Review: Spoon

Spoon spent Wednesday night bathed in silhouette and shadows.

The amorphous lighting at the Uptown Theater was an appropriate representation of the Austin quartet. It allowed the capacity audience to imagine that any one of Spoon's myriad influences had taken the band's place on the stage of the Uptown Theater.

The wildly eclectic quartet have become the default standard-bearers of indie rock. Fifteen years into its highly acclaimed career Spoon is finally realizing commercial success commensurate with their talent.

Spoon packed 19 of their finest songs into a 75-minute show. Each was a self-contained miniature masterpiece. The concert flowed like a perfectly constructed mix tape delineating the history of alternative rock 'n' roll.

Opening song "My Little Japanese Cigarette Case" could have been lifted from David Bowie's Aladdin Sane, complete with Eric Harvey's eccentric piano tinkling. The sweet jangle-pop of "I Summon You" crackled with energy; the reggae-inflected "Finer Feelings" was reminiscent of the Clash's Sandinista! period. "The Fitted Shirt" recalled the output of bassist Rob Pope's former band, the Get Up Kids. The joyous soul of Stax Records was conjured by "You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb."

Front man Britt Daniel's ability to dramatically alter his voice is a large element of the band's shape-shifting appeal. He offered an absurd Mick Jagger-style falsetto on the faux funk of "I Turn My Camera On" and an expert impression of Thin Lizzy's Phil Lynott on Spoon's biggest hit, the magnificent anthem "The Underdog."

The audience of about 1,800 more closely resembled hipster night at a Kansas City Chamber of Commerce function than a typical rock concert crowd. They only stopped dancing and swaying twice. The brilliant sonic experiment "The Ghost of You Lingers" perplexed many, while an extended dub segment dedicated to the late Mikey Dread stopped others in their tracks.

For the most part, however, Spoon's fans embraced the band's disorienting lack of continuity. In an age of iPod shuffles and rampant attention deficit disorders, Spoon's musical restlessness makes perfect sense.

Unlike Spoon, opening act the Walkmen reach for epic drama instead of jagged pop. With roller rink organ and exceptional instrumental interplay, the quintet is sort of an an emo version of the Band. Those who enjoyed the Walkman's gothic-Americana are encouraged to investigate similarly-minded local acts In the Pines and American Catastrophe.

| Bill Brownlee, Special to The Star

Comments

[Preston]

WORST SOUND AT AN UPTOWN SHOW SINCE I SAW BURNING SPEAR THERE IN LATE 80s! Hot Pockets (the sound man) should be left in the oven at 750 degrees for eternity. The bass was muddy, no differentiation between instruments was possible: a sonic mess. The lights looked good, though ... great bands, sucky sound.

[Freddy]

Setlist anyone?

[The Big Lead]

While I don’t doubt the intelligence of the author of this review, can he dumb it down a little for us lowly concert goers?

-Jagger-style falsetto on the faux funk
-epic drama instead of jagged pop
-roller rink organ and exceptional instrumental interplay

What does that all even mean?

On another note, Camel looks like they dropped a ton of cash to be a sponsor in a venue that’s mostly smoke free. Ironic?

[13]

they kinda sucked. Wasn't very impressed. I agree with the author that they lacked the continuity they have on their albums; but that isn't a good thing. Also interesting that they seemed surprised to see a full house. Its safe to say their recent success is due to their latest album, yet they didn't embrace it as they should have. Also, anyone else think the lead singer for the walkmen sounded like b. dylan?

[RaiderHawk]

Lotsa bar owners are worried about the Camel promo money drying up when the smoking ban takes real hold. Guess they'll have to move from bars to middle schools.

[chrizow]

no love for white rabbits, the opening-opening band? they formed in columbia, mo.

[Pat]

What is the story with tickets? 2 lines to get in. Ticketmaster in one, and other non-labled tickets (heard many say free - and there was a disclaimer on ticket - limited to venue capacity). Free would explain the full house.

I thought mix was OK for Spoon. I felt bad for the keyboardist when he switched to a guitar that didn't work, then walked off stage to get another that wasn't right. Then a tech grabbed it and brought original one out which worked, but by then the song was over.

Mix for Walkmen (yes, Dylan imitation) was horrible. 35 minutes of them was 35 minutes too long.

I have the White Rabbits "Fort Nightly" which was in the Rolling Stone list of top 50 albums for 2007. I was wanting to hear them. Lines to get in were long and got inside about 8:20. They just finished. What? Show was supposed to start at 8. Did they start early? How did they sound? Based on Walkmen, I'd suggest flipping the two opening acts.

Article lists many of the last two CDs material. Spoon closed with My Mathematical Mind. Also from Gimme Fiction, they played: The Beast and Dragon, Adored; I Turn My Camera On, The Delicate Place, I Summon You, & They Never Got You.

From Ga,Ga..: Don't Make Me a Target, The Ghost of You Lingers, You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb, The Underdog, & My Little Japanese Cigarette Case.

[Andrew]

What about when Britt was talking about how the last time they played KC only 10 people showed up, and that they only played in Lawrence after that?

Turns out the venue was The Daily Grind - where the hell was I, don't even remember that happening...would have LOVED to have been there, jeezus - can't even imagine.

Anyway, I really liked the show. The sound at the Uptown seems like it depends on where you are standing, but I guess it's like that everywhere. Was my first time seeing them, and was just happy to hear those songs. It seems to me that they played Finer Feelings and Black Like Me (things get a little fuzzy for me towards the end) - which are my two faves from Ga Ga...

[Joseph P]

no way could this show be panned by fans that have listened to Spoon through the years. I can understand fans displeasure if they came to the show based upon their recent commercial success via "underdog"....those fans don't get it. The sound quality was great from my vantage point on the floor....way better sound quality than wilco's uptown show here 2 years ago.