 |
Gene Loves Jezebel Show Review/ Humorous Columbia, Missouri Commentary 80s Goth Band Not Dead Yet Despite Lyrical Self-Predictions to the Contrary By: Meredith Vacek (Lawrencerock.com Editor) |
|
|
First
off, I'd like to admit that the title for this article isn't one hundred
percent accurate, but I thought it was amusing nevertheless. To
start anew, let us talk about Columbia, Missouri, where on Saturday,
November 17th, eighties Goth band Gene Loves Jezebel played at Club
Shattered. Columbia is a town where Lawrence-envy runs as rampant as
retro haircuts run in Lawrence. Talking with resident Columbians, especially
the representatives of KCOU, the college radio station, I could feel
their burning desire to be, and I quote here, as "hip" and
to "draw as many bands as" Lawrence. So we should all be glad
we live were we do, and exist as objects of envy as opposed to those
forever doomed to be hopelessly uncool. JUST KIDDING! You Columbia people
aren't HOPELESSLY uncool. If you move to Lawrence, things could change... The
state of the music scene in Columbia is relevant, because it is the
reason that Gene Loves Jezebel played there, and not here. As members
of the band mentioned after the show, they were more interested in coming
to Lawrence, but none of the "hip" indiepop and punk venues
would have anything to do with them. So as a second choice, they played
three hours away, in Columbia, who was glad to get what they could.
It turns out that Nov. 17th was a night of particular import as it was,
being the grand opening of the new location of Club Shattered. The crowd
drawn was still rather thin, though the venue itself was quite a pleasant
one. Opening
for Gene was what appeared to be a local act, Passion. Passion was described
to me before the show as "kind-of eighties dark pop." This
is a pretty accurate description. They certainly had an eighties sound
what with their guitar effects and singing style, and the apparent age
of the members. Though the band members occasionally perked up and let
a little energy flow, most of the music was rather bland and bled together.
I can say that perhaps I would have enjoyed them more if I had been
more familiar with their music. Gene
Loves Jezebel itself was a fun time. To a music fan, it was like seeing
a piece of living history: an actual, indisputable Goth band, straight
out of Goth’s heyday, one that can be found on a high percentage
of those infamous Goth rock compilations. The band was started in 1981
by twin brothers Michael and Jay Ashton in London, reached some level
of popularity in both the UK and US in indie, Goth, and college radio
circles, and folded in 1989. It was resurrected many years later, in
1998, by Michael alone (as the new releases all loudly proclaim), and
has put out a handful of new albums already, including personal favorite
"Love Lies Bleeding," and most recent "Giving Up the
Ghost." With nearly operatic vocals and their signature high-pitched
guitar, Gene played a relatively long set to a pitiably small audience.
Doesn't anyone have any respect for their indie or Goth roots anymore?
Do people want older, musically formative bands to just fade away? I
suppose some people just don't care. The
band covered both old eighties material and the new material, including
my favorite song off "Love Lies Bleeding," "Give My Regards
to Ray," though I wish they had played more off that album. They
also lapsed into a few covers, amongst them, unfortunately (in my opinion)
a Doors cover, and a cover of Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us
Apart." Though an obvious crowd-pleaser, it was pretty fun. Ashton
was pleasant enough, though some of his band members while setting up
had been rude to fans waiting in line to get in the club. Overall, they
seemed good-humored about the small turn-out, and still lent applaud
able effort into putting on a good show. For
more information about the band, go to: www.genelovesjezebel.com For more information about Club Shattered: www.clubshattered.com Meredith
Vacek |
||