You can still read the sign that says "LEGION" on the empty building between Velour and Muse. It is the ghost of a failed skate shop, sitting empty for years. The floors are stripped and dirty. The walls are covered in graffiti. And if you want to use the bathroom, I suggest you walk over to Muse (and buy a turkey pesto while you're at it). It's a shell. Or at least it was until a somewhat enterprising young Tyler Foisy decided to make a hardcore venue out of it.
Hard music is pretty ignored in Provo. And I mean hard music like garage rock and punk and hardcore. Velour just plain won't book those bands, and you'll only see one or two shows a month at Muse featuring that kind of music. I'm not a fan of post-hardcore at all, personally, but I know that there is a large community around here that doesn't get much recognition. Plus the harder garage rock bands have nowhere to play besides the Compound, which I have previously discussed in detail.
The Deathstar is a venue for those forgotten bands. It's not going to be stealing much business from its neighbors, but instead will be catering to those who haven't been going to any shows because there's no one they want to see. I personally do believe that three venues side by side all competing is not going to be healthy for the scene, and the Deathstar is not booking enough shows to stay open for very long. But all that said, I played there on Saturday and had a blast. And I would like to review the show!
The Lunatic
I've talked a lot about the Lunatic, having played a few shows with them now and generally being in love with them. They once again gave us a great performance, opening the show. They had to run around and fetch their own microphones because the venue only had one on hand. The sound system there is not spectacular, but it's certainly not bad either and the acoustics in the room help a lot. The Lunatic sound better in those venues than at Velour, because their amps work best when not mic'd. If you haven't seen them play yet, please check them out soon.
The Travelling Salesmen
After they finished, we played. The Deathstar does not have a stage so we played eye-to-eye with the audience which I absolutely love doing. The Deathstar also has little in the way of lights, so it's very difficult to see when on stage so I often found myself playing a halfstep off. But I had so much fun jumping around and being loud and distorted and screaming in the mic that neither I nor the audience cared. It was a very enjoyable experience and I wouldn't mind playing there again.
Big Trub
Big Trub are a very loud, simple four-piece punk band. People moshed something crazy to them. It's not music for everyone, but if you're into that sort of thing I suggest you see them play. While it's not music you'd catch me listening to at home, I do find it refreshing to see a band like that in a town like this.
The Broken Spells
In my review of the Compound, I talked in length about the Broken Spells. But to keep it short: they rock. They're a really fun band that plays good music. This time we could actually hear Jessica Davis' (SLFM) synth, and it added a lot to the music. They're a garage rock band with heavy punk influences, and they do it well. They're quickly becoming one of my favorite local bands and I will make sure to go to every Compound show I can to see them play.
In conclusion, the Deathstar is gritty and simple. It's just you and some music with no fanfare in between. If you're the type who likes to your music loud and proud, check them out. You won't find a moshpit anywhere else in town either. I don't know how long it will be around, so let's enjoy it while it lasts.
mlewisbarker
Monday, January 31, 2011
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Toy Bombs, Shark Speed, Eyes Lips Eyes, and Seve Vs Evan @ Velour
"I'm afraid we're going to die. I'm afraid we're going to die. But that's okay 'cause we're so pretty."
This blog generally focuses on the less known bands around town - the ones that people don't talk about. Unfortunately for those losers (just kidding I am one of them), I'm going to talk about some popular bands because that's the kind of show I went to tonight.
Tonight was one of those occasions where I found myself excited for a show. Toy Bombs (formerly Kid Theodore) and Eyes Lips Eyes (formerly Elizabethan Report) moved to Los Angeles a few months ago, but come up to Provo fairly regularly to play shows. I make sure never to miss one. (And my fandom increased when I won a bunch of their merch thanks to a costume contest last Halloween.) Tonight they played with two of Provo's most popular local bands - Shark Speed and Seve Vs Evan.
Velour was packed. One of the most packed shows I've ever seen there (but I also tend to avoid the really crowded ones). And the crowd was energetic.
