all photos: Faith Desired
Svetlana (to Cale): Ask Michael to write it up.
Cale (to Svetlana): Michael who?
Svetlana (to Cale): Michael Garrett. He loves them. I would go and do it myself but have a [expletive deleted] meeting tonight AND have to make those masks.
Cale (after forwarding this convo to me): You do?
Me (to Cale): What you asking, sucka?
Cale (to me): I'm a) surprised you love The Thermals and b) wondering if you want to write it up.
Me (to Cale): I don't like the Thermals. One of my friends insists I like the Thermals and I went to their last show but it just reiterated that I don't really like the Thermals. That said if the friend insists I go again I will write up the show, but I'm not going out of my way to attend.
And that conversation, dear readers, was about a bajillion times more interesting than the Thermals show Wednesday night, and I don't care if the few hundred of you who went there and wooo'd to every single song disagree, to the person. I'm right, you're all wrong.
So, yes, a friend insists I like the Thermals because I may have nodded my head once or twice to their "Noah and the flood" song years ago. This turned into my having to go to the show the last time they were here (don't remember it at all), and again this time. I was forced to leave the Pug to go to the Cat to see this band I really like (no, really, you do, why are you being a dick?)
So we go.
And it's blah.
Every song sounds exactly the same. The singer sings like he has bad sinuses, he has exactly a ONE octave range (if that), none of them have any stage presence, their songs all sound exactly the same, the singer sings like he has bad sinuses, he has exactly a 1 Octave range (if that), none of them have any stage presence, everytime there's a guitar solo he turned to his right to face the bassist and made the pigeon walk head move ("Dude you're ruining this show for me, stop making the duck head movement everytime he stops singing" "Dude well look at him. ... See? There it is again. Duck head, or really it's more like pigeon walk head"), every song sounds exactly the same, ... etc.
Really. Blah. And yet people were pumping their fists and going woooo after every song. Why? Truly this band is no good. I don't get it. The only reason you knew one song was different than another was because there was some silence between them and the singer said a word or two.
I think the entire crowd was made up of people who have never been to a show, were excited about being at a show, and behaving like they have seen people at shows behave on television.
Blah. I left after about 5 songs (that all sounded exactly the same, one octave voice, no stage presence, pigeon face during short guitar solos).
I realize I'm probably fired from writing reviews.
(. you're not. and here have some opening band photos now-ed.)
Previously in Live DC:
- 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
- 2/7: LiveDC: Demetri Martin @ Warner Theatre
God loves a cheerful giver.
i left early. the show in 2007 was better. all the new songs are slower and boring and i haven't even listened to the new record. i liked the songs from the body, the blood, the machine but the rest was just blah.
this is hands down the best review i've ever read. thank you.
the thermals are ok. something i'd put on as background music or listen to on pandora or a stereogum's radio spot. but they're really not offering anything new or cool. "indie lite" i like to call it. the sorta bland, non-offensive stuff you'd wanna throw on a soundtrack to a movie like "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist," or "Garden State."
garden state actually had some pretty damn good music on it.
I agree that the show in 2007 was better (that one was also sold out, I believe).
But I disagree with the review. Love the Thermals. Their lyrics are really what do it for me. And I think they write good pop songs.
Also, I was up front, singing and fist pumping with my camera strapped on. And I would counter your never having been to a show comment with the fact that I've been to a bajillion and one shows. And really enjoyed this one.
Also, Point Juncture were pretty great. Shaky Hands I couldn't decide on; one second loving it, the next hating it.
You know whose songs also all sounded the same, and similarly had both pop and punk leanings? The Ramones.
wow. you said "indie lite". that's just terrible.
Greg - the Ramones were good. It's ok if your songs all sound the same if they're good songs.
We can disagree. My review, I think that they have a couple ok songs but their live show was a fucking yawnfest. Therefore for the point of a review of a show, they sucked anus. Dirty homeless pedro anus.
Patrick - are you sure you commented on the right post cause that makes no sense... and this coming from someone that agrees with Michael's review for the most part.
the best part of this whole experience was me sending this note to Michael after receiving this review:
"I'm sorry. I swear there was a comment from you before their last show saying they were awesome and that everyone should go which is why I thought you loved them"
Michael's response: I may have been drunk.
I really believe a live show is equal parts you and the performer. It sucks that you had to review a show with music that you really aren't into.
I think the Ramones and the Thermals have a lot of similarities. I love both, but think their point of divergence is that Hutch writes, at least to me, much more interesting lyrics.
Svetlana:
---
Michael
Here’s the time when you remember I said go to a show and no one went and it was awesome. And also the time I said don’t go to a show and everyone went anyway and it sucked.
Go see the fucking Thermals on Saturday night.
Peace out.
Bitches.
From Best Weekend Bets, 2007/11/01 at 6:41 PM
---
I am eating my hat. My excuse is at the time of writing that in 2007 I had not SEEN them live to understand what a snorefest their live show is. Seriously three people playing their instruments in a very technical manner without one bit of passion or artistic display. May as well been watching a symphony, but with not as good music.
