Earlimart at the Echoplex - 05-17-08
Earlimart took the opportunity at the Echoplex last Saturday night, May 17, to introduce a few tracks from their new album Hymn and Her, scheduled for release in July. "For the Birds" and "Before It Gets Better" have been previewed on KCRW in the past few weeks.
While Earlimart's album tracks are often lovely and soothing blends of Ariana Murray's string-like synths and Aaron Espinoza's whispery vocals, these live songs were kicked up several notches on the energy scale. The set started with two tracks from the new album, one of which is my favorite of the five I have heard so far, "Song For." Other new songs included "Face Down In the Right Town" and "Great Heron Gates." From last year's Mentor Tormentor there were "700 > 100" and "Nevermind the Phone Calls."
Earlimart has a large back catalog of audience favorites, from which they chose the lovely "Heaven Adores You," probably the first song of theirs that ever grabbed my interest, and "The Hidden Track," both from 2004's Treble and Tremble. This live version of "The Hidden Track" was much faster and hard-rocking than the album version, making me think that Earlimart might do well to put out a live album. They also pulled out "Susan's Husband's Gun Shop" from their 2003 EP Avenues.
Unfortunately, in the first pause between songs, some guy in the audience started calling out his two favorite Earlimart songs over and over. The band did play one of those requests, "We Drink On the Job," fitting it in where they had planned to play "Susan's Husband's Gun Shop." I know this because I saw the band's set list after the show. From then on, the guy kept shouting out his other favorite, "Everybody Knows Everybody," which is a great song, and I love it too, but apparently Earlimart had not planned to play it. You could see Aaron getting increasingly annoyed by this repeated hounding, which went on into the encore.
Left, Aaron closes his eyes; Right, Ariana in red beams a beautiful smile
After Ariana's sweet "Happy Alone," and another callout from this broken-record person, Aaron mumbled tightly, "That's the next song," then went on to play "Gonna Break It To Your Heart" another song from Mentor Tormentor. The band abruptly left the stage, and that was the end of the show. I couldn't help wondering if they had cut it short out of pure exasperation.
So readers, let's discuss: Should a band be prepared to abandon their set list and play whatever the audience wants, or should the audience be receptive to the songs the band has planned and practiced? It's clear what my opinion is. And if the person whose behavior I have described here reads this post, yes, that was me who turned around and glared at you. I also wanted to say, "Shut the f*k UP!" In my opinion, that guy owes Earlimart an apology.
Left, Aaron rocks out; Right, little white lights on Ariana's keyboard;
below right, a little dove figurine perches on the cymbals
Setlist:
1. God Loves You the Best
2.
4. Face Down In the Right Town
5. For the Birds (stream)
6. Nevermind the Phone Calls
7. Heaven Adores You
8. The Hidden Track
9. We Drink On the Job
10. Great Heron Gates
11. Susan's Husband's Gun Shop (live at SXSW 2008)
Encore:
12. Happy Alone
13. Gonna Break It To Your Heart
All mp3s above are from the WOXY Lounge Acts Podcast at SXSW 2008
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2 comments:
i think that in a more-or-less intimate setting the crowd feels so close to the band and such a part of the experience that they don't see anything wrong with shouting out requests or comments. it all comes down to common sense and courtesy, which it sounds like this guy had little or none of!
i would hope that any established band would have the flexibility to abandon or at least alter the playlist if the moment so moved them, but i also understand that they've got a plan and a way they'd like to see the evening progress, so i guess it's kind of a balancing act for them.
As many times as I've heard audience members requesting songs--and done it myself!--I've never heard anybody be so obliviously obnoxious.
On the other hand, anybody who has to get up in front of a group of people needs to be able to let a little dirty water roll off their back. I wish Aaron hadn't let it get to him.
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