On Friday Night, My brother and I were prepared to go to the Los Campesinos! show at Turner Ballroom. We were briefly swayed by free Morrissey Tickets, but clear judgment prevailed, and we decided to pony up the mere $13 to go see Los Campesinos!.
Best.decision.ever.
My brother and I are very similar in our preferences for concerts, and the following traits are our favorites:
- Good, fun music
- spectacle
- insanity
- fun crowds
- lots of weird instruments
- Cute indie boys (for my enjoyment)
- Cute indie girls (for his enjoyment)
- Epic-ness.
To begin, however, I do have to ask-- What in the bejeezus was Turner trying out with their table set up that night? They had a set of tables placed like dinner theatre in the room, with rows of seating behind. As the opening band, Skylarkin, began to play, the awkwardness of the set up was palpable, until they finally offered a prize to whomever came up to touch the stage first. My brother and I, knowing that all people need is someone else to break the ice, got up and stood front and center, motioning for the rest of the people to stand up with us. ..which they did, thank god.
Skylarkin was very cute and enjoyable. Not my favorite opening band on the planet-- but they did the PERFECT set, enough to get a taste of the band, and left us without droning on forever. There are a lot of opening bands who don't know how long is too long. The Drummer was enamoring, however. He practically hate fucked his drums throughout the set, and reminded me of a real-life Animal. Red hair and all. It made me feel an almost uncomfortable level of interest with him as he played.. I found myself staring throughout the set, not because I was trying to, but because I couldn't help it!
Los Campesinos! came out and within the first thirty seconds, my brain exploded in joygasms. Glockenspiels, synthesizers, rock & roll violin, two guitar players, xylophones, and a pink haired, argyle wearing, girl bass player.
The lead singer, Gareth, had a really endearing quality to him, almost delicate, effeminate and flouncy (Which I think just has to do with being British?), and I couldn't help but compare him to Connor Oberst-- if Connor Oberst took his Prozac that day.
He also looked kinda like a kid I used to hang out with named Beau, but that was mostly the ears.
I loved screaming the play along lyrics, "We have to take the car because the bike is on fire!", "Sweet Dreams, Sweet Cheeks!", and my personal favorite, "I'M NOT FINISHED!" from the song 'Death to Los Campesinos!', which is a scream-able song the whole way through.
One of the highlights of the show for me was the 'mosh pit' that formed as the show went on, which I think was probably the happiest pit I've ever seen. Smiles and hugs and slamming pogo style into one another with a unity I haven't seen since the basement shows of my teen years. It was rare and it was nice.
At the Encore, the band came out to play and a few jumped into the crowd. Right into the mosh pit. Somehow-- the music stayed perfect, clear and fun, and Gareth grabbed a small blond indie pup by the back of the neck, pulled him in forehead to forehead and screamed into his little face. It was beautiful. At one point I was flanked on all sides by guys with instruments and getting all wrapped up in cords.
This is the type of show I cherish. This is the concert that I always dreamed about in bed at night.. It was really, really great.
When asked about the show, I took a moment to contemplate the best way to articulate the 3 hours spent at Turner Ballroom, dancing my big ole' ass off...
It was a Punk Rock Church Revival Dance Party.
..And I was converted to the church of Los Campesinos!
Here are a few of their incrdibly adorable music videos to enjoy:
