Couches, Naked Apes and Teton Avenue @ the Flying M Concert-Garage (5/21/13)

This show caught my attention because it featured Couches, a San Francisco group whose Treefort set I'd missed.  They'd played the previous night with Red Hands Black Feet at the Red Room.  I chose to cover this one instead, however, because 1) I didn't want to miss the Heligoats, 2) I can't write about EVERY goddamn Red Hands Black Feet show, and 3) part of me worried that not many folks would show up.

Being right really does suck sometimes.  I counted seven people when I got to the Flying M.  When Couches played, I counted twelve, most of them members of the other bands.  Oh well.  At least the Shivas' Radio Boise Tuesday show seemed well-attended (judging from the crapload of people I saw out on the patio when I walked by Neurolux later that night).

Teton Avenue opened the show.  In my last write-up on this band, I wrote that they "made me think a little of what the Strokes might sound like if they weren't a bunch of spoiled rich boys."  Their lead singer seemed to have taken that comment to heart: with his shades, his coolly bored demeanor and his talk of "my guitarist" and "my bassist" [italics mine], the guy was the very picture of an a**hole rock frontman.  Thankfully, he joked around enough with his bandmates to show that he didn't take that stuff too seriously.  In any case, their propulsive rhythms, catchy tunes and fluid solos sounded even better than they did at the Torn ACLs show.  They still have some rough edges--a false start here, an unconfident vocal there--but overall, they're coming along nicely.

Naked Apes played next.  Speaking of coming along nicely, this duo may have played their best set yet (that I've seen, anyway).  They slipped around on the beat some, and while Gabe Arellano's low-string riffs do what they can, the bottom end of their sound could use a little filling in.  All the same, their raw vocals, fuzzy guitar and rumbling drums proved immensely enjoyable.  This was especially true in the case of the lumbering, mid-tempo numbers at the end of their set, which also featured some ominous, spacey distortion.  Also, I could hear the lyrics pretty well this time around (not bad, from what I caught).

Couches closed out the night.  Between their tight groove, their smooth tempo shifts and their pleasantly plain vocals, these guys called to mind a less eccentric Built to Spill.  Mike Dubuque's clipped, smartly restrained drumming and Chris Griley's sly basslines provided a sturdy platform for Dave Mitchell's jangling, clanging riffs and terse, tuneful solos.  I warmed to this group quickly, but their love song to California clinched it.  The stuff about dreamers, peace of mind and talking about outer space wasn't bad either, especially since it came with such pretty melodies.  I also appreciated the energy that they put into their performance in spite of the meager crowd.  As for Mitchell's Giants cap, hey, I can respect hometown pride (the Dodgers will rise again, I can feel it...).

You can find info on these groups on Facebook and elsewhere online.  Special thanks to Nathan Walker and the Flying M.  If you like what you've read and would like to help keep it going, click the yellow "Give" button and donate whatever you can.  Even $5 would help.

Teton Avenue, the Torn ACLs and Naked Apes @ the Flying M Concert-Garage (3/9/13)

I always enjoy seeing shows at the Flying M, so this show attracted my interest right off the bat.  Even better, it featured the Torn ACLs, a Seattle group I'd never seen before, and Teton Avenue and Naked Apes, two Idaho bands I hadn't seen in a good long while.

I counted about thirty people when I got out to Nampa.  By the time that the Torn ACLs played, the audience had built to around forty-five.  A pretty solid number.  Also, it turned out that I wasn't the only one covering the show.  In the crowd was Samantha Donaldson, a young lady who has recently moved to Nampa from Hollywood.  She's been doing some impressive work on her blog Indie Band Finder.  Check it out at www.indiebandfinder.blogspot.com.

Naked Apes kicked off the show.  They sounded a little ragged but not nearly enough so to tarnish the appeal of their sunny tunes, buzzing guitar and rapid-fire drumming.  I couldn't really make out the lyrics, but their songs were well-crafted enough to give me hope.

The Torn ACLs played next.  Just when I think I'm gonna scream if I have to listen to one more 60's surf/pop/garage knock-off, some group shows that there's still some gas in that little deuce coupe.  These guys' limber groove belied that touch of knock-kneed shtick and went a long way towards distinguishing their boyish vocals, jangling guitars, propulsive basslines and steady drumming.  Some sharp lyrics about urban dysfunction and trying not to crash the boss's car helped a lot too.  Also welcome was their dry, self-deprecating stage banter.

Teton Avenue closed out the night.  These dudes have come a long way since I saw them last May. Their light vocals, chiming guitars, piercing solos, smooth basslines and fast-stepping drums made me think a little of what the Strokes might sound like if they weren't a bunch of spoiled rich boys.  Although they still had some rough edges, they got about eighty-five percent of the way towards realizing their catchy tunes and savvy arrangements' considerable potential.  They went for a clap-along and got it.  They also gave shout-outs to the Pemble brothers, the Android House and Caldwell as a whole.  Good for them.

You can find info on these groups on Facebook and elsewhere online.

Oh Dear! and Naked Apes @ the Flying M Coffee-Garage (8/10/12)

I have my superficial moments, as readers of this blog have undoubtedly noticed.  I'll look at the info on a show sometimes and say, "Ooh!  That's a neat name!  I'll go see that!"  Such was the case with this show.  But c'mon, you gotta admit--Oh Dear! and the Woodboogers are pretty neat names.

I counted a little over 20 people in the audience for this show.  A chunk of them left after the first act, which was really too bad.  But hey, that's one reason why I write this blog: it gives me bragging rights.  Not to mention money and women.  (Yeah, right.)

First up this night was the Caldwell duo Naked Apes, who had apparently changed their name from the Woodboogers prior to the show.  Whatever they choose to call themselves, they showed quite a bit of promise.  Gabe Arellano's guitar soared on top while Devon Roth's drums rumbled and boomed down below, and their unvarnished vocals gave their terse tunes a certain rough-hewn charm.  At least a decent amount of people got to hear their raucous set-capping cover of "Pipeline."

After Naked Apes came Oh Dear!, a five-man indie-rock band from Tacoma, WA.  Brandon Sagnella's boyish, slightly detached vocals sounded a little strained, but they delivered the pleasant tunes well enough and suited the neurotic lyrics.  And anyway, this group gave the handful of folks in the audience plenty of other stuff to listen to: intertwining guitar lines, stabilizing basslines and complementary dual drummers.  Their sinuous, assured groove and natty arrangements gave me hope that the smart, insecure guy in their songs will get his act together one of these days.

You can find info on these groups on Facebook and elsewhere online.  Special thanks to Nathan Walker and the Flying M.