5 - 2008 - rpg punk

Venue Review: Skully’s Music Diner

For those that care, Skully’s is consistently voted, year after year, Columbus’ Best Singles Scene. I have personally witnessed many a drunken hook-up at Skully’s so I can attest to this.

Good points: There is always at least one band worth listening to on any given night. They usually have at least one free concert per week too. They have 18+ shows all the time. Ladies 80’s is a HUGE draw. Coat check in winter. Decent food. Service Industry Night on Tuesdays (Service industry employees pay 1/2 price for drinks). Smoking patios in the front and back.

Bad Points: Only 1 pool table (however, it is located on the balcony, which is awesome), the bartenders can be dicks (or bitches as the case may be). The scenester kids can be either incredibly hilarious or ridiculously annoying. It is impossible to not be accosted by bums if you’re standing out front. I recommend using the back patio to smoke, as it is much larger and enclosed by a fence.

Concert Review: As Tall as Lions

Columbus, OH, The Basement, June 12, 2007

Originally posted at musicohio.com

Before the As Tall as Lions concert at the Basement started, I was sitting on the concrete outside the Lifestyles Pavilion. A tall lanky scene-kid walked past me and gave me a funny look. A few minutes later, he walked by me again, but this time he purposely veered towards me just to step over me. He was all but demanding to be noticed, as scene kids always are.

When the Lions got onstage, I realized the tall lanky scene kid was actually the bassist, who metamorphed from a “vintage” t-shirt and jeans into a pretentious vest/slacks combination. But for bands like this, pretentiousness is worn like a badge of honor. Everyone in the band was in a vest and slacks, except the singer who was in a suit. Even their roadies wore matching vests. It was kind of creepy in a very Killers-esque kind of way.

The crowd, which was unfortunately very small, was divided between young, hip scenester dorks and preppy coeds slumming it and pretending to be lesbians of the lipstick variety. There was much dancing of the “nod your head and shuffle your feet” variety, as well as the always hilarious “trying to walk in high heels while drunk” dance. That’s one of my favorites to watch.

Musically, the Lions aren’t bad. By that, I mean that they aren’t incredible musicians, but what they play works very well for what they want to do. And that is far better than what a lot of bands can say. What struck me the most about their performance is how clean and precise they sounded. You could tell that these guys not only practice their songs, but they love them as well. On almost every single song, any given band member could be seen singing along with the lyrics. Even their roadies sang along and played air guitar and air drums. It was like being witness to some sort of bizarre, trendy, indie-rock cult.

Although the crowd was very small, the band played to them like they were in a sold out club. The singer is an able frontman who kept the 30 or so audience members in thrall throughout the concert. He even suggested getting the “lesbians” some more drinks to loosen them up.
The aforementioned bassist was very animated; quite possibly the most lively and energetic bass player I’ve ever seen live. His face was constantly contorting into odd grimaces while he jumped aound the stage like a man possessed.

The tunes ranged from cookie-cutter “indie style” (believe me, I hate using that term) soft rock, some fast hard rock, and some sappy ballads. They only played one cover, Gnarls Barkley’s Transformer, which they turned into a slowed down R & B song.

Concert Review: Kings of Leon, 2007

Kings of Leon, Columbus, OH, Newport Music Hall, June 13, 2007

Originally published at musicohio.com

For one night, the Kings of Leon were the kings of the Newport. They rocked, they rolled, and they played their hearts out. And the sold out crowd loved every single second of it; singing along with every song, clapping with the beat, smiling and laughing throughout the show.

The Kings seem somewhat shy onstage. Very little banter between songs, no excessive showboating by any of the members of the band. The most that Caleb Followill said to the crowd was that this was their last show for this tour, before a two-week break. The rest of their roughly hour and 45 minute set was devoted to the music, and the fans appreciated it greatly.

While the Kings are more famous on the other side of the Atlantic, often hailed by the British music press as “the best band from America in years,” there was no sign at the Newport to make one think they aren’t just as loved here. More than 1200 people packed the venerable concert hall, mostly young, stylish, college folk. Many of the young women wore heels, many of the young men wore girl pants. But all showed their love for the Kings music in the same ways. Singing along with On Call, Molly’s Chambers, California Waiting, The Bucket, among many others.
The outstanding moment of the night happened at the end of the first set, before the encore. Caleb was playing his guitar so fast that his strumming hand was a complete blur. His guitar pick flew out of his hand into the front row of the crowd, however, he never even paused; continuing to play with his thumb for another full minute before the song ended when he smashed the microphone stand down to the stage floor. I couldn’t tell if his hand was bleeding, but i have to imagine it was.
If you don’t understand the hubbub surrounding the Kings of Leon; see them live, before they start playing arena’s and stadiums. You’ll come away with a much more profound appreciation of the band. I went to this concert with no sympathy for the band or their music at all, but came away wishing the show hadn’t ended.

Venue Review: Ravari Room

To see a metal show, the Ravari Room is the place to do it.

Good Points: Small enough and discriminating enough to bring in real metal and punk acts. Servers with Hounddog’s Pizza menu’s until Happy Hour is over. The best Happy Hour in town. 3 pool tables. Friendly (with 1 exception) bar staff. Awesome jukebox. Pinball.