And I still was probably drunk.
"I think the entire crowd was made up of people who have never been to a show, were excited about being at a show, and behaving like they have seen people at shows behave on television."
Or the entire crowd was made up of people who like the thermals? seems sort of obvious.
I was at this show and will agree that while this was not the best time I've ever seen them (Now We Can See, while excellent on record doesn't translate particularly well live) it certainly was not terrible. The band had a great energy and their new drummer is one of the most enthusiastic musicians I've seen in a long time. In terms of being 'indie lite,' I think a comment like that speaks for itself but looking at the two covers the band did (Nirvana and The Breeders) whether you like it or not The Thermals are coming at things with a bit more perspective than that type of pithy throwaway categorization.
Too bad the person originally was supposed to write this was a dick and bailed.
traitor.
Matt - I'm glad that person (snicker) didn't bail, because then there would have been a fawning review of a mediocre band that doesn't put on a good show and people may have been convinced to waste their money on them in the future.
Still doesn't get around the fact that all singer dude did was monotone on and on in his one octave range voice and do a right face to the bassist to make his pigeon walk head move during the times he wasn't quotesingingunquote.
Please don't let this man's disheartening misanthropy taint a concert review again.
In the end, it's just the Internet, but there's a lot of middle ground between uncritical fawning and unwarranted bile. If you err on one side, go with the uncritical fawning.
Jeff - sycophancy is nothing to be celebrated.
If a show is great I review it as great (as I have many times here in the past). If a show is a boring fucking yawnfest I will call it as one.
I'm just going to keep reading Lizzie's comment.
Seriously though - is a live show a show, or is a live show just someone playing their songs? There's a huge difference. The Thermals just played their songs, one after the other. There was no show involved at all.
Also any of you dorks can write and submit reviews, or e-mail Svetlana or Cale and say "I kin rite good. Kin i reveiw a show fer you? i like that band on the teevee that r playing"
I've not really listened to much of the new release... but, I LOVE The Body, the Blood, the Machine.... primarily based on their lyrics. They nail religious frustration on the head as far as I'm concerned. I would have liked to have seen more "action" on stage (coming from a photographer's stand point) and I have to agree that the first opener, Point Juncture WA, was really good - very musically diverse!
Oh - I didn't arrive until 2 minutes before the Thermals took the stage - so no slight at the opening bands at all, I just didn't see them.
Here's your chance, Jeff, and Matt, and anyone else - if you caught the first two bands write them up and you can get $500 per article that you submit to BYT that is published, just like I do.
Wait, I take my own time to do this shit for free, just like everyone else here.
So they assigned to write it up to Michael because he's the best writer on this site? Good call Svetlana and gay 80s guy.
I also want to say I love eddie and I'm sexually frustrated which is why I come off as a dickhead in most of my posts. I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused which had me banned for awhile. I'm trying to stay on me meds.
In short - I heart BYT, I am in dire need of affection and I don't know how to be myself so I can just be myself and make friends. I try too hard. I'm sorry for that.
"Seriously though - is a live show a show, or is a live show just someone playing their songs? There’s a huge difference. The Thermals just played their songs, one after the other. There was no show involved at all."
this is the exact opposite to pretty much everything you said here. The Dodos had no sound or stage presence but you were all about them bc they were somehow rock-and-roll-classique or some shit while Les Savy Fav were bad for some weird personal reason. You do get that Les Savy Fav is supposed to sound like a french guy saying "the savy five", right? And I know you're not talking shit about my supremely untouchable live music reviews.
Correction: It was the big sleep who sucked warm hairy nuts not the dodos. Dodos were awesome.
Fitsum, no it is not the exact opposite, at all. I freely admitted Les Savvy Fav will never get a chance from me because of the gayness of the name. But I also don't review them. I just have no opinion on them or their music, be it great or shitty. It's just a quirk I have, like having to face the outside of the bed when I sleep.
Also the other band was awesome. They brought the rock.
I am particularly baffled about the money comment, Michael. I was thinking of responses but I'm not exactly sure what you were trying to say?
Matt - I was reiterating that everything done for this site is free, and if people don't like the reviews or the photography or the articles or anything they can step up to the plate.
Or they can be haters while calling someone a hater, which is that pot kettle thing or something.
(the comment obviously wasn't entirely directed at you since I know you know we aren't paid. Or is it everyone else is paid but me?)
Ernest, thanks for that.
I think he was implying he's doing this all for free, so no one has any room to complain until they do the same.
Thankfully I am absolved from that criticism.
the big sleep = sleeping pill as rock band. 100% un-rock. how they get bookings is a mystery and a shame.
Fitsum - don't you have some ass, and titties, ass, ass and titties shots to be taking?
I'd like to say that Alan broke the internet fourth (fifth? sixth?) wall at this show. My notebook was a dead giveaway apparently. We are now friends on Netflix. Thanks, BYT!
