Post by Kevin on Sept 6, 2002 10:20:36 GMT -5
Earthlings?
Kansas City, Missouri, September 3, 2002
If you’re like me, you’ve probably heard of Earthlings?, maybe even heard a tune or two. Up until Tuesday night, my exposure had been limited, but I had liked what I heard. So when I got the unexpected news that Earthlings? was coming to Missouri, I was psyched. I mean, how often does THAT happen? Not too damned often; this was clearly not an opportunity to be missed.
If you don’t know Earthlings?, I’m willing to bet you know about Masters of Reality, Goatsnake, Queens of the Stone Age, and Mondo Generator, right? ‘Cause members of the band are associated with all these groups, and others besides. When I got to the club, around 8:30, Earthlings? was already there, setting up. I was able to talk to all the members, including principal Earthling? Dave Catching, Pete Stahl from Goatsnake, ace drummer Adam, recording engineer and keys man Matthias Schneeberger, and bassist/accordionist Molly, currently also gigging with Mondo Generator. A bit later I got the word that Pete had to go off somewhere to promote another band, and Earthlings? would not go on until midnight!
I managed to fill the time with drinks and conversation with various Earthlings?, while people slowly drifted in. Unfortunately, the venue hadn’t even bothered to post the concert on its own website! As Adam said, “that’s a great way to keep a room empty.” By the time Earthlings? Was ready to play, there were only about 10 non-band members in the room, including members of Season to Risk, a great local KC band.
But everyone who came got their money’s worth. Earthlings? has a very interesting show, heavy on the psychedelia, if you please. The mic stands are covered in some kind of rubbery fungoid mass, giving them the appearance of plants growing from Martian soil. While the band plays, the rear wall behind the stage is a screen for a continuous movie, which seems to involve (among other things) people in weird masks wandering around the California desert. And lets not forget the band themselves, all dressed in space-worthy white outfits.
The whole presentation has a Devo-meets-the-desert vibe, a feeling heightened by the selection of early Devo cuts with which they preceded their show. While I’m not yet too familiar with the band’s catalog, I can tell you that they performed a wide variety of tuneage, from all their albums. The sound was psychedelic and experimental, with a heavy emphasis on electronic sounds and keyboards. Contrary to my experience with their albums, the live mix was heavy on the bass and bass drum, and the music came off all the better for it. They even veered into funk territory from time to time, although it was miles away from the plastic funk that too often infects disco. And props to the sound man; the mix was excellent IMO.
Earthlings? is a side project for most of these folks, where they can stretch out and create something outside the norm. If you’re tired of Kyuss/Sabbath/Skynrd-influenced bands, catch this excellent band on their mini-tour. And get them to tell you some of their Chris Goss/Nick Olivieri/Josh Homme/ etc. etc. etc. desert secne stories; they’re worth the trip by themselves!
Kevin McHugh
Kansas City, Missouri, September 3, 2002
If you’re like me, you’ve probably heard of Earthlings?, maybe even heard a tune or two. Up until Tuesday night, my exposure had been limited, but I had liked what I heard. So when I got the unexpected news that Earthlings? was coming to Missouri, I was psyched. I mean, how often does THAT happen? Not too damned often; this was clearly not an opportunity to be missed.
If you don’t know Earthlings?, I’m willing to bet you know about Masters of Reality, Goatsnake, Queens of the Stone Age, and Mondo Generator, right? ‘Cause members of the band are associated with all these groups, and others besides. When I got to the club, around 8:30, Earthlings? was already there, setting up. I was able to talk to all the members, including principal Earthling? Dave Catching, Pete Stahl from Goatsnake, ace drummer Adam, recording engineer and keys man Matthias Schneeberger, and bassist/accordionist Molly, currently also gigging with Mondo Generator. A bit later I got the word that Pete had to go off somewhere to promote another band, and Earthlings? would not go on until midnight!
I managed to fill the time with drinks and conversation with various Earthlings?, while people slowly drifted in. Unfortunately, the venue hadn’t even bothered to post the concert on its own website! As Adam said, “that’s a great way to keep a room empty.” By the time Earthlings? Was ready to play, there were only about 10 non-band members in the room, including members of Season to Risk, a great local KC band.
But everyone who came got their money’s worth. Earthlings? has a very interesting show, heavy on the psychedelia, if you please. The mic stands are covered in some kind of rubbery fungoid mass, giving them the appearance of plants growing from Martian soil. While the band plays, the rear wall behind the stage is a screen for a continuous movie, which seems to involve (among other things) people in weird masks wandering around the California desert. And lets not forget the band themselves, all dressed in space-worthy white outfits.
The whole presentation has a Devo-meets-the-desert vibe, a feeling heightened by the selection of early Devo cuts with which they preceded their show. While I’m not yet too familiar with the band’s catalog, I can tell you that they performed a wide variety of tuneage, from all their albums. The sound was psychedelic and experimental, with a heavy emphasis on electronic sounds and keyboards. Contrary to my experience with their albums, the live mix was heavy on the bass and bass drum, and the music came off all the better for it. They even veered into funk territory from time to time, although it was miles away from the plastic funk that too often infects disco. And props to the sound man; the mix was excellent IMO.
Earthlings? is a side project for most of these folks, where they can stretch out and create something outside the norm. If you’re tired of Kyuss/Sabbath/Skynrd-influenced bands, catch this excellent band on their mini-tour. And get them to tell you some of their Chris Goss/Nick Olivieri/Josh Homme/ etc. etc. etc. desert secne stories; they’re worth the trip by themselves!
Kevin McHugh