This is going to be a quick one because I'm trying to get on the road to Morehead for the weekend. Planning to see Old Habits at Chef's 105 while I'm down there.
Anyway, Thursday was my second time seeing Spider Bags, and I liked them just as much as the first time (earlier this year at the Double Barrel Benefit). Guitarist/vocalist Dan McGee, who let me interview him earlier this week, graciously gave me a copy of the band's album "Goodbye Cruel World, Hello Crueller World", which I appreciated because I lost a lot of my music when my PC died.
Garage punks Whatever Brains opened the show, which kind of surprised me because I thought they were the better-known band. I'm actually pretty neutral about Whatever Brains. I don't really go out of my way to see them, but when I do, I usually like what they're doing, which was the case on Thursday.
I've never been one to begrudge a good band making it big. Seriously, why demand that a talented songwriter schlep across the country in a beaten-up van, sleeping on floors and playing only to a few dedicated souls while worrying that his six weeks on the road may mean the end of his part-time barista day job? If someone's good, I have no problem with them making a comfortable living that allows them to create art. I have no problem with them making a boatload of cash as long as they can maintain that creative spark (and whether or not you have to be downtrodden to be creative is a whole 'nother argument). But last night while I was at the Pour House watching The Love Language, a band that is probably going to be quitting their day jobs very soon, I couldn't help but think to myself, "Dag, I wish this awesome band didn't have so many douchebags for fans."
Let me back up for one second. As you likely know, The Love Language grew out of the Capulets (check out an old Capulets video that I shot at Kings in January, 2006), a band that had a lot of great hooks and dedicated fans of their own. So even if the Love Language hadn't been very good, they likely would have at least drawn in some of that bands old fans. But as it turns out, the Love Language is good. Hair-raisingly good. "I'm witnessing greatness in the making" good. And that's getting them written up and played by bigger fish than just the local bloggers, and putting their music in the ears of a lot of people who not only refuse to wear their baseball caps the way God intended, but not only can't communicate their love of this band with anything other than a fist bump and an ear-piercing "WHOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!"
You want proof? Just check out the video I shot of "Nocturne," the band's opening song last night at The Pour House -- a video shot from the vantage point of standing between two fools who wanted to yell over the top of my head the whole time. Among the gems you'll hear on this video: "Whoooo!" "WHOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!" "WHOOO-HOOOO-HOOOOO!!!" and "DUDE! That dude is TALL!" All of this occurs before the band even gets to the first verse.
Now, before anyone gets their panties in a wad and starts hatin' on me for hatin' on some overzealous and really loud fans (who, once again, are showing their love for an amazing band), I'll just point your attention to the title of this post. That overzealous message of approval came not from some headbanging frat boy. It came from my partner The Wizard, a normally articulate music lover who was so blown away by The Love Language, that all he could do was point and stammer, finally squeaking out "that shit is RIGHT ON!" I agree totally.
Whatever Brains opened, and I'm happy to report I liked them a lot more this time 'round. One of my friends compared them to "Green Day meets the Sex Pistols." Personally they remind me of The Fall.
If you follow me on twitter, you know that I finally did something I've been planning to do for a while: I tweeted from a show. The show in question was Pink Flag and Whatever Brains at Tir na Nog last Thursday, and the reason is that Pink Flag absolutely rules. Seriously, I hate to gush because that kind of sounds simultaneously insincere and groupie-like, but I just can't think of enough good things to say about this band.
First off, they're girls, and of course, I love to see girls because, honestly, it brings back fond memories of my own band days. They're cute and innocent and a little dorky, which is generally a formula for really crappy musicianship, but Pink Flag can actually play. The guitarist and bass player are really good; the drummer is great, plus she smiles the whole time and looks like she's having the time of her life. And they can all sing, and often sing together. I could start trying to connect what they're doing to the whole Riot Grrrl, and try to say something insightful about how they're the daughters of the original movement, but really all you need to know is that they rock.
This clip is called "Dirty Hair Party."
Pink Flag from Mann's World on Vimeo. After getting all excited over Pink Flag, you'd think I'd be really pumped up for Whatever Brains, who are pretty much the most talked-about band in Raleigh right now, but they honestly had no impact on me whatsoever. I didn't like them, and I didn't dislike them. They were just kind of there. But I was obviously alone in my opinion because they had a pretty big audience who were all into what they were doing. I'll check them out again and see if they eventually affect me one way or the other.
Whatever Brains from Mann's World on Vimeo.
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