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Slim's August 31 2002 Review by Jake Thomas Good holy christ almighty, this is what a rock show is supposed to be like. I'm sure I'll be put in the shit box by Daz for missing the Playing in Fog show at the Hemlock, but on this particular Saturday night, my heart and my ass were at Slim's. And given the success of the PiF show, I'm sure she'll forgive me soon enough. So I trek down to Slim's and stand in the much-too-long will call line so I can get my ticket. Lots of people with fancy haircuts and snazzy clothes are milling about. I feel out of place, but I don't want to feel in place amongst most of these folks. If that sounds jaded, there you are. Anyways, I finally get in and Beehive and the Barracudas are already playing. Decent stuff - I'll probably get laughed at for the comparison, but they made me think of the Melvins covering Rocket from the Crypt songs. Sorta had that San Diego sound, but in a slow-as-molasses style. Some of the people were wearing masks, and they had a cute girl who sang and played keyboards that looked a little like Sarah Silverman. I'm all for more girls looking like Sarah Silverman. Too many pretty people talking while they were playing though, which grew to annoy me. After the Cudas finished, I weaseled my way up towards the front for a good view and to get away from all the jibber-jabber types that were in the back. You could tell everyone up here was there for the music, and how. Things began to pack in tight, and there was a dj on the stage spinning whatever - good stuff, but nothing I knew. After a bit of a wait, our lads finally entered the arena. They immediately went right into a blistering set, with a great mix of songs off both their debut 'Automatic Midnight' and 'Suicide Invoice'. Actually they played almost every one of them, so I'm not going to name them off; the only exception was the one I wanted to hear the most, 'Mystery Boy', but the rest of it was so good that I didn't even give it much of a thought until after the show was over. They even played one Drive Like Jehu song'Bullet Train to Vegas' (Oh yeah, for those not familiar with Jehu, they were a short-lived San Diego band from the early nineties that a couple of members of the Hot Snakes were in). Those in the crowd who knew Jehu and the song went nuts when they played it. The songs were short bursts of genius each and every one of them. The band sounded like a train wreck, but a melodious and well timed one. It was one of those times where you don't just hear the music, you feel it. I know that kinda sounds like some new age shit, but I would almost swear that my heartbeat changed from it's normal pattern so that it would fit into the drumming on the songs. Everyone up front was really into it and having a great time. I'm even willing to bet that some of the talkative fancy lads and ladies in the back managed to look up at the band between conversations about shoes and accessories and enjoy the music. I wish there was a show that felt this good every week. But then again, if it happened all the time, it wouldn't be so meaningful, would it? ©2002 playinginfog.com |