I'm with the band

"It's okay, I'm with the band." Haven't you always wanted to say that?? Sure I've watched my brother's friend play in a church multi-purpose room, but that's not quite the same...anyway, a couple of weeks ago my friend Christi got to do just that. She asked if I'd like to join her to see her co-worker's band at The Empty Bottle, and I jumped on that since I've only been to EB once and wanted to go back, and because their $5 cover can't be beat (and the Bite Cafe next door is a great, and vegetarian-friendly, place).

We came in just after the first opener, The Gentleman's Guild, ended, so I can't say anything about their performance except that Christi's friend said they were good when he came over to hi. So take that for what you will. Since there was no music playing at the time, I took stock of the room, and noticed that most of the kids seemed to be friends, with each other and with the bands, (they too, like Christi, were "with the band") which made for a nice, "one big happy family" sort of atmosphere.

Next to take the stage was The Names That Spell, self described as, "poly-rhythmic, afro-punk, psych-rock, space-hop, free-jazz, emo-sludge, country-blues." Their lengthy list of styles has a list of instruments to match-- their performance included a ukulele, a sitar, and an mbira (I don't know either) along with the standard drums, guitars, voices, etc.. Their songs bordered on chaotic and at times their lyrics were impossible to decipher, but I thoroughly enjoyed their performance and there's no doubt that they are extremely talented.

Finally the band we came to see, Athens, appeared and though we'd waited for hours by the time they came on, they did not disappoint. The members were very comfortable on-stage and laughed and joked with each other and the audience, which I always appreciate--I like to think the bands I see are having as much fun as I am. Unexpectedly, two girls who weren't in the band, came on-stage to introduce them, and then announced themselves as the "Athens dancers." I didn't have long to wonder what that meant before they scurried into the audience and began performing a series of choreographed moves to go along with the songs. After the initial surprise wore off, these dance-ambassadors helped create a very fun dynamic between the audience and the band, and several people joined in the dancing, either copying the girls or inventing their own moves. The music was of a genre I don't know what to call, but in which the lead singer sounds more like he's talking than singing (i.e. Cake, Everyone Was In the French Revolution...Now!). It's not always my favorite style, but for Athens it worked. They were a really fun band to watch, and their songs managed to be simultaneously catchy and original.

Someday I hope to cheer for my friend as they seek their fame, but if I can keep seeing bands like Athens, I won't mind at all being the friend of the friend of the guy in the band.