Thursday, July 19, 2007
Let's just preface this post by saying last night was probably the best show we've seen this year.
We had been anticipating this night for so long that we cut out early to race through West Hollywood, middle fingers shooting out like daggers from BMW and Mercedes Benz windows left and right, only to see no line in front of our dear old friend The Troubadour. No line for three of the best new bands in L.A.? Los Angeles, we love you.
Fucking gorgeous. That was overheard while Warpaint opened with a bold and utterly beautiful set of post-rock ethereality. Physically, yes, but that's too obvious. Musically, however, it's a bit unexpected. While probably well-studied in the art of Blonde Redhead, Jawbox, and Sonic Youth these ladies have a rhythmic feel and style all their own. And although the band may get some heat for the celebrity factor surrounding them (which we'll avoid mentioning), we can safely say they don't sound like a "Hollywood" band at all. Thank goodness.
We are ashamed to say that we have always liked Moonrats but only found true love when they moved to Los Angeles -- we're spiteful like that. Now, this like-to-love progression has transitioned into obsessive lust. This band is perfection but that's what would be expected from former members of PGMG, Your Enemies Friends, and Bella. Every song sounds like the best song you've ever heard with wave after wave of sexy riffing and shimmering choruses.
Recordings of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros have made their way around fan chat rooms, bulletin boards, and torrent forums but these recordings gave no indication of what we saw on stage last night. What we saw was a celebration of life. A love explosion. A musical orgy. It was something out of a dream. And as vague and nondescript as that may sound it was just that. All we know is that Alex Ebert pulled out all the stops with this new material inviting a who's who of all-star guest musicians, and of course an occasional duet with the one and only Jade Castrinos.
We loved this show. We loved the crowd (too many famous people to mention). But most of all we love these bands. And so will you, very soon.
Warpaint performs tonight at Spaceland and opens for The Slits at the El Rey on 8/3. Moonrats opens for Girls Against Boys on 7/22 at the El Rey and performs at the L.A. Record release show on 7/29.
Photos from the show posted here.
Warpaint - "Stars" (MP3)
Moonrats - "Goodbye Baby" (MP3)
Check out videos of Alex and the boys on YouTube.
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