Chop Suey was a nice, intimate setting for this show. The three bands that played this Thursday night appeared to know each other well, and the small room allowed them to call to the stage friends from the crowd and members from other bands. Not all of the show was ground breaking or what I would call top-notch performance, but the room was packed for the final band, Thao With the Get Down Stay Down, and the wait was worth it.
David Schultz, a solo acoustic guitarist from Richmond, VA, hit the stage first. This stocking cap and glasses-adorned good natured guy played Simon and Garfunkel-inspired tunes for about 30 minutes. Something was missing from his song construction; in fact, I couldn’t differentiate one song from another. For me, things only got interesting when Willis and Adam (the Get Down Stay Down) took the stage for the last song and gave him a rhythm section.
Up next was the Portland Cello Project, led by Douglas Jenkins. They took crowd-participation to the extreme, inviting new people on stage for every couple songs played. Willis Thompson played drums on all songs. The set started off on the dull side with a few originals including Justin Powers on vocals and guitar with a five-cello accompaniment. Things picked up after that with a Pantera cover, “Hey Ya,” then Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal” with a gregarious, red-haired friend on vocals. The band smiled more and more with every dance tune. To end the set, three more friends were invited for a cover of Ah Ha’s “Take On Me.” The glockenspiel player tapped for the occasion evidently does karaoke around Portland, which was fitting. While I must commend this band for trying to bring cello into beer bars, the whole thing came off as poorly executed cello karaoke.
Finally, Thao Nguyen was on stage to give the performance the whole crowd was waiting for. She wore a cute, multi-colored dress and her long black hair was spinning in circles with every guitar strum and crooked-mouthed vocal. Adam Thompson’s bass sound was smooth and funky, completely locked in with Willis Thompson’s pounding drums. Willis showed his skills during a drum solo near the end of “Beat Health Life & Fire,” which was placed mid-set. I expected this band to be folky, but their live sound is entertainingly loud and full. In proper rock form they “ended” the set with their current hit, “Bag of Hammers,” then returned to give the crowd two more. I thoroughly enjoyed these guys, and left the show satisfied that I had the opportunity to be there. For fans’ sake, I hope they don’t outgrow venues the size of Chop Suey anytime soon.
DOWNLOAD: Thao With the Get Down Stay Down - Bag of Hammers (MP3) or Follow us for more Thao With the Get Down Stay Down MP3s (Twitter)
Ugh. Paste’s profile of Free Energy made me kind of hate them. So does your review. It’s this unctuous defense of good-time rock-and-roll ("we’re just here to party, and we’re awesome!") that seems more self-serving than fun-loving.
by beth on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 09.41 pm from the entry: Foreign Born + Free Energy - The Knitting Factory (Brooklyn, NY; Mar. 12, 2010)
that inescapable feeling you are referring to, is that like when you hear something and you could have sworn you heard it before because of the nostalgic catchy quality? or is is like when you’ve heard a band exactly like said band?
great post by the way!
by paul on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 03.15 pm from the entry: The Novel Ideas - "The Sky Is A Field" - Borrow It
Whoa! I had no idea she was enegaged. You would never know with the way she behaves! Wow!
by art on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 09.48 am from the entry: Nikki Darlin and John McCauley: 1+1=1
This comment stream is so meta. Great review Kelly.
by chris on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 07.50 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
no prob. The whole album is excellent, combining some of the harder sonics of Los Angeles with the meat of his debut and obviously difficult to summarize in only 50 words… 
I’d say it’s on par with the debut, but better than Los Angeles.
by kelly on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 06.23 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
By the way, I really liked the mp3 posted. Thanks.
by Joshua H on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 06.17 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
WHO WROTE THIS...PUKE ! “WHO WROTE THIS...PUKE ! “Picture yourself coasting your bike past space funk palm trees, homeless harpists, vintage video arcades, electronic drum circles, and 60s psychedelic singers who’re waiting for the bus. Cosmogramma is kinda like that if someone suddenly tripped you just as you’re starting to enjoy the ride. But in a good way.””
by Joshua H on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 06.17 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
