Who
Contact
Bands
Articles
Reviews
Women In Art
Bites
Venom Shows
Resources
Articles
"I
was always into rock, even when I
was very little.
I really liked the beat and the speed, the toughness."
-- LIZ PHAIR
Previous Articles:
Where
Were All The Students?! (April)
The sky's the limit and women hold it up.
Castles in Spain CD Release Party
with Venus Bleeding, Gun and Doll Show and two forgettable bands
Nov 03, 2001
By Lisa Hayle
Going to The SF Pound in Bay View/Hunters Point is venturing to the very limits of snotty San Francisco and finding yourself in 'The Scene' in the middle of nowhere. Unlike other clubs, it has plenty of parking and no typical SF neighbors to complain about the noise.
Saturday, November 3rd found a good-sized crowd ready to rock to the eclectic set of bands on the bill. When I walked in I was given a free raffle ticket and told there was free pizza. That gave me a good first impression of this relatively new club. The sound system, however, leaves something to be desired, but the lighting is commendable. Few clubs spend the money for a lighting person, and this show was aesthetically pleasing because of the creative lighting.
First up was Fear of Math, who did a short lackluster set for a smallish crowd. After they played, local favorites Gun and Doll Show took the stage in this benefit concert for NYC/9-11 disaster relief. Lead singer Killian began the set with a short monologue about a cop trapped below ground on September 11th, which led into a long slow song. On stage was quite an array of performers. In addition to the usual four on guitars, bass, and drums, there was an electric cellist and a trio of female back up singers, and a keyboardist semi-hidden off stage. Though the sentiments of the music were sincere, the attention of the audience waned. For all the musicians on the stage, the sound was muddled and mediocre. The singers could barely be heard over Killian's loud drone. Though his vocals can be rock star sized, they can also be monotonous. As the set progressed, I kept waiting for the five women and three men up there to rock me. The rest of the audience waited too. Killian dedicated the third song to the NYFD, calling them "brave motherfuckers". His talking between songs seemed like the habit of a folksinger who wants the audience to know exactly what he means. There was something oddly wholesome about the music with its singsong harmonies and slow grooves. For their last song, four women dressed as cheerleaders in camouflage outfits came out and danced to the only upbeat song they played. Though the Gun and Doll Show was earnest in putting forth a patriotic set, all in all - it was the yawn and snore show.
Between bands, there were belly dancers and raffle giveaways which gave the night a happy and festive feeling. As Venus Bleeding took the stage, we all pushed forward and it became clear who the crowd was here to see. A volcano of energy, Angelique jumped out of her skin. These performers have all the charm and energy of a band on the brink of greatness. Guitarist Denise was in constant motion, a whirligig possessed by the music. Jen's unforgettable violin is the voice of this band as much as Angelique's powerful vocals. Venus Bleeding's formidable rhythm section supports the music very well. Songs that lacked the violin seemed to have less impact on the audience, as if we were the snakes and the violin was the sound of the snake charmer. Their song "E" brought everything to a boil - putting everybody under a spell. Angelique got down on her knees, leaning into the audience like a predator. This is a woman who sings with her whole body. Their music is like a tightly wound coil ready to spring. The haunting violin takes us to a place inside ourselves, or perhaps to some Middle Eastern destination. The audience ate Venus Bleeding up. Expect more great things from this band.
Castles in Spain began their set with a loop of their music to which two belly dancers performed- to the delight of the audience. The crowd enthusiastically greeted guitarist, vocalist, songwriter Biachi as both she and a third belly dancer came on stage. Her voice is truly beautiful and hypnotic. She got down on her knees and started playing guitar. Their music is atmospheric and dreamy with a pop sensibility. The crowd was a bit thinner but pushed forward happy to be listening. Although the music was likable,at times the lyrics fell flat, sounding like excerpts from a self-help book. Castles in Spain goes from tribal(where they are at their finest!)to pop-schmaltz. Biachi is serious about her sound and herself, wearing a tattoo of her band's logo. The set picked up momentum aafter violinist Stephanie took the stage midway through the set. After too many loud on stage tuning problems, Biachi finally switched guitars. The audience was happy and absorbed in their music, but seemed to be restless towards the end of the long set. The most memorable part of the set was when Biachi called her father up and danced with him while the rest of the band played. Castles in Spain is good at what they do - they just don't do enough. Some of the power of the music is lost when it crosses from traditional eastern sounds to modern pop sounds. If you want to be swept away and don't mind some clumsy lyrics here and there, you may very well enjoy these talented musicians.
In anti-climactic fashion, Tres Pistolas did a loud, misplaced, set after Castles in Spain. By then, the audience was mostly gone. This band has a lot of raw talent, especially on the drums, but is sorely lacking vocally. I couldn't get past the lead singer's lack of power.
