Los Campesinos! - 17-Jan-2009

I was very excited to finally see Los Campesinos! because it seemed like they'd never come to the US besides New York.  I fell in love with them after Hold On Now,Youngster came out in April 2008 (US), and was happily surprised when less than a year after their first full release they said they would be releasing another full length album, We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed (Oct 2008).  Both are masterpieces of awkward self deprecation and smartly crafted lyrics with layered melodies that are full of unexpected complexity.

Opening Band was Titus Andronicus (TA).  I have to admit, I didn't know them.  The Earl can probably hold about 250 people maximum and there were probably at least 150 people already there when TA started playing.  They are a four piece group from New Jersey.  Immediately, I kept thinking about The Alarm's Standards album because they had the same type of rhythm and vocal styling, but as they went on, it started sounding like Irish Punk/Rock...kind of like The Pogues, but not so Irish.  It was fun and energetic and the lead singer was endearing and engaging as he spoke so highly of Los Campesinos!.  By this time I realized I was almost surrounded by Los Campesinos! themselves =).  They had come out to watch TA's set.  I love that.  I know I have mentioned this before when I spoke of Black Kids at the same venue, but it's still cool.  I bought TA's album, The Airing of Grievances.  It does not capture that live energy, but a good album.  TA did admit they had been in Atlanta before, but no one came out to see them so they were very happy with the turn out.

I did not know what to expect of a live LC! because in their myspace bulletins and emails I get from them, they always have an air of cynical dry humor.  I wasn't sure if they'd seem stuck up, but was surprised to find them to be very warm, if not slightly uncomfortable and awkward.  I actually liked that.  Gareth, lead singer, was the most self-conscious when he sang.  It seemed he wouldn't look directly at the audience when he sang, and he moved like a petulant child throwing a temper tantrum.  But it made his performance that much more interesting.  I mean, how many lead singers of bands can get away with wearing a Winnie the Pooh t-shirt (picture on top)? 

Set List:

1. Ways to Make it Through the Wall

2. The International Tweexcore Underground (Not Recorded)

3. All Your Kayfabe Friends

4. Death to Los Campesinos!

5. Miserabilia

6. This is How You Spell, "HAHAHA, We Destroyed the Hopes   and Dreams of a Generation of Faux-Romantics"

7. Knee Deep at ATP (Not Recorded)

8. Documented Minor Emotional Breakdown #1

9. My Year in Lists

10. You! Me! Dancing!

11. We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed

12  12. Sweet Dreams, Sweet Cheeks

13  13. Broken Heartbeats Sound Like Breakbeats

Hi

H     Highlights from the show:

1> You! Me! Dancing! - There was this big instrumental lead up before the main guitar riff and as soon as they finally started rocking out, the main guitarist's string broke.  The rest of the band continued on as he set up a backup guitar.  The audience cheered and clapped and finally he just ripped it out and everyone went crazy.  The show was almost sold out by the time LC! played so it was a lot of fun.

2> This is how you spell... - You know the rest of the song title.  One, I just love that title and two, it is a great song.  I was happy they sang this one.  It's probably my third favorite song by them.

3> Main guitarist - My husband, who was vaguely familiar with LC! before, left the show saying they were amazing, especially the main guitarist because he made all the special beats/beeps/rhythms that make their songs great.  I agree, and I guess I saw them as a whole and didn't dissect the sounds down as much as I should have. 

4> Gareth - LC!'s lyrics are not run of the mill.  They are unexpected and complicated.  There's a lot of words in each song.  I like his delivery and performance.  I also like that he found ways to connect with the audience by making sports references or jokes, even though he himself does not look like he'd be into sports, much less American Baseball.  But the fact that he did made him even more endearing.

Sometimes I see shows and forget about them rather quickly, but I really enjoyed LC! and have watched their videos numerous times already.  Hope you enjoy.