I'm starting to feel like a real music journalist. Not only was I on the guestlist for last night's Rademacher show, but was invited to join the group for an after party. This has very little to do with my own charisma, and is mostly due to the guys in the band being really nice. But I'm getting a little ahead of myself. How 'bout that show?
I must say I was very impressed with Utah locals All About Rockets. At a time when many local bands seems to be tributes to either Taking Back Sunday or, if they have keyboards, Panic! At the Disco, All About Rockets decided that they didn't need to bother with that. Their sound comes from the bands that inspired them, like the Smashing Pumpkins and the Pixies.
Dave made a pretty accurate observation about frontman and bassist Joe Gibbs: "It looks like he really wanted to play guitar, but wanted to have the best band possible so he accepted playing bass." It's pretty obvious from talking to Gibbs that his priority is simply good music, both listening to and making it. The band makes great use of loud/soft dynamics and infuse bits of smooth jazz (that's not
the right term, but it's what comes to mind) during some of the soft bits. Also, they are the second band I've seen where the drummer plays keys while drumming one-handed (the keyboard was bought for $15 at a thrift store the day before, they were determined to work it into the set). All About Rockets are heading off to Fresno to do a few shows, but will be back in Utah in August. I suggest you check them out if you're in the area.
I'm not sure anything I say can really do Rademacher justice. There were no more than 15 people at the Court that night, but they still brought amazing energy right from the start. I found out later that, because of the smaller crowd and relative obscurity, they were playing versions of the songs that were more designed for such an audience– louder, faster, simpler. They achieved their desired effect, that's to be sure. There were a few songs with shout-along bits that were very easy to pick up on, and fun to engage in. Especially when you see that Bhecky (drums) is also shouting, despite not being mic'd. It shows that they love the music they're making, and gives you even more reason to appreciate it. When a band is making good music and really feeling it, even with a minimal crowd there, it's really easy to get into the music. It's also great when you're able to understand the lyrics, at least most of the time, and when you can realize in that moment that they're not just good, they're right. Simply put, Rademacher make excellent music, and you should all be very, very excited for their first full-length to be released in September. Mike was nice enough to let me have an advance copy, and I'll be reviewing it for you as the release draws closer. I'll tell you right now that it's fantastic.
A little while before I first heard Rademacher, I was thinking about how much you can really hear the Talking Heads' influence in modern indie rock, but how nobody ever really brings it up. Everybody's all, "Oooh! The Pixies made all subsequent good music happen," or "If it weren't for Pavement, nothing would be worth putting in my ears," when it was David Byrne's odd yelping noises that got Frank doing it. I was so very pleased when I got the press stuff and saw that, while Rademacher recognize how excellent the Pixies and Modest Mouse and all of these bands are, they admit that the Talking Heads had a great influence on them. If you catch them in Fresno, you'll likely hear them throw down a Heads cover. I'll be writing more on the Heads soon, I think it's pretty important. Anyway, Rademacher do that frantic bit quite well, with high, somewhat nasal vocals reminiscent of Modest Mouse. Also they are very cool people, go see them, say hello.
Apologies to Letters for Scarlett, I don't remember much from your set. This mostly had to do with my habit of being late for shows at Kilby Court and missing most of it. Sorry.
All About Rockets Official // MySpace // Grab Their CD
Rademacher Official // MySpace // Grab Their CD (New Album out this Fall)
I'll admit it, I was a little nervous about this show, especially after being so thoroughly rocked by the Arcade Fire. My excitement about the Pumpkins reunion had been on a slow decline since about a month after Billy first announced it. As much as I defend calling it the Pumpkins without James or D'Arcy, it was a blow to my enthusiasm to find that out. The more announcements I read about the new album, the less jazzed I grew. Then I failed to get swept up in the first two singles. Then the MySpace tribute, and so on. In all this pessimism, I forgot one thing: Billy Corgan puts on a damn good show. It's just a thing that he does.
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