It seems as if there was any band made for the MySpace (or Hot Topic – if they had one) record label, it would be Love Culture, our very own shoegazer-obsessed, Smashing Pumpkins/Kill Hannah-influenced band of pseudo-goths.
Aquamarine, the seven-song EP released in January and available to download for FREE, is not something you’d typically expect to come out of the Columbus music scene. In a city that is recognized by national press for it’s lo-fi/shitgaze sound, Love Culture in the antithesis of what we’ve allowed to pass as “good” music for the past decade which means, of course, they stand no chance unless they move to a more supportive city like Chicago, L.A., or New York.
Though I’ve yet to catch Love Culture live, I suspect a lot of time and thought is put into the presentation of the music – everything from the lighting to the clothes that are worn are planned out in advance to create the most memorable experience for those who pay a cover charge. At least that’s the impression the music gives – it’s polished and radio-ready although given an actual major label recording budget, Love Culture has the potential to create something truly epic. As it stands, Aquamarine hits all of my right buttons (I hear everything from BRMC to Silversun Pickups to the aforementioned Smashing Pumpkins and Kill Hannah in their sound) and is one of my favorite local releases of the last 10 years.
Hell, even the band member’s names sound like those of rock stars – Tristan Swan (vocals/guitar), Raleigh Swan (guitar/keys), James Levesque (guitars/keys), Sky Cunningham (bass), Robert Fisher (drums).
How the hell do these people get together to form a band? I mean, I guess you can play connect the dots to a certain extent – Bassist Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne) and guitarist James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins) co-own a studio. And Iha undoubtedly is a Cheap Trick fan which is where drummer Bun E. Carlos enters the equation. But, prey tell, who invited Taylor Hanson to the party?
Eh, whatever.
This group (is it “super”?) is calling themselves Tinted Windows and will play at Pangaea on March 20 in Austin during SXSW week.
All the Smashing Pumpkinsreviews recently have gotten me thinking … people seem to be pissed that their set consists primarily of stuff from the most recent album (call it the Pumpkins Chinese Democracy if you want since it’s basically a Corgan solo album). If the fans knew in advance that the set would be 80% new material with just 3 or 4 “greatest hits” tossed in, would all the shows be selling out? People wouldn’t have the right to complain after the show if they knew the setlist in advance. Of course, that would also remove some element of surprise.
Jimmy Eat World announced a 10-date tour in February in which they’ll be playing (in my opinion) their best album, Clarity, start to finish to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of it’s release. I own all their stuff but found the most recent album to be disappointing. If I’m going to go see them, I’d like to hear older stuff. If the Clarity-revisited tour was hitting anywhere in Ohio, I’d go without hesitation.
The Toadies came through town recently. I am not terribly familiar with their older stuff but the stuff I’ve heard didn’t totally blow me away the way the new stuff does. I was really bummed I had to miss their show but I heard that they only did 2 or 3 new songs so I’m sure I would have been upset had I been able to make it.
Last example … I love Superchunk’sFoolish. Love it – think it’s one of the best albums of the mid-80s alt/indie rock world. I don’t really know the rest of their stuff all that well though I do own maybe 2 or 3 other CDs. I saw them do a reunion show at SXSW a few years back and really only recognized one songs from ‘Foolish’ and felt a bit disappointed that I had spent an hour watching them just to hear one song when I could have probably seen a dozen other bands during that same time slot that would have left me feeling more satisfied.
So, I ask, would knowing the setlist in advance of bands that play venues like the Newport or bigger (because I imagine bands doing tours in venues like this have pre-determined setlists rather than making stuff up on the spot or tossing something in should it strike their fancy if they are playing at Ravari Room or The Summit) help you make a decision on whether or not you’d go see a band? And, if your favorite band was playing a set of all new stuff when you only really wanted to see their old stuff, would you skip the show?
Titled “A Special Acoustic Halloween Performance,” last night’s Smashing Pumpkins show in Columbus sold out in like 2 days. But judging from what people are saying in our message board, this $40 a ticket show sucked hard:
Man, did that pumpkins show really fucking suck.
It could have been epic.
Instead, billy hit me across the face with his dick.
thanks billy. for nothing.
and
the first hour was acoustic (though all the guitars were distorted) and featured covers such as “monster mash”, “wipeout” and “hang on sloopy”. there were no pumpkins songs. it was amusing for a couple songs, but wore thin when the band seemed to not really know how to play said tunes.
The good news about this special acoustic show is hopefully they won’t be playing much of their last album. The bad news is it’s $40 a tick. Even with the financial industry tanking, this show will sell out quickly.
A SPECIAL ACOUSTIC HALLOWEEN PERFORMANCE FEATURING SMASHING PUMPKINS
On Sale Date: OCTOBER 11
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31ST, 2008
NEWPORT MUSIC HALL, COLUMBUS, OHIO
$40 General Admission
