It makes sense for a Tuesday night show to start and end a little earlier than usual, but fans of weird, wacky garage rock had to come to the Jackpot especially early to catch the best act of the night. The Spook Lights, Lawrence's most fantastically bizarre band opened for two traveling acts, Heavy Cream and Ty Segall, but the openers played the best set of the night, putting on an act too intense to follow.
The Spook Lights, a psychedelic, rockabilly, surf-rock, punk outfit, has a lot of experience in playing crazy, energetic shows. Last night was no different than any of their past sets in terms of sheer passion and instrumental brilliance. Front man Scary Manilow moaned and shrieked along to the songs with his pitch-perfect, howling voice, while Curvacia Vavoom melted her fans' faces with her surf-rock riffs. Jet Boy, the band's second guitarist doubles the dynamic harmonies with intelligently designed noise and melodies. Throwing the band's sound into overdrive with fast, dancing beats is their drummer Charles D. Together this foursome rules the local music scene as the new wave masters.
Sadly The Spook Lights' early set started at 9:45 for a small crowd in the Jackpot. Still, the band recieved cheers and claps from grateful fans and performed admirably, playing a fuller, more intense set than either of the following bands. They may have been opening for bands on tour, but these guys were the real climax of the night.
Heavy Cream was an interesting follow-up to The Spook Lights, combining shivering, vocals that tickle your backbone with punky garage rock of the vintage variety. The band's collective sound is both familiar and nostalgic, like The Best Coast at their best. This bands' only real weakness was how incredibly short each song seemed. A catchy, fun beat might have just gotten people to move their feet when it suddenly ended. If not for the abruptness of this quick, exciting set, Heavy Cream may have earned a little more love from the audience. Still, it was a pleasant change of pace to hear classic garage rock that was original at the same time.
Lastly Ty Segall came on. This four-peice garage rock troupe promised great things, but hardly delivered, especially following the more impressive and pleasant styles of the openers. Their sound itself was okay, but the band messed up multiple times on songs and hardly impressed with their noise-flooded "songs". If you like fuzzy, nasty, inarticulate garage rock, yes, Ty Segall is up your alley. But how much noise can you fill a song with before it is no longer music? They may just find that limit some day. The band's myspace pieces are far more impressive than the live show at the Jackpot. Perhaps it was the small, dingy venue? Or the Tuesday night blues? Whatever the reasons, This show ended on a low note after much more thrilling openers.
Should Heavy Cream ever return to Lawrence, they are a garage punk group worth your while, but in the meantime don't miss a chance to see The Spook Lights next time they take the stage.
Now for Previews:
Tomorrow DJ Tiesto will be playing at the Uptown for all the most knowledgeable, and hardcore electronica fans. Tiesto is a techno god, so if you like glowsticks and dancing, this is a must see show!
Next Friday, music lovers will have to make a difficult choice between funky jams or bouncing bluegrass:
Mouth will be playing at the Jazzhaus, a guaranteed good time for people who like to rage it with some fun, electronic funk.
Meanwhile Ashes to Immortality will be rocking out at the Bottleneck for bluegrass lovers of Lawrence.
Both shows will be a party for fans of the sounds, so pick your scene and have a good time! Hope to see you out there!
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