On Saturday, I got my Saint Motel fix in the middle of the afternoon. The Los Angeles band announced on Twitter and Facebook they were shooting a commercial for DEWAR’S® Blended Scotch Whisky and were looking for an audience at the Echoplex around 4pm. I first thought they will be filming one song for the ad, but the whole thing turned out to be a real mini-concert in the middle of the afternoon, even coming with one free drink! Okay, I know nothing about Scottish whisky and I don’t even drink, but I know a lot about the super-vitalizing effect of Saint Motel’s music, contrarily to that of the whisky, at least for me!
People had heard about the news and a nice crowd had gathered in front of the club where the Rolling Stones played just a few weeks ago – but I digress, I still haven’t digested my failed attempt at getting in – but back to Saint Motel, err, no they didn’t cover the Stones, but they did cover The Who by the way, and I think it was ‘A Quick One While He’s Away’.
For the occasion, the glam-fab four guys were accompanied by three other musicians, who were bringing sax, trumpet and percussion to the mix of the upbeat and explosive sound. After an unbelievable number of ‘the band is taking the stage’ takes, yes they were shooting an ad after all, some ‘it was perfect, one more!’ and another round of ‘the crowd is getting crazy now’ takes, several apologies and thanks from A/J – aaaaaww they are so nice! – the film crew disappeared from the stage, and Saint Motel could start the show.
The crew was still around, and if I can’t tell what part or what song will end up in the commercial, Saint Motel played ten songs as if all of them matter, most of them off their debut album ‘Voyeur’, but also a few of their beloved classics like ‘Butch’, a cover and even a new one ‘Just My Type’. They were in great shape as usual, elegant as always, effortlessly playing their glamorous songs, and the crowd, especially the girls, loved them as usual! I have seen them enough times now to know that they establish right away a good contact with any crowd and put on a dynamic and explosive show even at 5 pm in the afternoon.
The always charismatic and friendly A/J was doing most of the talking – the film crew was from Spain and it was Aaron’s birthday! – when he wasn’t breaking into stylish dance moves, Aaron Sharp and Dak were doing their own guitar-bass dance, and everything, combined with Greg Erwin’s muscular drumming, was bringing an unique artsy energy to the music. With their original and exuberant combination of Latin rhythms, samba, swing tempo and other exotic-retro elements, Saint Motel’s music has a sound and a style of its own – I defy you to find which band they sound like – it’s poppy-impetuous-glam and it shines at its best when it’s played live.
‘Benny Goodman’, ‘Puzzle Pieces’ and ‘Stories’ may be the songs I enjoyed the most live, and the band was playing them with such an exhilarating pleasure. One last thing, so far Saint Motel has played in some fancy places, at the Hammer museum, at LACMA, at La Brea Tar Pits, they have organized some surprising shows like this Zombie Prom or this 21st May Judgment Day party at the Roxy, but this whisky commercial is a new turn, are they selling out?
Setlist
Honest Feedback
Benny Goodman
Feed Me Now
Butch
Just My Type
Cover (A Quick One While He’s Away, The Who)
Daydream /Wetdream/ Nightmare
At Least I Have Nothing
Puzzle Pieces
Stories
