AM is a musician who friend requested me on MySpace months ago. I listen to every artist that does so and I will add them if I'm into it. Simple as that. I also appreciate artists that frequently post bulletins, so AM has kept me entertained. A bulletin had been posted to request volunteers at shows to help sell merch. My feeling is that so many artists, even from LA, skip San Diego on tour, so if I am a one person welcome wagon, then so be it. I'm happy to do it.
I volunteered via MySpace and got a confirmation e-mail from Mia, the band manager, with instructions. Mind you, I have lived in Kensington for 7 years and the only time I've been inside Lestat's was during the Taste of Adams this year. I have never been into vampires, so the name alone bugs me, and it also attracts a trenchcoat mafia crowd of misfit kids who spend hours chain smoking and drinking coffee while comparing notes on the latest playstation game or role playing games. I'm serious. I was listening. Still, I thought it was worth it to check this out.
I arrived early, around 8:20. Lestat's shows never start before 9, we were informed, because upstairs there is a fencing academy whose stomping would impede performances. I met Mia and we hung out while she accepted all of AM's friend requests. When the show was finally ready to start, we opened the doors. Since she opened the show, she set the entry cost at $10. TEN DOLLARS!! The club gets $2 and everything else can be split somehow among the bands. I used to think I'd own a coffee shop one day, but even at $4 a coffee, it would seem hard to make your money to support a music venue, whereas a bar can easily sell 3 or 4 $4 drinks to each attendee. Something to think about. Still, I was surprised that there were no objections to the cost (though many people had to find an ATM or borrow money from friends), and throughout the night had 74 paying entrants making the venue standing room only for some parts of the night. And the crowd really surprised me, as it seemed like a crowd you'd find on any given night at the Belly Up or at a KPRI show. Older, affluent, white. Just a generalization. No vampires at least.
Molly Jenson opened the show. She was pretty good, though everyone who knows me knows I'm slightly biased against women vocalists. I don't know why, I just am. She had a backup violinist and played a few songs. She played "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" which can kinda tell you what her niche is. Not for me, but I'm sure she has her own audience. She namedropped Greg Laswell, so that's always safe, I suppose.
AM was next. The crowd were like zombies but he sounded great. His songs have been featured on several tv shows but it would be nice if there was a little more energy in the live performances of the songs. Mia and I were talking in the back, so our attention was divided but I'd like to see him on a bill with say, Pete Yorn, or Duncan Sheik, or on the Hotel Cafe Tour.
Chris Pierce was next. He's from LA, too, so a lot of people had come down to see him. He was acoustic with a blues twist and kinda reminded me of Amos Lee. He also had a little funk thrown in during the faster songs. The crowd seemed to love it. I enjoyed it but it's not really for me. Nothing I would listen to at home really. But that doesn't mean he's not good, just not what I'm into.
Pawnshop Kings closed the show. They are two brothers from the OC. I have to say first that any band with the name "kings" in it, for some reason, makes me think they are some sorta swing thing. Don't know why, just some association I've made in my head. The other thing is that the older brother kinda rubbed me the wrong way when it came time to sell his merch and have his mailing list displayed. Mia and I are quite competent and he was condescending to us like if we would rip him off or lose his money. So that in my head, I might have prejudged these guys. They both play guitar and both sing. Supposedly they are Christians, and I think they could really make a shit load of money in that market with all their harmonies and songs with religious undertones and metaphors of being saved and seeing the light, etc. I wasn't really into their thing at all.
Instead, Mia and I chatted about music, the industry, how Joe Escalante was her mentor (!!!), how long she's been in music, and basically just tons of rad advice on getting into the whole thing. Part of that inspired this blog, since I keep my other one a secret as I talk about personal stuff all over it. So maybe this will be my stepping stone.
After the show and after we counted the money and paid out the bands, everyone headed over to the Ould Sod. Sara Petite was playing with Rick Wilkins on guitar and played covers like "Let It Ride" by Ryan Adams and some Lucinda Williams, so I was happy. We all had one drink, but they were kinda over the noise, so after the one, they left and I headed to the Ken Club for last call.
No comments:
Post a Comment