I had the chance to briefly meet the band before their performance and they were exactly what I hoped they would be: long haired, tank top (or no top) wearing metal heads. I didnt check out their shoes, but I'm sure they had the old school Reebok hi-tops on too. They were the kind of guys I would see headbanging in the crowd during a Pantera or Danzig video when I was younger. Which, also, basically sums up my knowledge on metal. Even when i met them in the safety of the backstage area I couldn't help but wonder if my skinny jeans were grounds enough for an ass-beating. Ok, I'm exagerrating, they were actually pretty cool.
After Jessica 6's amazing dance party of a performance, I had to endure Crocodiles' set, which started late because apparently the divas from San Diego were not happy about a certain light on in the venue. I'm sorry San Diego, but you should pay more attention to Ron Bergundy because some of your representatives aren't making ya'll look so good. I'm guessing that most of Crocodiles' fans were there because of the lead singer's "hottttness" based on the girls wooing in the front of the stage. And I'll admit, as my friend put it, he did have some swagger going. But it was apparent they weren't too happy during their performance, splashing and spitting water at the front row of the audience like they were Depeche Mode at the Rose Bowl. I'm sorry Mr. Crocodile, but you're no Dave Gohan. After seeing them for the second time last night I have a newfound confidence in my gut instinct which kept me from buying their 7" a couple weeks ago.
Then Viscera hit the stage and I have to admit I was a little weary, but once the 6-string bass wielding singer/bassist immediately made his tshirt disappear, I had a feeling these guys were for reals. And they were!! Immediately the songs were recognizable. I was afraid that they were going to get up there and hash out some half-assed thrashed out versions of FC's songs, but I was dead wrong. These guys took this performance seriously. Well, the performing part at least. You can tell they knew they were a long ways from Kansas being a metal band playing to the hipster/indie kids The Echo normally brings in, and they were having fun with it. At some point the singer, jokingly asked the audience if us "fuckers like punk rock". Of course we do! For me, their rendition of John Shade, or "the song that can do no wrong" (which was how they introduced it),was the epitome of what I imagined Fol Chen done metal would sound like. I don't kow if it was the pot I smoked before, or the ear-piercing loudness, but something about it completely transformed that song into a genuine metal anthem. Another highlight was The Believers which included some amazing double-tapping solos.
It's easy for some to want to pass the last two nights of Fol Chen's residency as somewhat of a gimmick, if not, exactly that. On the surface I can see why they'd say that. I mean, who finds random people on craigslist and has them come up and sing their songs without ever rehearsing? Who replaces themselves on their own residency with a metal band? Well, apparently Fol Chen do, and frankly, I would rather see a band make the effort to have each night be something different than the last and turn it into something special for the audience that will most likely never be done again. FC can be called many things from quirky to eccentric and maybe a bit avant garde, but I know firsthand, Fol Chen is no gimmick.
Viscera melting faces
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