by Marion Hodges
This past Thursday night two seemingly little known English bands played a show with a somewhat more well known San Diego band in Los Angeles. Here's what happened.
I wanted to arrive early since I figured that PENS would be the first band to take the stage. Most discussion about PENS seems to be focused on the naivety with which they approach making music. Rightfully so, and seeing as I fall into the camp of thinking that every PENS song I've heard so far is an exciting, delightfully shambolic piece of pop music goodness, I could not wait to finally see their live show. It did not disappoint. They banged through what felt like it could not have been more than a twelve minute set, stopping only occasionally to switch instruments. Each girl in this three piece London based band gave every instrument that they played their all even though their skill level was at it's most basic for each one. That spirit of spontaneity, that the goal was first and foremost to PLAY rather than to play something perfectly was precisely what made their set so much fun to watch. I had probably heard several of the songs that they played before, but the only one that I immediately recognized was the song that they closed the show with "High in the Cinema." Everything else seemed to be subject to new interpretation, just as I'm sure they would be the next night, and the next, and the next...
Graffiti Island followed PENS. In a way, it makes sense that a band like Graffiti Island would be the bridge would be the bridge between PENS and Crocodiles. After all, like PENS they are from London, and seem to maintain a certain spirit of "Cool, we're on stage, and we're playing music!" Yet their sound was slightly more full, and moving somewhat more into the direction of rock music. The thought that struck me was that they were attempting to offer their interpretation of the a band like the Cramps' interpretation of rock and roll. However, they lacked the youthful charm of PENS, and Crocodiles really are operating within an entirely different sound than either band. I would like to give Graffiti Island the benefit of the doubt, and say that what they were doing was smart, and that I just didn't get it. Still, I couldn't quite shake the thought of what a fine line it is with this sort of music between presenting something that is purely interesting, and exciting, and something that is a bit contrived. I know which side of that line Graffiti Island lies within my mind, but I strongly encourage you to listen for yourself.
Crocodiles put on a proper show, creating the most sound that I've heard two people and a drum machine create in quite sometime. The lead singer was all perfect rock and roll attitude of precisely the sort that his song demands. The guitarist was pretty much flat out awe-inspiring, even though I'll be the first to admit I know next to nothing about what it takes to make guitar playing awe-inspiring. Perhaps that's what made witnessing the sonic blast that his guitar produced right in front of me all the more impressive. My only regret is that I still have not had the chance to sit down with their full length Summer of Hate, and become familiar with more of the songs on that record. They closed with my favorite though, "I Wanna Kill," and it was one of the most exciting things that I've witnessed in live music all year. They are heading out in a few weeks for an East Coast tour with The Horrors, then it looks like they're headed to the U.K. after that. If you're reading this from either of those locations, I strongly recommend taking a look at the dates on their myspace page.
All three bands appear on a four way split 7" that also includes a track from Dum Dum Girls. You can pick up a copy of that one here.
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