Whose next!?
@Michael
doing it as we speak
I made the right decision by saying hello and leaving before I stepped foot through the door. Although, I should have stayed at the pug. Or at least gone somewhere to eat. Hungry.
Hey, what mofo dared post the bullshit up above and sign it 'Ernest'?
The typically lame mumbling can only mean one thing: The perp is Michael, Michael Dickson.
the 2007 show was how i celebrate my birthday. it was pretty sweet. i'm sorry they weren't great this time around, but i do love their new album.
i don't know why i keep leaving off my suffixes. damn.
celebrateD.
None of them had any stage presence? Really? Were you and I at the same show? Their drummer had more stage presence than anyone I've seen in a long time, egging the crowd on, grinning like a child and slapping everyone's hands. Furthermore, I've read that high opinion of him on three separate reviews of the show, not all of which were fawning on the band as a whole.
So, you were the one guy there that didn't like the band. That's all fine and good. And yes, a lot of their songs do sound the same. I'm more amused by the fact that you seem to think that you're a good writer because you're going somewhat against the prevailing opinion of other music bloggers in the area and trashing the band. If you said more than, "I don't like them. They're Blah" and a few juvenile sounding insults over and over again, that argument might carry more weight.
Actually I'm a good writer because, uh, I'm a good writer. Ask anyone.
It's true, he is.
Excuse me, Michael, but you do sound like you need a penis enlargement service.
Most better written...
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http://bit.ly/17cCom
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http://bit.ly/NlyGU
and most are unpaid contributiors as well.
all this whining about the review.... ugh.... it's HIS opinion...
everyone needs to be glad they got a review and some pics at all... lol
:)
the pics are quite good. and the lighting kinda sucked, i might add. so double kudos to shantel =)
Michael - I didn't go to this and I'm glad because it sounds like something I would not like. I'm actually really glad for critical, non-fawning reviews. And - whether you were serious or not when you said it - it is good to have a review like this to measure whether or not you would want to spend money on a show in the future. The same goes for positive reviews.
You used enough descriptors here to prove - to me, at least - that this wasn't something special or even interesting.
I know a lot of musicians and some fans who think that reviews should never be negative. The musician under my own roof thinks that if you're going to say something negative about someone's musical effort or performance then you shouldn't say anything at all. I think that's hogwash.
Certainly reviewers have their own taste - but if they describe something well enough for you to get a sense of it, you can probably determine whether or not you'd like it.
So - write more reviews, I think.
It's not that everyone doesn't have the right to their opinion, it's the tone of the review. It's why DC has turned into shit town. I've been here for -- what? -- about 25 years and watched the rock/punk etc. clubs turn from places where everbody danced to the dj before the show, and danced during the show, to the introduction of videos on monitors, and everyone standing around watching them before the shows, to everyone standing around during the show, to turning into stuck-up elistist snobs, to talking throughout the shows to texting and burying their heads in handhelds during shows. And then we get this kind of clown review, where he admits everyone is having a good time and he walks out. Good God, good riddance. And call me old. Fine. It means I know more than you. You clearly have taken your cues from jerks you wanted to be friends with. Those jerks were not cool, they just had make-believe cache. Please, before it's too late, learn how to have fun. Hint: It starts by going against the established grain. You might want to go on a fact-finding mission to Baltimore, where they keep the funk alive.
You're right. I'm the ruin of the DC scene. Because I didn't think a band put on any kind of show or put any effort into a performance, and because I didn't like the band. I should have stayed, thoroughly unenjoying myself. Kind of like when it's raining I should stand in it and be miserable. Go against the tide, or grain, or herd, or whatever.
Riiiiight.
Oh and it doesn't seem "everyone" was having a good time since there are hints in the comments that even people who like them think it was lackluster. There are at least two in this thread who admitted previous shows were better or they left early. Not including myself.
But hey, if the tone of my review is why DC has turned into a shit town then fine. I take all the blame. The five or six shows I may review a year are the entire fault for DC being, in your words, a shit town.
I know how to have fun. Read any of the other reviews or my commentary where I chastize people for not having fun, or not going against the grain to go to amazing shows (Dears, recently, Turbonegro previously, etc).
But hey, you're right. My reviews killed DC. I don't know how to have fun. I should stay and waste my time at lackluster performances.
P.S. Everyone at a Britney Spears concert is "having fun" too, but that doesn't mean it's great music does it? It just means everyone there is an idiot.
@John S. 25 years ago is when the old 930 club installed video monitors and played videos between sets @ shows. No djs there tho. I do remember one or two Mod showcases where they had djs but not at hardcore or alterna-shows. I'm afraid nothing's changed. DC is still a shit town and a great town and a shit town and a great town and will probably stay that way. It was nothing to do with Michael mistakenly thinking The Big Sleep were awesome.
It’s not possible to know what would become of the DC scene without Michael’s reviews and the commentary.
That’s because he writes like Dickens.