Spoon @ Little Radio - "Everything Hits At Once"

Spooooooooooooon! The battle cry of The Tick.
Spooooooooooooon! The only utensil you really need.
Spooooooooooooon! The band with the least secret show in the history of secret shows.

All the indie annas and uber fans came out in their Monday best for last night’s Dewars-sponsored “secret show” at Little Radio. Singer/Songwriter, John “The Slice” Vanderslice, soothed the eager crowd with his styled and reflective indie ballads as the well-dressed sardines packed the sweatshop warehouse waiting for Spoon to go on.

During this time I wondered who would hold up better in a Celebrity Death Match -- John Vanderslice or James Van Der Beek? Ultimately I decided I was not qualified to make that sort of judgment. Also during this time, a roving gang of car burglars made glass confetti out of my pal’s car window.

Armpit-like in scent and moisture level, the venue gushed rock and roll for the hour long Spoon set. Predictably, they held back some crowd favs like the inimitable “I Turn My Camera On” until the very end. About half way through the show, the taller folks started to wilt (heat rises) and they headed for the back making viewing possible for the rest of us. But even out on the street the sound was flawlessly clear.

Spoon’s live show is sweatier than their recorded material, but it stays true to form. It doesn’t dally in variance. It never sags or drags, and certainly doesn’t hit a wrong note or miss a cue. Their live show is as fussy yet unaffectedly exquisite as their records. Spoon is the kind of band that could sing the US tax code make it sound interesting.

Video by Lisa Brenner for LAist