Wrens Concert Wrapup

Currently Playing: Engaged in Labor by Miranda Sound

Last night, at my brother's invitation, I went to a place called Little Brother's in order to see the band The Wrens play. He is something of a fan of that band, as before last night he said that they were probably his favourite contemporary band that he had not seen play live. But maybe he's seen so many bands play live that they're number 100 on his list, I don't know.

Also on hand were two opening acts: Miranda Sound and Troubled Hubble. Here are a few comments about the experience(s).

The Venue:

• I think it was the first time I've seen a band play in a place like Little Brother's. In the past, I've seen acts in concert halls, arenas, etc., where the place was set up to hold spectators for events. And, I suppose I've been to bars or events where the band was kind of a sideshow, and not the main reason why people went to it. This place was basically a run-down looking bar, but it had an area where (no more than a few hundred, I suppose) people could watch a band on a stage. There were some seats and tables, where we sat for the first two bands, but if you wanted to see for the Wrens, you had to stand.
• Judging from the stickers, I think the establishment and many patrons hold more liberal views than does the current administration.
• It was cool to chat with members of the bands before and after the show. I brought my camera along and asked if they had a policy against photography. The guy taking tickets suggested that I ask people associated with the bands. I saw a guy setting up a merchandise table. He looked like a typical attender of such an event -- he kind of had the "grad student" look about him. I asked if he was associated with one of the bands, and did they care about picture-taking. He said that he didn't think the guys from Troubled Hubble would mind. It turned out that this was the drummer from Troubled Hubble. Or, when my brother noticed Charles from the Wrens, and asked him to autograph an old Wrens album. We ended up chatting for maybe 10 or 15 minutes, and, if you didn't know any better, it would just look like the guys chatting. From the way he was dressed and spoke, I could have been chatting with a fellow father from my son's Cub Scout troop or something. I guess my point is that nobody gave off the image of the stereotypical rock star.
• We thought it started at 8:00pm. Instead, the doors opened around 8:00pm, the first band started around 9:00, the second around 10:00, and the third around 11:00, and ended a little after 12:00am.
• It was a little loud. Maybe I should be embarrassed to admit this, but I brought ear plugs. And used them. And was glad about it. The did have the effect of reducing the treble more than the bass.
  

Miranda Sound:

• My brother had worked with a few of the guys in this band at the radio station in college, and wanted to see them play. I'm not a music critic, and it's hard for me to describe musical styles. I would call Miranda Sound "rock", perhaps mentioning that it's rock as interpreted by people near 30 years old. I suppose you can call them "alternative", since anything that's not pop is "alternative" these days, isn't it?
• Upon first listen, I really liked them. I suppose that could change after listening a few more times. Also, I couldn't understand any of the words than anyone sang all night.
• After they played, I picked up a copy of their CD for $5. Sounds like a bargain to me. I even had all of the band members sign it. One of the guys (Billy Peake) was impressed by my CFL cap, and mentioned that someone (his uncle?) had been equipment manager for the Arizona Wranglers of the USFL.
• As I was standing around getting my CD autographed, I had an experience that I hadn't had for a while. A young woman started chatting with me, mentioning how much she liked the band and so on. (I certainly don't mean to imply that she was anything other than a friendly and talkative concert-goer.) But it still felt a little odd, so after a short time of that, I suggested that she chat with the band members and excused myself to the restroom.

Troubled Hubble

• Of the three bands, I liked this one the least. Unfortunately, I didn't have much time for them to grow on me, as their singer seemed to be coming down with strep throat, and they left after playing for about 20 minutes.
• Musically, they were a little bit like Miranda Sound, but different in ways that are hard for non-musical me to describe. They seemed somewhat more "silly" or "irreverent" in their approach. Usually, you'd think I'd enjoy that kind of approach, but for some reason I didn't care for it with them.
• What does their name mean? Is it related to the Space Telescope? I don' t know.
  

The Wrens

• The place filled up for the headline act and got their money's worth. My brother had commented how their more recent work was much more mellow than their earlier work, and as they were approaching 40 and beyond, they just didn't rock like youngsters. To me, it sounded like the misimpressions of someone who is still on the younger side of 30, but I was expecting a somewhat more "mature", mellow performance. Boy, were we wrong. They rocked. Charles was looking like anything but a Cub Scout parent. I was told that they played a lot of their older stuff, and very few of their more recent songs. My brother was surprised at what they played, but we later found out that they're planning on re-recording some of their older songs, and so that could be why they focused on the older stuff.
• While they were good, I and I didn't dislike them, I can't say that I loved them either. My lack of musical vocabulary is hurting me again, but it seemed to me that their "sound" included a high-pitched, out-of-tune guitar chords. This probably sounds like a major shot against them, but I don't mean it that way. It's just that there was something in their sound that keeps me from saying they're great. I certainly liked them better than Troubled Hubble.
• Daichi liked the Wrens best of the three bands.

All-in-all, it was a lot of fun. It's not something I'd want to do every week, but once in a while might be good.

Is it rude to take a flash picture at a concert?