Toy Bombs
Toy Bombs opened the night, and they played a fantastic set. I must admit that I am biased towards them. They were the first band I ever saw in Provo and now I go every time they roll into town with Eyes Lips Eyes. They bring a lot of energy and fun to the show thanks to their dual guitars and three singers. Unfortunately bassist Ryan Darton has taken a backseat, due to concentrating on his own projects, so we did not get to hear him sing much or play his own songs (including one of my favorites, "Os Passarinhos"). But they still had great sound and put on a show that the crowd loved. They play very funky rock and roll and each song is catchy. This is a band that you know has played together over many nights in many towns, as they are as solid together as ever. I also bought one of their shirts that I will proudly wear.
Shark Speed
Shark Speed is one of Provo's most popular bands. Over the past couple years, I've seen their flyers up seemingly nonstop as I walk to and from campus. But this was the first time I've actually seen them live. I listened to their music a long time ago but it just did absolutely nothing for me. Now that I've seen them, I'm still not a fan, but they write pretty good songs and play together solidly. It's very accessible indie pop/rock, extremely similar to Minus the Bear. My only real complaint is that it feels like they wrote a good song and based a whole set around it. But that's something I can say for most bands (even my second favorite band, Sonic Youth, has fallen into the hole of monotony over the past few years). I can understand why people like them so much, but I won't be going out of my way for their shows.
Eyes Lips Eyes
ELE put on the best shows. Tony Hello is the most enigmatic frontmen to come out of Utah County. Spencer Petersen's special blend of Frusciante-esque funk guitar is the center of the band in my opinion though. He writes some fairly complex, fun guitar parts. Aaron Hatch's bass and Thomas Carroll's drums add the solid rhythm to accompany the rather eclectic guitar and vocals. No band commands an audience like they do. Everybody dances and yells and sings along and anyone who isn't enjoying it hates life itself. They lack solid melodies with the exception of the occasional chorus, and that is their biggest weak point. Imagine Red Hot Chili Peppers with (a fun version of) Ian Curtis on vocals. They are a fantastic group though and have come a long way.
Seve Vs Evan
Synth pop. Glorious synth pop. I now know why so many people love this band. Seve is a fantastic keyboardist and songwriter, and Evan keeps up with a very solid drum beat that really makes their sound something beyond electronic. I love a good fun band, and these two are great examples of that. Their musicality is outstanding. I do feel like Seve may have been in an emo band in high school, as his vocals can get that somewhat weak, nasal quality to them, unique to that genre of/for adolescents. He's a great singer, but I would really love to hear what those two could do with a solid vocalist singing along. I will not miss their shows in the future, as Provo could use more of this.
All in all, I have to say that this was a great show. The audience was happy, the bands were fun, and people actually danced! Provo could use more of these.
Tomorrow night (Saturday, January 29) I will be playing at The Deathstar, a new venue primarily for hardcore bands that opened up right between Velour and Muse on University Ave. Tomorrow (technically tonight) will not be a hardcore show though. We'll be playing with my favorites The Lunatic, and a band I previously heaped great praises upon - The Broken Spells. Also playing is Big Trub who I have never heard of but I'm sure they rock too! It starts at 7PM and is only $5. It's going to be for all you folk that don't feel like listening to Provo's VH1 Storytellers at Velour. (Sorry, I don't care what most famous people wrote their songs about and the same applies double to you local bands.) Muse's last night of the Songwriter Showdown is tomorrow too if you want to check that out.
Much peace and love to all you folks.
mlewisbarker
This blog generally focuses on the less known bands around town - the ones that people don't talk about. Unfortunately for those losers (just kidding I am one of them), I'm going to talk about some popular bands because that's the kind of show I went to tonight.
