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The Echoplex was hit by a tidal wave of audio marshmallow fluff last Thursday. By the time I arrived, the air was sticky with it. Natalie Portman's Shaved Head was on stage. You want a band that can provoke a reaction just by naming things, it's this one. I mean their album is called Glistening Pleasure for God's sake. Who wouldn't want to own Glistening Pleasure?
Unfortunately that is where the genius seems to wear off. Relying heavily on their sequined outfits to carry their show, NPSH launched into some of the most boring synthesized pop I've heard in a very long time. If you put monkeys in a room with a bunch of keyboards to bang on I'm sure that they could have come up with more interesting melodies. By the time they got to Sophisticated Side Ponytale that has a chorus that goes, "I like it when you say you've got a gun in your bag. That's so hot! That's so hot!" My thoughts began venturing into the dangerous land of the viciously bored. I began asking myself, "Do I have a gun in my bag? That would be hot." At which point I made the executive decision to go hangout with the smokers outside, away from the hideous pop.
The Brazilian band CSS came on at around eleven and the place went nuts. CSS1 is renowned for irreverent dance music. A real "I don't give a shit what you think" attitude which has earned them praise from critics and dancers everywhere. Lead singer, Lovefoxxx2 took the stage in a body suit covered in squiggles and an enormous feathery head dress, while screaming unintelligible things at the crowd. I assume they were things like, "Are you having fun?" and "Let's party Los Angeles!" or any other number of insipid things that rockers like to scream at the crowd, but honestly it could have been the Table of Elements for all I know.
CSS' electronica/rock shook the crowd into a dancing fever, but had no effect on my legs. With the exception of Music is My Hot Hot Sex that has this wild almost primal bass which is impossible to ignore, CSS was too sweet for my liking. It is the kind of band that would appeal to people who are cool with eating cupcakes for breakfast. I am more of a bacon and eggs kind of girl. Sugary disco is all well and good, but I need some resemblance of substance. Alala is not a good excuse for a lyric, let alone an entire song. But I'll let you decide for yourselves.
And while I have you attention, dear concert-going Angelenos, I will address something that has concerning me for quite some time about your behavior. I know cell phones can take video now, but it is no excuse to use them during the concert. Here is why. First and foremost, it ruins your concert going experience. Because you are spending all your time looking though this tiny screen, you miss what's going on around you. You forget to dance and let the music engulf you because you're so set on getting the perfect angle.
Secondly, you will never watch this video. Ok, maybe once. You'll show your buddy or post it on YouTube, but that's it. You'll watch it once, maybe twice at most, and then it will rot on your hard drive until you remember to delete it. Finally, when you hold your phone up to take the video, you block the view of everyone behind you. And they hate you for it. I am surprised the back of your head doesn't explode into flames from the heat of the glares. We understand reaching up to take a quick picture, but a five minute video! Were you raised in a barn? Drop your cameras and dance. It's for your own good. Otherwise I may have to lead a cell phone smashing revolution.
Photos were taken by the talented Timothy Murray
1. Which stands for Cansei de Ser Sexy or Tired of Being Sexy (something reportedly Beyoncé Knowles said she was.)
2. Seriously. That is her name.
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It's also disrespectful to the performers and venue-owners, and there is a good chance it's illegal.
Molly, I couldn't agree more with your review. I saw them at the Mayan earlier this year and had the same lackluster feeling, even though every time I listen to their album it pumps me up.
I saw CSS in 2006 and thought they were excellent, but maybe they aren't as exciting since their newest album is a little less dancey.
They opened for Ladytron, who were unbelievably boring - so anything could have been better.
You got this one right. There is only two good songs on the CSS album. Telling that they are trax 1 and 2 on the disc.
You surprise me! Funny, I thought everyone had a great time. Certainly all the people I was with left totally satisfied with the marshmallow stickiness (I've long been a fan of s'mores!). What can I say, I get enough meat and potatoes at work. On Thursday night my friends and I wanted pure candy and joy (glistening pleasure, I guess) and that's exactly what we got! It was a marvelous night in LA. Thank you CSS and NPSH!
Liz Lemon, er Molly,
How cool it is you walked right out of Thursday night Must See TV and right into little ol' Echoplex to poot some snark bombs and make sure everyone knows how to rock a show. Don't record a moment of fun! You might actually enjoy it again!
But only once sayeth Molly. The people want as much marshmallow as possible in times like these Molly sweetie. Springsteen's Nebraska ain't gonna be heard for a few years. Now get back to your couch quick! You don't want let any of that sticky fun get in the way of your self loathing! Turn on Channel 4 and get out the Ben and Jerry's!
kisses!
Holy crap. "Poot some snark bombs," is the best insult hurled at me possibly ever. Hooray for you, Sassy.
not sure how long i've been reading this site daily, but it's two editors ago. back in the day. never have i been motivated to register and post. "POOT SOME SNARK BOMBS!!" awesome.
btw- CSS ain't sexy either. if natalie portmans shaved head is as bad as their name then they suck too.
nice review, molly. only a genius could inspire such genius.
Molly, I got to disagree about cell phone and cameras at concerts. One of the great things about the socially networked, user-generated new media paradigm is that consumers of media can now participate directly. By uploading photos and videos of the show after, and sharing that content with their friends, concert-goers prolong the experience they paid for.
Consider tiny screens obscuring your view the new glowsticks / lighters. :-D
You are decreasing not only your level of enjoyment at the concert(by being focused on a screen) but others around you. This is not worth one post on YouTube. It's just not.