Saturday Realism: 6/3/07

LAST night Leopold and Loeb and Saturday Realism joined forces for a combined concert in the Bartlett Arts Rehearsal Space (BARS).

After scrambling earlier in the week to secure a PA system, monitors, and an actual performance space, everything finally came together, though there was some stress with about 15 minutes to showtime when the Reynold's Club people failed to understand that we DID in fact need the PA system for our show as opposed to the tiny surround sound speakers spread throughout the room.

Deena Heller, a third year, played first, exhibiting an unexpectedly feisty manner with anyone who offered her any help setting up (She cussed me out when I offered her my tuner, hehe), but she channeled that frustration, whatever the cause for it may have been, into some enjoyable songs, including one that was the first she ever learned to play on guitar.

Next came first-year Joe Flesh, who played a number of spot-on renditions of some classic songs including "Puff the Magic Dragon," and "The House of the Rising Sun." He also played a few originals, one of which was called "I want to dance with the robots but I want to make love to you." He specified, before playing, that "you" refers to everyone in the audience. My favorite line (everybody's, I imagine): "Now take off your underpants and do the boogie, woogie, boogie woogie woogie with me!"

I'm really glad to have invited both Deena and Joe, and I hope that they might play with us in the future. Thanks again, performers.

Saturday Realism got on stage at around 8. Minutes before, Alex and I were crouched against the wall, hungry with excitement as Akio from L&L introduced us. We took to the stage like it was no big thing, but the dramatic lighting from the ceiling was really making it look like a professional affair, which is always a big morale boost for young performers like us.

Taxman went OK in my opinion, though the bass I was borrowing from the L&L bassist made me miss a few notes; I'm used to the flatwound strings and low action on Alex's bass.

We definitely picked up the momentum from there, nailing "Everyone On Her Side." I noticed Alex throwing in some really colorful "fills" (quotation marks because Alex's drumming style is a bit unconventional; he sticks things in where were a seasoned drummer wouldn't dare mess around). We played an unusually slow version of "Abandoned Coal Mine," but it came off without a hitch. "One Last Ride" was also a bit slow and too loud as well; I couldn't hear myself singing and so I assumed that the audience couldn't tell what I was singing. Alex won't stop saying how much he likes "If and When," so I'll just leave it at that. My solo in that song gets better each time we play it..."I'm Down" flubbed as usual--it's practically a tradition now--but it was a charming flub, so we didn't stress over it. Dave's "rhymes with One Last Ride" song was probably the best version we've ever done with it. I really got into the boogie groove at the end. We ended with "Where is My Mind," and I can honestly say my bass playing hit a high point for that song last night.

Leopold and Loeb rocked after us for a solid 45 minutes - the only chance they've gotten all year to play a full set after a slew of botched events. After they finished, we all came onstage to do two last covers together. First, "All Along the Watchtower," which started out as the Dylan version but transformed quickly into the Hendrix version when Alex and Akio took things to another level of solo with a battery of delay, distortion, and octave pedals. We ended together with "Let Down," a cover we'd spent a while practicing the night before. Though many will agree that covering Radiohead can be a really difficult endeavor, I think we got the right feeling, with everybody who was near a mic joining in for "you know, you know where you are when, you know wheeeeere you aaaare when, floor collapsing falling, bouncing back and oooooone daaaaay, I am gonna grow wings a chemical reaction (cue Akio on the higher notes)," etc.

Akio recorded the whole show, so that might be appearing within the confines of our web territory sometime soon. Thanks to everyone who came, and we look forward to seeing you at shows in the future.

***** ***** *****

MY neighbor upstairs is one of the organizing members of longstanding campus improv group, "Off Off." Late last night, after too many cigarettes, he asked if Saturday Realism would be interested in opening for Off Off shows during the summer. I nearly wet my pants. Of course! Both groups will benefit: SR produces lots of new material under pressure of scheduled performance dates, Off Off gets a more interesting show, and both groups get to swap audiences for additional exposure. Some of SR might be missing over the summer, so we haven't worked out the details, but it might end up an incredible experience.