This night of
Hopscotch Music Festival was centered around
CAM Raleigh for me. Others have complained about the sound at CAM, and it is a bit hollow. But I just think it's made for a great setting when I've seen bands there at prior Hopscotches (can you pluralize that?). Plus, I was really looking forward to this particular line-up.
The large room was eerily empty before the show...
But it would fill up fast before the first band, Carrboro's
Wyrms, took the stage, and stay packed for the duration of the three consecutive sets I watched. The Wyrms haven't played much lately, thanks to the addition of a little baby grub :), but they haven't missed a step. Loud, tight, garage-y goodness oozed from the stage.
The Wyrms take the stage...
I set my Friday night sights on CAM mostly to see the Wyrms and
Car Seat Headrest. But the band in between,
Beach Slang, sounded okay online. Plus, many friends, including some who were in the middle of touring with them, said they were not to be missed. I was glad I stayed. Singer James Alex channeled Paul Westerberg's voice and Pete Townsend's moves for almost an hour, with a little emo thrown in for good measure. Very energetic show, a lotta fun to watch.
Beach Slang...
Car Seat Headrest... I admit I only discovered this band in listening prep for Hopscotch (despite the vaunted dozen or so bandcamp releases in the 5 years leading up to their Matador signing). And I really shouldn't like them. Will Toledo looks about 17, and as far as subject matter, sings about the life of someone that age or not much older. Yeah. But he does it with an old soul and a poetry not often seen in this type of music. I'm not a lyrics guy, but it's hard not to notice lyrics like "In the back of a medicine cabinet / You can find your life story / And your future in the side effects."
The music was great, too. I read a write-up that described this show as very much about nostalgia, recalling to the 90s "indie guitar" era. I was big into that shit, but I just didn't hear it. Sure they're in that general mode. If anything, more '70s-'80s NY art-punk a bit. But they didn't sound derivative at all to me live (or on Teens of Denial, for that matter). While the show started very quietly -- almost folky -- it didn't stay that way for long. Despite the punk outbursts, though, Car Seat Headrest are never afraid to rein it in, dispensing as needed. They've got the kind of tense restraint and release of an early Versus. Car Seat Headrest's live show only confirmed for me that this kid's a real original. This music's going to be remembered for years to come.
Oh, one thing might be kind of derivative, if unintentionally. Toledo looks for all the world like a very young Conor Oberst.
Conor Oberst with his first band, Commander Venus (Sluggo's in Pensacola ~1996; he was about 16 years old)...
Car Seat Headrest (CAM Raleigh 2016; tell me I'm wrong)...
I could've stayed for
Twin Peaks, who I'm sure were good (though I heard they threw a mic stand and hit some kid in the head, apologizing profusely afterwards!). I also thought about going around the corner to deep South for
Diet Cig, who were on my short list to see. But between the day parties and these CAM shows, I had just about had my fill of the indie/guitar rock. Plus, I felt guilty that, as a NOLA native, I had never seen
Big Freedia before. I was listening to her raps in
Galactic's music and some really cool
NOLA remixes years ago, and telling people up here all about the "sissy bounce" trend down there (I think it's pretty much just merged into bounce now).
Although there was a huge line at
Lincoln Theatre when I got there, it moved quickly and I managed to see about half the show. Freedia invited audience members onstage to "shake that azz," and many did. Between raps, members of Freedia's entourage showed off their own acrobatic moves, much more impressive than run-of-the-mill twerkin'. It was as much party as concert. I got the feeling it would have been more fun in a different setting though. Maybe a smaller club (Lincoln's almost as big a setting as I can really enjoy a show anyway), and with a more diverse crowd... a little surprised that it was just about all white hands reaching up at the stage. But it's great that she's reaching a larger audience. I while this show was just with a DJ (and the dancers), I hear she'll be touring soon with a full band. THAT should be fun.
Big Freedia...
Up next, Saturday day and night: Zack Mexico, ET Anderson, Downtown Boys, et al. Maybe I'll get those posted by the time next year's
Phuzz Phest is coming up. :p