Tonight was one of those occasions where I found myself excited for a show. Toy Bombs (formerly Kid Theodore) and Eyes Lips Eyes (formerly Elizabethan Report) moved to Los Angeles a few months ago, but come up to Provo fairly regularly to play shows. I make sure never to miss one. (And my fandom increased when I won a bunch of their merch thanks to a costume contest last Halloween.) Tonight they played with two of Provo's most popular local bands - Shark Speed and Seve Vs Evan.
Velour was packed. One of the most packed shows I've ever seen there (but I also tend to avoid the really crowded ones). And the crowd was energetic.
Toy Bombs
Toy Bombs opened the night, and they played a fantastic set. I must admit that I am biased towards them. They were the first band I ever saw in Provo and now I go every time they roll into town with Eyes Lips Eyes. They bring a lot of energy and fun to the show thanks to their dual guitars and three singers. Unfortunately bassist Ryan Darton has taken a backseat, due to concentrating on his own projects, so we did not get to hear him sing much or play his own songs (including one of my favorites, "Os Passarinhos"). But they still had great sound and put on a show that the crowd loved. They play very funky rock and roll and each song is catchy. This is a band that you know has played together over many nights in many towns, as they are as solid together as ever. I also bought one of their shirts that I will proudly wear.
Shark Speed
Shark Speed is one of Provo's most popular bands. Over the past couple years, I've seen their flyers up seemingly nonstop as I walk to and from campus. But this was the first time I've actually seen them live. I listened to their music a long time ago but it just did absolutely nothing for me. Now that I've seen them, I'm still not a fan, but they write pretty good songs and play together solidly. It's very accessible indie pop/rock, extremely similar to Minus the Bear. My only real complaint is that it feels like they wrote a good song and based a whole set around it. But that's something I can say for most bands (even my second favorite band, Sonic Youth, has fallen into the hole of monotony over the past few years). I can understand why people like them so much, but I won't be going out of my way for their shows.
Eyes Lips Eyes
ELE put on the best shows. Tony Hello is the most enigmatic frontmen to come out of Utah County. Spencer Petersen's special blend of Frusciante-esque funk guitar is the center of the band in my opinion though. He writes some fairly complex, fun guitar parts. Aaron Hatch's bass and Thomas Carroll's drums add the solid rhythm to accompany the rather eclectic guitar and vocals. No band commands an audience like they do. Everybody dances and yells and sings along and anyone who isn't enjoying it hates life itself. They lack solid melodies with the exception of the occasional chorus, and that is their biggest weak point. Imagine Red Hot Chili Peppers with (a fun version of) Ian Curtis on vocals. They are a fantastic group though and have come a long way.
Seve Vs Evan
Synth pop. Glorious synth pop. I now know why so many people love this band. Seve is a fantastic keyboardist and songwriter, and Evan keeps up with a very solid drum beat that really makes their sound something beyond electronic. I love a good fun band, and these two are great examples of that. Their musicality is outstanding. I do feel like Seve may have been in an emo band in high school, as his vocals can get that somewhat weak, nasal quality to them, unique to that genre of/for adolescents. He's a great singer, but I would really love to hear what those two could do with a solid vocalist singing along. I will not miss their shows in the future, as Provo could use more of this.
All in all, I have to say that this was a great show. The audience was happy, the bands were fun, and people actually danced! Provo could use more of these.
Tomorrow night (Saturday, January 29) I will be playing at The Deathstar, a new venue primarily for hardcore bands that opened up right between Velour and Muse on University Ave. Tomorrow (technically tonight) will not be a hardcore show though. We'll be playing with my favorites The Lunatic, and a band I previously heaped great praises upon - The Broken Spells. Also playing is Big Trub who I have never heard of but I'm sure they rock too! It starts at 7PM and is only $5. It's going to be for all you folk that don't feel like listening to Provo's VH1 Storytellers at Velour. (Sorry, I don't care what most famous people wrote their songs about and the same applies double to you local bands.) Muse's last night of the Songwriter Showdown is tomorrow too if you want to check that out.
Much peace and love to all you folks.
mlewisbarker
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