Art Brut Makes Me Want to Rock Out
After weighing our options between Essex Green at the Black Cat and Art Brut at the Satellite Ballroom, Michael and I headed up to Charlottesville to see Art Brut. He took a little convincing - a video of Bang Bang Rock and Roll didn’t appeal to him. However, after reading numerous positive live reviews, I became convinced that Art Brut was the act to see. I so like it when I turn out to be right.
Forgetting how short the drive is between Richmond and Charlottesville, Michael and I got there way too early. We hit the corner, settling in at Michael’s Bistro and Taphouse. We got generally ignored by the waitstaff, but managed to get a couple of beers and a hummus platter. Oh, how the waitpersons of Richmond have spoiled me!
We got to the Satellite ballroom in time to catch the start of Robocop Kraus. These German punkers pounded out some good old style punk-wave with the lead singer working hard to win over the small audience. I don’t ask too much more of an opening band than to play with heart and warm up the crowd. Robocop Kraus delivered on that mission and had a few good songs to boot. Eddie Argos and a couple of other members of Art Brut watched Robocop Kraus play; given that they’ve been playing together on most of Art Brut’s tour of the US, that’s a high compliment in itself. In fact, Argos seemed pretty comfortable with the small crowd, even hanging out in the alley next to the club for a smoke.
I’m not sure I can add much to others’ reviews of Art Brut. They’re louder and saucier live. The band, particulary the drummer, play like they’re on fire. Eddie Argos manages to be non-chalant and a showman at the same time, singing slightly hunched over the mike in his hand, then leaping around the stage then into the crowd. Argos even managed some rock kicks of nearly Pollardian proportions. Poppier songs from the record, like Moving to L.A. and My Little Brother, took on a punk rock stomp while the rocking tracks were turned up all the way to 11. The new songs sound good, but the ones from Bang Bang, Rock ‘N Roll remain classic. I guess the only thing I’d add is that Art Brut still gave their all for the small C’ville crowd. If the band wasn’t going full tilt, then folks in New York will need helmets for their Bowery Ballroom shows.
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