four http://www.mp3.com/phelan |
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