Solid State

Made it out to Higher Ground last night. Saw most of the stuff happening in the big room; Zac Clark and headliners Gomez.

Thoughts: Zac is really poppy. I wonder what will happen when he gets older and that boyishly adenoidal singing style is no longer appropriate? It was a solidly played set, but a little on the schmaltzy side. That's one man's opinion, anyway.

Gomez sound very good live, but bore me to death. They're dipping further into the American jam bag than ever before; maybe they should just renounce the UK and move here. I hear they've got one of Phish's managers behind 'em now, so it could all come together nicely.

After that, I checked out a little bit of the Static Age show next door. By the time I made it over, the opening bands were done, so no report there.

There weren't many attendees, and this surprised me. Especiallyconsidering it was an all-ages, CD release party for a nationally knownband. Maybe the kids are into skiffle these days.

SA were OK at best. Those dudes (and gal) need to lay off the flanger pedals for a while. Their tunes lose a lot of punch and clarity with all the effects gunking 'em up. That sound worked for The Cure on Disintegration, 'cause the music is slower and more subdued. But when you're strumming big chords behind disco-punk beats, things can get rather muddy.

Let's all just move on from the '80s now, shall we? I mean, until you can cover XTC or Tears for Fears note-for-note, you haven't fully absorbed the lessons of that fucked-up little decade. And why do people resurrect the pseudo-goth stuff all the time? Why is no one clamoring for Billy Ocean? Or Taylor Dayne?

Ah, forget it. I've asked these silly questions before.