Humanoid, Lamb Bombs, Entrance, Simple Pleasures at Bar and Alchemy

Humanoid, Lamb Bombs, Entrance, Simple Pleasures at Bar and Alchemy - 10/4/06

I've seen Humanoid in a variety of different settings now and I don't think the openness of the back room at Bar suits them. I think they need to be right on top of their audience to be most effective. I guess it was alright, if you just want to sit back and have the music wash over, but in a smaller place you'll be pummelled and that's better for them.
I don't know why I don't like the Lamb Bombs more than I do. They seem like the kind of thing I'd be into. They have a don't-give-a-shit attitude that I like. But, maybe they really don't give a shit. Boy, how terrible would that be. A band that doesn't care about being a band. They just do it for something to do. I don't know. I don't have enough evidence to say that's the case with the Lamb Bombs, just that they don't quite grab me by the balls.
The leader of Entrance stands in a pose I call the hippie hunch. It's a carefully measured posture designed to elicit a sense of vulnerability and introspection; he's scared of the world and oh so sensitive. That, combined with his precisely arranged, off-the shoulder sweatshirt made me hate him. Well, that and the fact that they were from L.A. The music, certainly, didn't help.
The Simple Pleasures did a minimalist two-person set. It was a really rough night for them. Neither Chad nor Tamara could step away from their keyboard for very long to engage with the audience, as is their wont. They just didn't seem to muster the momentum they usually have. And the sound at Alchemy seems to be worse every time I go; it sounds okay if you're standing right next to the sound guy, but anywhere else sounds like crap.

Covin was playing at Alchemy when I was watching Entrance at Bar. I watched more of Entrance than I would have been inclined to because I was trying to avoid them. I can only come to one conclusion regarding Covin: Covin hates music.

Pictures:
http://flickr.com/photos/oldangelmidnight/sets/72157594323304046/

etc.
http://www.myspace.com/humanoidsapiens
http://www.myspace.com/lambbombs
http://www.myspace.com/chadrainesandthesimplepleasures
http://www.myspace.com/covin

Frank Critelli and James Velvet at the John Slade Ely house

Frank Critelli and James Velvet at the John Slade Ely house - 9/30/06

It was the album release party for both Frank and James and both played their new albums straight through. I've seen that kind of thing before and was always disappointed, but I think it worked out this time.

Frank's new album, Before You Break, is a monumental leap forward for his songwriting. For maybe the first time, he succeeds at arranging songs for a band and moves away from the signature solo sound he has developed. For the release, he played with just a drummer, but that was enough to hint at the shape of the album. It was nice to hear the songs live and productionless. There are studio effects on many of the recorded songs and that certainly adds to the album in many ways, but the rawness of the live performance was a good contrast. In both cases, "Ahead or Behind" is my favorite of the new batch. It's a lurching song in 6/8 with circus barker vocals. I'd love to hear Tom Waits do a version. All the new songs are pretty decent. "It's the Way" sounds like it should be on a movie soundtrack. Some of the songs suffer a bit by the production, especially the percussion. "Before You Break" is a very strong song, but the double tracked vocals are unsettling; it would have benefitted from either being bigger or smaller. All told, the songwriting and the arrangements on the new album are very good, the production is imperfect, but sometimes adds just the right touch.

James Velvet is a natural showman. He has an easy, comfortable presence under the spotlight of performance. He makes it hard to fault his songwriting. I haven't heard the album, so I can only judge the performance. He played with a full band of drums, electric bass, backup acoustic guitar and fiddle featuring local lumineries Patsy O'Brien and Joe Gerhard. Sometimes political, sometimes personal; these are big american folk songs.

They wrapped the show with a James Velvet classic featuring all the night's performers.

Also: Normally an art gallery in an old victorian house, the John Slade Ely house was a great venue. It provided the perfect ambience for a night like this.


Here's a video of Frank playing "Ahead or Behind"




Pictures:
http://flickr.com/photos/oldangelmidnight/sets/72157594323034081/

etc.
http://www.myspace.com/frankcritelli
http://www.jamesvelvet.com/