The Fratellis @ Mercury Lounge: The Fratellis Are A Myth

It's funny how a band can shoot into prominence so quickly. Two years ago, I bought Arctic Monkeys tix right when they went on sale for their first U.S. shows. It took two days to sell out. Then momentum was so great by the time the shows came around a few months later, they were on everyone's mind. Exact thing happened with The Fratellis. Snob trump card again -- have been folowing them since last summer, got the CD on import, got tickets right when they went on sale. Their New York debut was the show to get into this week. It's that darn IPOD ad I guess. I would hope it would be for Costello Music, their ear-popping, crackling debut album. After seeing them live, you better be prepared to rock your socks off

The setlist:

• Henrietta
• Everybody Knows You Cried Last Night
• The Pimp
• Flathead
• Vince the Lovable Stoner
• Doginabag
• Creeping Up The Backstairs
• Pretty Like a Girl
• Old Black 'N Blue Eyes
• Baby Fratelli
• Whistler For The Choir
• Chelsea Dagger
• Got Na Nuts From a Hippy
• Encore: For the Girl
• Cuntry Boys and City Girls
• Ooh La La

Tonight, I had never seen Mercury so active. Obviously, the place was jammed with Brits, Scots, fan girls, bloggers (BV, Soundbites) and music industry types. The place exploded for "Chelsea Dagger", by that time, the alcohol had worked its magic and the slight shoving and jumping around was in full effect.

For good reason, these guys are monsters live. John Lawler could be the next guitar rock god, even though he had written on his guitar, "The Fratellis Are a Myth." Hey, your guess is as good as mine. Anyway, the guy can produce so many styles, mainly blues. I'm looking back at my previous Fratelli posts and my impression was to point out The Libertines. I guess that tempo change in the beginning of "Creeping Up the Backstairs" is Libertines sounding, but the Fratellis are much more sober sounding ... for now. Lawler and Andrew Stockdale could have a friendly competition with guitar playing and growing white guy Afros.

The band, despite the audio difficulties, shredded through their small arsenal of rock songs. "Flathead" was played a little too fast. Everything else was a pleasure to hear live. Awesome drummer (who drinks Irn Bru) and the Sting-like bass player had his moments. Their stage banter needed subtitles, but I'm sure it was amusing.

Sleep time.....

Previously:

• YouTube Goodness from June 2006 featuring "Creeping Up the Backstairs"
• My Obsession With the Girls in their videos
• Tour announcement

Comments

[J]

>>Two years ago, I bought Arctic Monkeys tix right when they went on sale for their first U.S. shows. It took two days to sell out.

Untrue. Those first two Mercury Lounge shows were put on sale waaaaaay early, and tix were available for a long time. I'd bought mine before I even heard the band's music b/c I thought they'd be a goofy garage act.

[MD]

You think you've been waiting for them a long time? Shani and I wandered into a little club in Glasgow back in Sept. 2005. We just happened to stumble on a great little band who was rocking the house down. After their set we went up and got the name of the band. When we got back home we wrote to them insisting they play New York. Fast forward to summer 2006, and they're playing Reading/Leeds. And by the time they get to NYC, their music's in a friggin iPod commercial! And playing with Pete Townshend and opening for the Police. I'm glad they're doing so well, but it's a little annoying. I knew them first!

[A]

Gotta agree with the comment about subtitles, couldn't understand a word of the "stage banter" when they played Brixton(London), shame really, brilliant except for that. Oh and before I forget they're bringing out a DVD of the Brixton concerts, meant to be jst the Friday 2nd gig bt am guessing it'll be all brixton gigs

[Dfactor]

I like guitarists who have stickers on their guitars. Yes, I do.