Art Brut / Cymbals Eat Guitars @ Johnny Brenda's: Pop of the Tops

 

Eddie Argos prays, "Dear God, please make Kings of Leon go away."

It seems lately that I've been repeating my concert going habits -- multiple Doves shows, multiple Phoenix shows next week and now Art Brut returns to the space. There's a simple explanations, I like going to shows that I know that will be a good time.

For once, I wanted to see Argos and Co. outside of NYC. They had just completed a first -- five straight sold out nights at Mercury Lounge. There was no rest for the Brut as they continue on their U.S. tour with a single night at JB's in Fishtown (or Williamsburg South).

The setlist:

• Alcoholics Unanimous
• Bang Bang Rock and Roll
• The Passenger
• Pump Up the Volume
• Summer Job
• Bad Weekend
• Demons Out
• Emily Kane
• Nag Nag Nag Nag
• Love to L.A.
• DC Comics
• Modern Art
• Direct Hit
• My Little Brother
• Slap Dash
• ENCORE: Formed a Band
• Twist and Shout
• Post Soothing Out

This is my fifth Art Brut show. I was at their first ever U.S. show at Maxwell's in 2005. Looking back then and comparing it to now, they haven't changed much. The material off their third album, Art Brut vs. Satan, isn't much different from their debut. The stage show is the same with Eddie going through the same antics. It's all good. In a ever changing musical landscape, it's comforting to know that some bands are satisfied making music on their own terms and not leaning towards musical trends.

You come to an Art Brut showing knowing that you're going to hear the popular songs like "Bang Bang rock and Roll", "Emily Kane" and "Pump Up the Volume". You know that Eddie is going start each song by saying "You ready Art Brut?" and that at some point he's going to jump into the crowd. On the other hand, you can expected spontaneous antics and streams of consciousness. He also talked about a gig at nearby Haverford College and doing a keg stand.

While Art Brut is about good times, they are not afraid to have a point or view. On Saturday, he mocked Kings of Leon and "Sex on Fire". He repeated, "My sex is fire" until it became silly. He also bemoaned going to record shops and seeing other merchandise like video games and coffee mugs.

The thing with Art Brut is that you can spend a lot of time analyzing the music and the concept behind a band. Eddie doesn't sing and his songs are about what's on his mind. Basically, he takes the pompousness out of rock music and makes it about having a laugh and having a good time. Thus, the Johnny Brenda's show was probably my favorite Art Show gig ever. Everyone was in good spirits, even with the uncomfortable sweatiness in the room. It's air conditioned, but the fog machine goes into hyperdrive. It's like seeing a show in a sauna sometimes.

In all, Art Brut ... good. Art Brut ... fun. Art Brut ... love.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thumbs up for New York's Cymbals Eat Guitars, the much buzz-about indie band that opened for Art Brut on Friday as well as on this Philly date. While they are a relatively young band, most of their songs are impressive little epics of bombastic, large guitars and screaming vocals. The obvious comparison is Built to Spill mixed with the indie-aesthetics of Pavement -- the idea of contrasting large soundscapes with quiet moments. You'll find that in "And the Hazy Sea" and "Like Blood Does". I'm more of a fan of "Indiana", a whimsical tune with a horns and a sense of grandeur.

Their debut album comes out in September, which should be interesting if they weed out some of the songs that kind of wonder around and don't work like "Cold Springs".

 

 

Comments

[Brandy]

Um....Williamsburg South? Philly will now commence throwing rotten tomatoes at you!!!

[mongushu]

DUde. There is NOTHING wrong with CEG's Cold Spring. Have you actually listened to that song? Its fucking lovely