Bad Points: Parking can be a pain. One of the bartenders (squirrelly looking dork with glasses) is a complete asshole. But there are several others who are very nice. Restrooms are always nasty. That’s about it.

Song Review: Idiot Thesis by Parishioners

“Idiot Thesis” is a pretty good tune if you’re into ’60s flashback psychedelics. Excellent music for a summer’s day.

Musically, it is straight-forward psychedelic pop music. Poppy guitar work backed by drums and piano. While the song meanders in parts, it never loses direction.

check out Parishioners on Myspace

Venue Review: Newport Music Hall

The Newport is the oldest continuously running concert venue in the United States. Virtually every big name has played the Newport at one time or another, which is sad because of the state of disrepair the venerable building is in right now.

Promowest doesn’t seem to know what to do with the place. On the one hand, they seem to recognize that Columbus needs a venue with 1200 person capacity to attract mid-sized bands and that they can make money out of that need.

On the other hand, Promowest doesn’t seem to give a shit about upkeep or their customers. They removed the only drinking fountain, the restrooms haven’t been cleaned in years, and they vastly overcharge for water and beer.

the water thing is what really pisses me off though. when i was a teenager, that water fountain was the only thing that kept me alive through many a nights’ mosh pit. and those pig-fuckers at Promowest took out the water fountain and force dkids to pay… what is it now? 3 bucks for a bottle of water?!?!

fuck promowest. someone needs to buy out the Newport before those shitheels run it completely into the ground.

Venue Review: Bernie’s Bagels and Distillery

Bernie’s is the best place in the city to see a punk band. It is truly an underground marvel set about 20 feet below street level. the stage is only 2 inches high to give the bands headroom from the pipes and electrical conduits in the ceiling.

Surprisingly large beer selection, an outdoor patio, cheap cover charges even for national acts.

Bernie’s is currently, and has been for quite some time, my favorite place to see a show.

Song Review: White Devil by Unholy Two

Sounds like a broken Public Service announcement in the midst of the final nuclear holocaust. Naked aggression and violent feedback, mask the intention of the song. i say “mask” because like every Unholy Two song, no matter how important the lyrics are to singer Chris Lutzko, they fall on deaf ears to whoever hears them. The distortion and feedback, not only in recordings but in live performances as well, is so overbearing that the lyrics (and for that matter, the vocals altogether) simply don’t matter.

I’ve read elsewhere about Lutzko’s hatred for all things and how he’s the most evil man in columbus music.

I really don’t see it.

While i don’t personally know him, I’ve seen his act live. They didn’t do anything bad or say anything that i thought was provocative in the least. Then again, i’m the guy that says God kills children because he wants naked boys running around heaven.

all that being said, i dig this tune, as i dig most songs by Unholy Two. Also, in case you are wondering, they play shows every week, so they are pretty easy to see.

Venue Review: High 5 Bar and Grill

High 5 is like the unfortunate middle kid of the family, with Bernie’s being the older brother, and Ravari being the younger sister.

Bernie’s gets the good punk bands and real underground shit, Ravari gets the best metal bands and some really good punk acts, and poor High 5 gets the crap that’s left over.

Back in the day, before High 5 was bought out and renovated, it was a dark, seamy night club that had a dark seamy atmosphere. Nowadays the entire front wall has been replaced with huge windows, the DJ booth looks like some kind of flying saucer, and the bartenders are some of the biggest assholes in the city.

With the exception of the occasional MC Chris concert, there really is no reason to go to High 5 anymore. Unless you want to be treated rudely by people with lame tattoos who wear pants 3 sizes too small.

they serve food, but i’ve never ordered anything. the reason for this is because i’ve looked into the kitchen when the door swung open. no thank you.

all that being said, High 5 always has an exceptional beer selection. which is amusing since 99% of all High 5 patrons drink PBR. you know, PBR, the beer for douche-bag scene kids.

Venue Review: Germain Amphitheater

Even though it no longer exists, Germain Amphitheater has left a legacy in this city.

The very first concert I ever attended was at Germain (then called Polaris Amphitheater). It was a hot and balmy August evening in 1994. Opening was Willie Pheonix, Toad the Wet Sprocket, and headlining was The Cranberries.

My friend Ryan and I stood around trying to find someone to buy us cigarettes (since we were 14 at the time), finally finding a dude who looked to be in his 20’s (he was actually 16). But they sold to him because he looked old. Hell, they probably would have sold to us if we had thought to ask.

Germain brought a lot of big names to Columbus and a lot of big festivals. Yeah, the prices of drinks and food sucked, but they do everywhere. But where else could you see Queens of the Stone Age or Dragonforce share a stage with Jane’s Addiction or Black Label Society? Or see Rush one night, and N.E.R.D. and The Roots the very next night?

After every concert I attended at Germain, I always said, “That is the last time I’m going to that shit hole.” But I always ended up going back.

Germain had problems like bad acoustics, no shade from the sun, and no smoking under the pavilion. But for a lot of people, it provided a lot of good memories.