all photos: Lara Warman
This is going to be a pitifully short review, mainly because I don't like running down bands that I usually enjoy. Nevertheless, some thoughts about the Clinic show on Wednesday of last week.
BBQ is amazing on record and I'd heard a ton of good stuff about his live one man band garagey weirdo show…but I showed up just as his last note was ringing out. I've beaten myself up about this enough, so please don't remind me of how stupid this was OK?
What is the deal with Black Cat being all prompt about start times now?
I guess it's good for business what with teenagers riding the metro and all, but the idea of a band going on at 10:30 on a two band show just seems weird. Maybe it's because people are now cramming rock shows into the middle of their evenings, between dinner and a dance-club? Either way, I need to start adjusting to the new regime. Doors at 8= Band at 8:30.
Clinic went on right on time, played all the songs that one might like to hear, then left the stage in time for me to get on the metro.
They were very polite.
They said almost nothing into the microphones.
Their music was sinewy and muscular.
'Twas all very tasteful.
Needless to say I was bored to tears.
There was very little fire or passion in their performance, they seemed kind of sad to be honest, behind those surgical masks that served no real purpose. Sure, they're mysterious, I guess, but their music isn't bizarre or inspirational enough to stand without any kind of showmanship whatsoever aside from some incongruous costuming. When I go to see a band, even when I really love their albums, I expect fun. If the band is having fun, then it makes this transfer a lot easier.
Maybe it was an off night?
Maybe they are actually zombies whose essences have been stolen by a voodoo priestess and they need to wander the earth hypnotizing audiences with their weird jungle rhythms and organ-grinding so that they can tap our spirits in order to live?
I don't know, I'm not a Doctor.
But after the disappointment I suffered last week, I'm pretty sure Clinic isn't either.
Previously in Live DC:
- 2/14: LiveDC: Die Antwoord @ 930 Club
- 2/13: LiveDC: George Clinton & The Parliament-Funkadelic @ 930 Club
- 2/13: LiveDC: Veronica Falls/ Brilliant Colors @ Black Cat
- 2/13: LIVE DC: Steve Aoki/ Datsik/ Alvin Risk @ Fillmore
- 2/13: LiveDC: The Darkness @ 930 Club
- 2/9: LiveDC: Theophilus London @ 930 Club
- 2/9: Best Weekend Bets
- 2/8: LiveDC: Kathleen Edwards @ 930 Club
- 2/8: LiveDC: Thurston Moore/ Kurt Vile @ Black Cat
- 2/8: LiveDC: Thurston Moore/ Kurt Vile @ Black Cat
God loves a cheerful giver.
Those masks are kinda stupid.
maybe it's because I'm an old woman, but I LOVE it when the second band goes on at or before 10:30.
but I also hate the encores, so I am pretty clearly am not that into fun.
It was a bit of a lackluster show, huh? When I've seen them before, they were much higher energy. And maybe they'd had a few more than usual, because it just didn't sound tight, especially the guitar player.
The photos are cool.