|
Feathergun : Alterknit Lounge
Feathergun's show at the Alterknit Lounge (Knitting Factory) was almost like any other show at one of the most intimate live music venues in LA, with a mass of loyal fans crowding the small stage and roaring, heart-pounding music spilling out of the speakers…oh yeah, except for the MTV film crews. Think that MTV doesn't film local up-and-coming bands very often? You're right. This is one you better pay attention to.
After starting almost an hour late (something for which the Knitting Factory seems to be gaining a reputation), Feathergun had some pretty high expectations riding on them - at least on this end. But it was apparent just by watching the fans that they weren't put off by the delay at all. They knew what was coming - and knew it was worth waiting for. After making it on stage, Feathergun starts off with "Disillusion", pumping out a lot of sound for just three musicians. Garrett Smith on drums skillfully gives the song a tight, crisp rhythmic spine. Sam Lewis, main songwriter, guitarist, lead vocalist, and "father" of the band, is reminiscent of Elvis Costello in his vocals. The sound is distinctly rock meets classic rock meets punk. Feathergun self-titles its sound "Cubicle Rock" and "Power Point Pop", originating from its members' former days working as office slaves. (Lewis, tongue-in-cheek, defines "Cubicle Rock" as "rock music inspired by endless hours spent in a small partitioned space".) In this first song, they manage to take punk back to what it used to be in the good old days - when hearing the word "punk" made you think of the Ramones instead of Good Charlotte. From here, Feathergun transitions into "Thursday Afternoon", which takes the punk sound they started with and heightens it. The guitarists are really shown in the spotlight during this song, both Lewis and Jesse McCabe on bass, a long-time friend of Lewis's. The sound is pure and tight and focused, impressive for a band that started playing live less than a year ago. A groovy guitar riff kicks off the third song, "Major Mood". With Smith on backup vocals, this song almost has a Primus feel to it. It's got that catchy, punctuated, heavy pop feel. This is the kind of music you can feel through your whole body - the drums pulsating in your legs, the guitars buzzing in your chest. The guitar jams at the end lend a nice classic rock feel.
"Freeway" follows, sounding a bit like "Tremor Christ" by Pearl Jam at first, and illuminating what's already becoming a theme in Feathergun's song: a punctuated, pulsing sound that makes it pretty much impossible to sit still. This song has a lighter pop style and shows off Feathergun's amazingly tight endings that leave you almost breathless. "Punjab" is next, and Lewis describes it as their "Radiohead-esque" song. It definitely maintains a more ethereal feel to it during the verses, while the chorus punks out a little more. "Saw Your Thong" is next, which is not only fun because of the lyrics (totally amusing), but also because the crowd starts jumping up and down with its infectious beat.
"Living Without" follows, and is absolutely beautiful. It is possibly one of the best songs of the night, and yet halfway through, a problem of the night becomes clear: Lewis's volume, or rather, lack of it. There seems to be a battle all night between the band and the venue's sound check staff. Lewis needs his vocals bumped up a little bit throughout the whole show, at times bumped up a LOT, and unfortunately it never seems to happen. Even so, this is still one of their strongest songs. "This Song" and "Glaucoma" follow, the former briefly bringing Pearl Jam's "Go" to mind. Both songs combine punctuated, punk style elements while still preserving their quintessential rock sound.
"Butterball" is the last main song, and it's a slower rock song, sounding almost like an old 1950s tune. In a brief teaser,"18 With A Bullet", Lewis jumps into a falsetto, sounding uncannily like Beck on his fabulous "Debra". The end of "Butterball" morphs into a jamming music potluck called "Medley Les Cubicles", ranging from covers of Michael Jackson to the Spice Girls, and more. Feathergun is having so much fun, they don't want to stop - and neither does the audience. The band leaves the stage, but is brought back by the fans for an encore, something that rarely occurs in small venues with multiple bands lined up to play. At one point during this last brand new encore song, "Going Out, Going Down" Feathergun sounds almost eerily like Coldplay, specifically the ambitious guitar waves of "Yellow". It's a great end to a terrific show.
When all was said and done, taking into account the late start to the show, the sound problems, and the repeatedly blocked views by the MTV cameramen, this was still, without a doubt, one of the singular most rewarding shows seen in LA by this writer. Lewis said once, in response to the question of what music means to him: "Music is freedom. It clears the mind and lifts the soul to another plane of existence." That's a pretty insightful clue as to what motivates this band. Bassist McCabe wore a shirt on this night which stated simply: "Quit Work. Make Music." It's pretty likely this dream will become Feathergun's reality in the not-too-distant future.
Article by: Jenn Cassie
Submitted: May, 2003
Artist Website: www.feathergun.com
Email: jennc@thelamusicscene.com
|
|
