Apparently they played too fast?
I wish I could’ve gotten to the show earlier to set up. My dragging ass not only missed an opportunity to record the Bare Wires, I didn’t set up in time to get So Cow’s entire set. Combined with some weird guitar-mic issues, I properly recorded only about six songs of their face-melting set.
Listening to So Cow’s self-titled album is a bit like time travel to me. When I throw it on, it takes me back to my salad days, when I had a lot of time, little responsibility and a few punk cassettes — Descendents, Ramones, etc.
Back then my musical tastes demanded lots of energy and melody. I had been through a metal phase and found punk to be so much more powerful. It was the first music I heard that made me jump around and sing along. (Mind you, this was right before NOFX’s Punk In Drublic and Green Day’s Dookie became the mainstream definition of punk rock; I had yet to become jaded with the formula.)
If I had a cassette of So Cow’s album when I was 12, I probably would’ve worn it out while trying to ollie over bricks in a church parking lot. Brian Kelly’s songs have the pop-hooks and speed of the Descendents combined with the chord mastery of the Beatles. Or to put it simply, So Cow is a fast Beatles.
Which is why I was so surprised by the band’s comments during and after the set that the songs were played too fast. The band doesn’t sound like they’re rushing through the songs — it sounded like it had energy. Yet, before starting “Ain’t No Fun,” my mics picked up the bass player saying, “It needs to slow way the fuck down.”
But what-the-fuck-ever, decide for yourself:
One final note: though the So Cow set was great, the highlight of the night was during the Bare Wires’ last song, “Young Love.” At the climax of the song, Melton and the bassist (don’t know his name) had obviously planned to jump into the crowd. But when Matt jumped in, he unplugged his guitar, so the song went from loud and rockin’ to quiet and confused.
Maybe I’m the only one who finds that funny because I’m a critical asshole. Whatever… Subscribe to the singles club!
Just listened to Casablanca – me likes. reminds me of going to that show in SC that one summer.
What was the name of that band from Texas with the leadsinger who had a bitchin beard?
hope all is well – dood.
u and lilly should come to Hawaii. It’s pretty sweet.