By: Kristine Lambert
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Kubla Khan's Scratch 'n' Sniff Horn Section - Photo by Tom Healey (click for larger)
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If you couldn’t find something that tickled your fancy and weren’t out seeing live music last weekend: GO TO YOUR ROOM! Last Friday was one of the most music-packed nights of the year. Just to name a few, IMA Robot was at First Avenue, Psychedelic Furs played the Minnesota Zoo Amphitheater with Electric Six, Friends Like These and Faux Jean were at the Turf Club, 2 Tickets 2 Paradise were at Lee’s and High on Stress played with Stook at the Kitty Cat Club. I myself was among the chosen to peace out to The Alarmists and Spymob at Kubla Khan’s CD release of Lowertown at the 400 Bar.
At promptly 10 p.m. The Alarmists (Joe Kuefler on synth, Eric Lovold on guitar and vocals, Ryan Mach on drums, Ryan McMillian on guitar, and Tony Najm on bass) busted out and sucked the crowd in with the first three songs off this year’s release A Detail of Soldiers. It was a call to arms that sounded exactly like the record: “Soldados,” “New Romans,” and “Good Advice.” I had been listening to the record all week and trying to decipher the 80s element of their sound; it seems as though they carefully selected what was cool about the decade, twisted it around and unleashed it upon us, having learned the drawback of video killing the radio star. They also have audible influences beyond the decade of big hair – there was a serious Strokes vibe, but with songs that are much more emotive. They were dressed up with skinny ties, but the music and the stage energy prevailed. They have a synthesizer, but its sound is well placed and not overwhelming. During “All We Are,” my friend and looked at each other and simultaneously said: “DEVO!”
Kubla Khan had eight musicians on stage and appropriately began their set with “Memory” and “What Did I Do,” the first two songs off Lowertown. Andy Bast played bass and sang, Nathan Eklund was on keyboard and sang lead vocals, Stein Malvey played guitar, and jMatt Keil played drums. Also, the Scratch ‘n’ Sniff horn section – comprised of Jeff Nordquist on trumpet, Paul Gronert on saxophone, and Matt Hanzelka and Scott Moriarity on trombone – were center stage throughout the performance.
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Spymob - Photo by Tom Healey (click for larger)
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I caught Kubla Khan without the horn section a while back. It was a good experience because I was able to piece out the keys a bit more and realize Eklund’s keyboard prowess. Since then I’ve listened to them in a light that favors each individual instrument. But Friday, the band showcased the horns, which enhanced every song for this balanced and practiced band that easily crosses three generations. The boomers will toe-tap while we Generation X-ers chill out. Kids will get excited and sing “Nels” over and over (seriously, play that song for a kid and try to tell me they aren’t singing about cellular biology and how they want to take that Double K off the shelf).
At one point during the set, Eklund asked for more vocals from the sound guy. Someone in the crowd responded by asking: “Can I get some more trombone?” Eklund replied that it could be arranged and then launched into “Couch,” which asks, “why we talking about my couch?” and then proceeds to a regal horn coda, fresh with piccolo trumpet.
We’ve waited nearly two years to see the final band play. Described by John Ostby (keyboard and vocals) as “piano pop, rock, funk and blue-eyed soul,” Spymob also includes Christian Twigg on bass, Eric Fawcett on drums, and Brent Paschke on guitar and background vocals. Notably absent was the sampler that brought Spymob through the 2002 tour with The Neptunes’ N.E.R.D. This did not, however, prevent Spymob from delivering.
Starting off with the hopping bass with falsetto vocals of “Walking Under Green Leaves,” all but one song was from their 2004 release Sitting Around Keeping Score. “National Holidays” gave us a snappy and head-bobbing tune. “German Test Drive” took us for a ride through a wavy drone that could easily have broken into an electronic club mix. “It Keeps Me Going” was a highlight of the evening with an outstanding bass line by Twigg. A feel-good band that continues to be unpredictable and complex, Spymob ended with the first song off Sitting Around Keeping Score, “2040.” Everyone left the club with a smile on their face and a song humming in their head.
Location Info:
400 Bar
Artist Info: Kubla Khan, Spymob, The Alarmists
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