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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (June 12, 2003)
BY VANESSA SALVIA SATURDAY LOOKS GOOD TO ME PLAYS SAM BOND’S ON SUNDAY. Friday, 6/13 • 9:30pm WHAT YO MAMA WARNED YOU ABOUT (Funk & Blues) Saturday, 6/14 • 9:30pm OLEM ALVES (Funk) $3 cover New Sounds from the East Saturday’s post pop, Crimson’s post rock. I f you think of the current music scene in Detroit and all that comes to mind is White Stripes, you should probably lay off Rolling Stone and Spin for awhile and open up your eyes to other possibilities. The Detroit band Saturday Looks Good To Me will expand your horizons with a musical approach that’s more Pet Sounds than Elephant. SLGTM self released an LP last sum- mer. The band played infrequent but excit- ing shows in the Detroit area and quickly gained a following. The first pressing of Saturday’s LP sold out and was reissued on Ypsilanti Records, a label run by the band’s frontman, Fred Thomas. With soar- ing popularity, yet despite the fact that SLGTM still lacked a manager or record deal, the band toured with Saves the Day. Now there’s a deal with Illinois label Polyvinyl Records. The band has just released a new CD, All Your Summer Songs. Thomas, a song- writer, producer and multi-instrumentalist, has also lent his talents to Flashpapr, Lovesick, and most recently His Name Is Alive. The songs he pens for this CD deliver bright melodies and dense arrange- ments. There’s a lot going on in these songs; lush layer upon layer of production, akin to something Phil Spector would have done had he produced, say, Belle and Sebastian. There’s bells layered over horns, layered over piano, layered over guitar, organ, mellotron. Amazingly, it seems the only musical instrument not listed on the extensive list is drums. The effect is a contemporary take on the classic pop of the ’60s, some- times bouncy, sometimes shimmering, always hip. Some songs are beautiful and wistful, like “No Good With Secrets,” while some reverberate with all the energy of summer, like “Underwater Heartbeat.” A troupe of supporting musicians helped record this CD. The liner notes rec- ognize 16 musicians and 11 other singers, not counting Thomas himself. Guests include members of His Name Is Alive, Ida and Secret Stars, along with Jessica Bailiff and Tara Jane O’Neil. Saturday Looks Good To Me will play Sunday (Father’s Day!) at Sam Bond’s. All ages and walks of life can appreciate this music 1626 Willamette Street • Eugene Call for reservations: 541-344-8600 — go ahead, take your dad! Right out of the gate, the debut CD by Crimson Sweet kicks out the jams. “Hello New York” is a raucous guitar- driven gem of power pop and rock. The next track, “Shandon Celebrity” is equally hot. In fact, there’s no dull spot on the entire CD. This group manages to keep the intensity high without sounding redun- dant. Each song has a different vibe that still rocks out and makes you want more. All the way through to the CD’s closer, “Sad Walk at Knifepoint,” the musicians issue forth a communiqué of urgent impor- tance, calling all audiences to join them in their outta-control rock revivalism. The Crimson threesome, bassist Robbie Kongress, drummer “Electric” Al Huckabee and guitarist and vocalist Polly Watson, calls New York City home. Crimson Sweet has had four releases since 1999, along with their 2002 full-length debut, Livin’ In Strut. The effect is a contemporary take on the classic pop of the ’60s, sometimes bouncy, sometimes shimmering, always hip. The band’s full-throttle approach has garnered comparisons with Blondie, The Avengers and Wire (especially Wire, in my opinion). Not bad company to be com- pared to. Livin’ In Strut hits its stride and never looks back, combining punk, rock, and a dash of ’80s for a musical onslaught that’s rough and raw. Crimson Sweet has an abil- ity to condense a song into explosions of attitude and energy. Watson’s delivery is breathless and urgent, inciting the rock and roll riot delivering lines like “Twin suns we are/ You blaze but I burn. Too close this close to you baby, guess I’ll never learn,” from “White Heart.” Lyrically, the band is stripped down, allowing the music plenty of space. Maybe the Portland Mercury sums it up best with the quote “See them now or cry later.” Crimson Sweet plays John Henry’s on Tuesday. ew JUNE 12, 2003 31
