Show Review: The (First Annual?) Rock and Roll Summer Circus

by Brad Roberts

 

On Friday, August 14, 2009, the circus came to town. This was no ordinary circus, but the Rock and Roll Summer Circus presented by Aquarium Drunkard and LA Weekly, in the first of what I hope will become an annual tradition.

 

Turning the Echoplex over to the use of 10 or so bands, utilizing every available performing space, kept the evening in high gear from beginning to end.  Eli Monolator Moderator (above) kept the action moving as a 'refugee from the French Army' garbed ringmaster. The costume order of the day was moustaches for everyone and Eli cut a dashing figure with his dazzling 'stache.

 

I arrived as Marvelous Toy (at left) were tearing through their last three songs, so I walked right into a high energy display of Jordan Huddock's virtuoso piano style. The band sounded great and the already crowded room was rocking right along with them. This band is so pleasing they can open an evening, close an evening and play a headlining set and be the perfect band for each slot. I'm really looking forward to more recorded work from them.

Welcome to the circus, and, as Joan Crawford said as the ringmaster in the laff-classic Berserk, "This is a circus, not a charm school!"  (Thanks to Doug Kresse for all the great concert shots)

The Echoplex is always so dark I'm never sure if I recognize anyone, but here, with costumes added, people had to get right up into my face before I knew who they were. I mean really, Mary Monolator in a mullet? The more I walked the more I realized EVERYBODY was here. Off in the corner by the bar Downtown/Union's Bo Bory was leading various Seasons members in a Beatles tribute band (at right), all in Sgt. Pepper get up. Wailing out "Don't Let Me Down" they gathered a small crowd around them. Elsewhere around the venue, there was a band at the merch area and another band out back so that the music never stopped. These between set gigs were played by the likes of The Damselles and Les Blanks who braved the accelerating enthusiasm of the circus-goers, and managed to remain focused while surrounded by chaos.

 

Most of the costumes I saw were more inspired than ridiculous and the already dashing Flying Tourbillon Orchestra were only more so with their newly grown moustaches. Dashing could also be used to describe their set. Their songwriting has always been in the solid pop tradition with each song so laced with seductive hooks they're impossible to resist. The new songs are of the same quality and the addition of Sara Radle as lead female vocalist adds a range and power that gives the music new dimensions and who blends with Hunter's vocals smoothly. The ringing, chiming instrumentals of the rest of the band gives them their distinct sound that is truly all their own. (Hunter Costeau above)

 

Next up was Fol Chen, who delivered another typical, amazing set of music. This genre-bending enterprise is a constantly evolving project, continually folding new elements into the already carnivalesque cavalcade of sounds. They have a really solid set list that shows off every aspect of their talent, from Adam's strenuous vocal athletics on "The Believers" to Melissa's cooing monotone on the brilliant "Cable TV". About to embark on their first continental European tour, Fol Chen is more than, and likely to be a smash.  

 

Between sets it was amusing to see the entire contents of the Echoplex dumped into the pig pen out back for smokers. It looked like the stateroom scene from The Marx Bros. A Night At the Opera, all arms and legs and fake moustaches. There was even a band performing out there, but I couldn't get close enough to see who they were. The cotton candy machine was in the way.

 

Back inside, the mustachioed The Henry Clay People took the stage with assorted Marvelous Toys, Red Heads, Flying Tourbillons and Damselles to make a spectacular all-star band that whipped the audience into an appropriate frenzy. Their new material is just as sharp as their best old songs and I think they have a pretty deep pool of songwriting talent in them. The songs are in a classic rock and roll style, but done with such polish and swagger they sound like The Henry Clay People invented the genre. And frequent touring has added assurance to their on stage charisma, which will probably increase because, like Fol Chen, they're headed out on tour again.