By: Zosia Blue
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These Modern Socks at the Varsity Theater Friday - Photo by David de Young
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Whatever you might think of Fort Wilson Riot, based on either their name or what you’ve heard by word-of-mouth, you’re probably wrong because there’s no way to accurately describe them. I’ll try: the first song, led by Amy Hager’s astonishingly pure mezzo-soprano, was a 20-minute medley featuring pirates. Or, at least, growly-voiced bassist Joe Goggins pretending to be a pirate and Hager pretending to be a…ship crone maybe? See what I mean?
After this, Goggins hit a button on the synth, yelled into the mic that the next song was titled “Bitch Tits” and then beatboxed for two minutes. Then, Hager, dressed in a short black dress and a long flowery kimono, fronted a slow, Stevie Nicks worthy ballad that raised the hairs on my arm and made me want to write long, pensive poems about ex-boyfriends. I sat with my mouth open for most of the show; my brain wasn’t ready for such a wonderfully nutty, theatrical set.
Fort Wilson Riot’s sound is psychedelic drama – I fully expected a rainbow-colored animated spiral to be projected on the back screen at one point. They definitely have a niche, and a crazy, experimental, joyously feel-good sound. My only complaint is that Amy’s voice wasn’t featured more – she’s got one of the most beautiful voices on the scene, and the type that will only get more stunning with age. I look forward to seeing her progress.
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These Modern Socks
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These Modern Socks, who took the stage next, couldn’t have been more different. The only similarity between the two bands is that they’re staffed with great musicians. These Modern Socks has five members, four of whom stood in a straight line near the front of the stage, dressed in old brown ‘70s business suits. The stage was cluttered with instruments – two keyboards, a lead guitar, an acoustic guitar, a bass, drums. Next to me in the crowd, [howwastheshow editor] David de Young mentioned the band was trying to tell us something with this stark line-up arrangement. Though this could mean many things, one interpretation is that These Modern Socks is one of those professional and confident bands that don’t need flash or floor-writhing antics to cover up for deficiencies in craft. (Not to say the flashers and floor-writhers of the world are all deficient musicians.) At other shows, I’ve heard they go the t-shirts-and-jeans route, so I wonder what inspired tonight’s formal attire. Their sound is Weezer meets Death Cab for Cutie meets Beck, with a hint of Erik Appelwick’s hooky song-writing. (Though Erik Appelwick isn’t affiliated with this band, as far as I know, even if the band shares drummer Adrian Suarez with Appelwick’s band Vicious Vicious.)
The show opened with “Someone I Don’t Know,” a slow, heartbreak-ballad that vacillates between Corey Palmer’s sweet tenor and a single guitar, and the entire band rocking in the chorus. Palmer is my favorite type of frontman – he doesn’t leap around stage or contort his face into Halloween angst-masks; he just holds the acoustic guitar and sings with genuine emotion, which makes him charming and interesting to watch.
By far, my favorite song was “Bird in the Bathroom,” played about halfway through the set. This song just reaches in and cradles your heart. While the rest of the bands hung back, Palmer leaned into the mic and nearly whispered, “You want me to care for you, like I did with the bird in the bathroom.” The room went silent as we all pictured the circumstances surrounding the lyrics.
I’ve been listening to their self-titled CD non-stop since Friday night (even better than their live show, which almost never happens – it’s rare, in my opinion, for a CD to equal or best a live show, but this one’s done it). Seeing the band is a soothing experience, though I don’t mean to imply that they don’t rock. I left the Varsity feeling sentimental and warm, as if Corey Palmer himself had given me a hug and made me tea. These Modern Socks is like that, except with an edge.
These Modern Socks – Set List
Someone I Don’t Know
Big Talker
Run
December ‘01
Bird in the Bathroom
Lost in Hallways
Or Something
Mazzy
Dr. Lawyer
Tell Me We’re There
Glue
Location Info:
The Varsity Theater
Artist Info: Fort Wilson Riot, These Modern Socks
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