Fiver / The Papercuts
Make-Out Room
February 2, 2003

Review by Jake Thomas

Sunday night shows are usually pretty mellow, but I didn't expect this. There was almost no one here, which is nice on the one hand because it feels like you‚re getting your own personal show by the band and it reduces the possibility of chatty people being near you, but I can only imagine that it sucks for the bands to play to an empty room.

First up were The Papercuts. I had been meaning to check out these guys for a while, as it contains some members of The Ceramic Isles (or The Cave Ins, before they were forced to change their name) and when I saw them a few months back it was a decent show. The Papercuts definitely mind the same 60's-era-organ-heavy pop sound, but I wouldn't say that they sound alike. Fans of the Shins should check them out, as well as those who enjoy the classics such as the Kinks or what not. You might really like these guys. They played a short, entertaining set of songs, and seemed to be enjoying themselves despite the lack of a crowd. I will certainly endeavor to check them out again in the future.

Fiver was the main band of the night. Not only did they drive here from the central valley to play to an empty house, but apparently their van broke down as well. I would venture to guess that they were not having the best night, but they plugged on anyway and played a good set. I've been enjoying their album 'Strings for Satellites' lately, and they played some tracks off of that as well as plenty of others that I didn‚t know. If you‚ve never heard them, they play a pretty unique blend of different musical styles, but it's pretty much pop music at heart. Shoegaze pop, indie pop, electro pop, jangle pop...whatever you want to call it, it's just good pop music to me. Hopefully all of their shows here don't involve broken down vehicles and absent crowds, cause that would be plenty of reason to not come play for us anymore; and I want them to come back and play again, dammit.

And on a side note, what's up with almost all of the central valley bands having cute girls and drummers with beards in the band? I smell a conspiracy.

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Read our previous Fiver reviews:
Review & Photos Bottom of the Hill, June 11, 2001
Review SXSW, March 15, 2001
Review Bottom of the Hill, September 19, 2000



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