We made sure to get their early to see Crime in Stereo a 5 pc band from Long Island NY. Something was wrong the lights were so dark on the stage that there really was nothing at all to look at. Well and nothing to hear. My thought is if you don’t have a good sound, you can win people with great stage presence. If you have great sound, then its ok to really have no stage show at all. But what are you if you have neither?
I’m not saying Crime in Stereo was horrible, it isn’t bad, they don’t suck, they’re not good……they’re sorta not there. I think they’re one of those bands who does a bit better recorded than live. At least in the minds eye you can get some imagery going on. Live well, I’m really not sure if they were alive at all.
The Chevy Theater is a great smallish venue that always gets a rockin crowd and I really love shows there. The sound is awesome the staff is friendly and even if I’m in the cheap seats I can see well. Tonight maybe everyone was making pie cuz it was at about 20% capacity. There were more people on stage setting up than in the third section. I’m not joking. It was pit or nothing apparently and even that wasn’t a pit. No crowd surfing as there weren’t enough people to support anyone. I’m exaggerating there. But I am not kidding about the 20% capacity.
We came to see Glassjaw another NY band with an amazing screamer in its lead Daryl Palumbo is drinking Slurpees cuz seriously he must hack up blood with that roar. Ok now wait. I always check bands out on Youtube to get a feel for what I’m off to see. I don’t like surprises. So when they lowered the green stripe and star Puerto Rican flag (is that legal? its like ol glory in pink and yellow) and the drum kit front and facing stage left…….wtf?
The band comes out with bassist Manuel Carrero (please forgive me if that is incorrect, the band was not introduced and they have more line up changes than Menudo) back to the audience, snugly tucked to the drummer Durijah Lang,guitarist Justin Beck further back it almost looked like a band of hobo’s using the bass drum as a fire barrel. Palumbo dapper in a suit threw out some flip remarks and a few good laughable ones. He jerked and thrusted his body like a marionette. WTF2? This is NOT the band I researched. This band was going all weirdo post indy weirdo shit on me,….ughk. But let me say the band is fantastic, it was pointed out to me by my bassist companion that Carrero was not only playing a 5 string but was ‘killah’ and I agree. With his back to the crowd he freakin was the star. What mind blowing talent. Again the stage was too dark the band didn’t move at all (come to think of it maybe no bands were there just cardboard cut outs? I mean it is holiday time and all) But I love Glassjaw I love how the vocals always seem to have nothing to do with the music, almost like having the radio dial between 2 stations, confusing but still pleasant. Screaming insanity? Hell yes.
The ‘headliner’ was Brand New, near the end of Glassjaws set someone in the crowd shouted ‘you guys are better than brand new!” (which also goes to show you how empty the venue was, if the band wasn’t singing you could hear a pin drop), well apparently that person was in the majority cuz the place cleared out after they ended.
A drunk college aged crowd is always fun donthcha think? I especially like when drunken jocks speaking in grand terms that they’re on a mission to meet the band crash into my section and in their enthusiasm spill beer on my kid. Freakin scumbags.
So me and the Magpie stinking like a keg party departed after 2 songs by Brand New. THEY had spotlights on the stage. Too bad no one was there to see them.