Legally Bland

We saw an amazing show last night at World Cafe Live. We were in the “upstairs” space which is much more restaurant/bar/lounge than concert hall, but the resulting intimacy was a perfect match for these acts. This was our first show at this space, and Heather and I were really impressed. The sound was top-notch, and it was small with a good layout, so there were plenty of clear views to the stage.

But enough about the venue, let’s type about the music! Soundpool opened the set right on schedule (a luxury when you’re used to R5 shows). I wasn’t real familiar with their music prior to the show, but I had listened to clips on their site. They channeled various bits and pieces of shoegaze standards, along with a healthy dose of early Stereolab, and they made it work. My only complaint here was that their vocals were mixed way too low compared to the album tracks I’ve heard. Still, they brought it, and I ate it up.

Mahogany went on next, and honestly, the evening could have ended with their set and I would have been completely satisfied. I’ve been chewing on this album for a couple months, and seeing them live only made me love them more. These kids (and I stress kids because they all struck me as being much younger than I imagined) are destined for great things. If they come back through Philly as a headliner (or even opening again), my tickets will be automatically deducted from my bank account.

Schnauss went on shortly after 11 and played for about an hour and a half. What can I say? The guy is a freakin’ genius. To boot, he comes off as a genuinely humble, likable guy. As I drove to the show, I mentioned to Heather that I wondered how he would handle vocals as his albums are usually punctuated with guest singers. Solution: no vocals. On the surface that may sound like a downgrade, but trust me, the songs didn’t suffer. In most cases there were new melodies in place of the missing vocals. Each track was so completely different from those on the album, it was as if he was remixing his own album, live, as we all looked on and breathed through our mouths in sheer joy.

Simply put, three awesome acts, great venue, plus an official date with my wife. It was an evening well spent.