Although not the same night, the two very different but excellent groups are playing on one spectacular weekend, 9-12 and 9-13.
Throw Me the Statue is a Seattle-based band on Secretly Canadian whom I’ve been following closely for most of the year. I consider them to be one of this year’s best new bands and their debut album, “Moonbeams,” has produced some fabulous tracks and added itself nicely to my regular rotation. Sound problems have plagued the band the previous two times I’ve seen them, but I expect the Congress sound system, which is typically pretty good, to come through and a good show to occur.
The really crazy thing is that this show is apparently 100% free! Three other bands open too, so it should be a long night. Tucson’s R. Cougar, whom I saw open for The Helio Sequence several months ago, is first. Congress apparently likes these guys because I have nothing good to say about them: lots of mumbling, monotonous, long songs. Maybe it was just that I was so excited about The Helio Sequence, but I couldn’t wait for these guys to finish when I saw them, and I had hoped not to have to stand there listening to them again. I guess I’ll just have to show up late. Next up is Princeton, a California-based hipster, softer indie-pop band, who should actually complement Throw Me the Statue quite nicely. Try not to miss them. Next is what is apparently a new Tucson band, The Static Sessions. The previous incarnation of this group, The Year of Acceleration, was a sort of heavy pop. Did I say pop? Yeah, it’s pop. Not my cup of tea, but they’re certainly not the worst. Congress’ write-up on this show is insinuating that this is their debut but, in reality, both Plush and The Surly Wench get them first.
But what a damn lineup! And for free! I would pay at least $10 for this.
Speaking of paying at least $10 for a show: Ratatat plays the next night, Saturday, September 13, also at Congress. Ratatat is one of those bands that I think I had heard of years ago, never listened to, and I now wish I had. Their new album, “LP4″ (it’s their fourth LP), came out this year and is another extension of their strange sort of electro-dance-pop, infusing various acoustic instruments. Best described as a harder, Brooklyn version of Air, or maybe quite a bit like Holy Fuck. Either way, this show is not to be missed. $13 in advance, $15 at the door. Doors at 7pm (in theory).
I’ll be attending another Ratatat show in, of all places, Lawrence, Kansas, this weekend while in the region on a very much pleasure trip. Fun times.
Tags: congress, ratatat, throw me the statue
