Thailand w/ Death to Anders, The Karabal Nightlife, and Michael Compton @ The Echo 03-12-08

In elementary school, for every field trip there was always a few kids who couldn't go. Some never got the attendance requirement or whatever. Others misbehaved and were told last minute they would have to stay back. Maybe one or two kids, in an inexplicable act of absent-mindedness, forgot their permission slip. Whatever the cause, those left behind would spend the day in a classroom with a substitute, reading books, drawing pictures, and playing games. I'm sure this happened to you once or twice. It was weird; sort of sad and melancholy, but there was also something liberating about having the classroom to yourselves with a group of people who might not otherwise spend the day together.

That was last night at The Echo. With so many of the scene regulars down in Texas, the crowd was a scant 60 or so... but they made the best of it. It was a lot of fun, and (I would imagine) the best local show on the docket for the week.

There was a host of birthdayness. Pete from Death to Anders turned 25, and it was Simon Cardoza's birthday as well. Joe Fielder made the night the semi-official "Radio Free Silverlake Turns 2" party. My birthday was the day before. Access Silverlake (zomg!!11!!oneone1!one!) also saw members of The Transmissions, Radars to the Sky, and Ladies and Gents in attendance as well.

(One quick side-note... as I was leaving The Echo at the end of the night, there was LoneStar everwhere. Around Sunset, Lemoyne, and Alvarado I saw no less than four squad cars and two motor-porkers -- in a two square block area. I don't know if they were looking for someone on the lam or looking to raise some funds with traffic violations, but it felt fucking awful. I hate having law enforcement swarming around... and I understand LA is under patrolled. Double fucking plus good.)


I got to the venue late and only saw the last four songs of The Karabal Nightlife. They were good! They sort of merged some indie folkish tendencies with some moodier, more contemporary, almost (but not really) post-punkish sounds. For some reason, I couldn't help but remember a few H.O.R.D.E. festivals I attended in my formative years, sans the jam aspect. I don't think the songs on their myspace page reflect what I heard at The Echo last night.

God, rereading that... I don't think it helps at all. Anyways, I liked their music, particularly the less quiet songs. Of the four songs I saw, the last one was the best, and I always think that a band that closes with its best song is a smart band, one that can objectively analyze its own music.





Death to Anders switched-up their set list considerably, delivering a grunge-influenced, harder-rocking set of music comprised mostly of songs from their first album. I thought it sounded great. I talked to the guys in the band afterwards and they told me that they dusted-off the old songs, tweaked them a bit, and now like playing them as much, if not more, than the newer stuff. I always think its cool when old songs get new life, especially if the band has improved on itself notably since the songs were written.

Man, some of their songs are weird.

I think Death to Anders had made some leaps, even in the last few months. My personal (if somewhat biased) opinion is that they deserve their own residency by this summer. I think they have enough diverse songs to play four nights of different, equally valuable sets of music. I think if somebody saw them one week and knew they could go back for more the next week, they would. I think The Echo or The Silverlake Lounge would be ideal locations for a month of D2A.

They closed the set with "Swig Shift" and "Ghost Rock". Before last night, "Swig Shift" was one of my least-favorite songs on their album Fictitious Business, but last night's performance gave me a fresh look at the song. "Ghost Rock" was kickass, as per usual.






I didn't like Thailand the first time I saw them. As one individual music fan, I have some of my own prejudices that, for me, work against them: 1) they're a trio, 2) the lead singer plays bass, and 3) they play sans drummer. I'm not trying to intimate some sort of contrived list of requisites that a band must meet to be real or good, so much as explain a little bit how my brain works and what tends to do it for me more easily. Folks, differing strokes, etc.

Notwithstanding, Thailand was marvelous last night! The same part of me that likes the synthy aspects of Light FM and CRAFT Club was absolutely seduced by Thailand's minimalist, thoughtful, 80s-originated pop tunes. (God... Light FM, Thailand, and CRAFT Club would be a dream bill. Somebody make this happen!) Their song "Control" in particular sent silvery streaks of arousal from my ears, down my spine, and into my gonads. Last night I "got" Thailand.

Their lead singer deadpanned a dedication to Geraldine Ferraro which earned some lollers. In like spirit they later gave a shout-out to one particular presidential candidate whom I also support. I try to leave the politics out of Classical Geek Theatre, though I'm a sucker for when artists lack the same restraint. High five, Thailand.

This weekend, when all the birfday monies have been accounted for, I'm going to go cyberpunk. And then I'm going to go on an iTunes binge. I think Thailand's Motorcade will be one of the first albums to be purchased and uploaded onto my new toy. Their set was the best of the evening and nothing short of a total joy.






I only stayed for a few songs of Michael Compton, who was backed by Pete Dibiasio and John Broeckel from Death to Anders. You can add to my list of personal music peeves 4) bands / acts / performers who go by their full name. But I liked what I heard and those who stayed for the late set seemed to be grooving.

Compton's music was kind of Rogue Wave-ish. He had a keyboardist play with him, and I thought that elevated the music considerably.