Considering this was my first time seeing a show at World Cafe Live and my first time seeing As Tall As Lions and Bear Hands, I was curious to see what this Wednesday night show would offer.
The World Cafe crowd ran the gamut from kids to middle-aged adults, some of whom were wearing sombreros in celebration of Cinco de Mayo. Half the crowd seemed to be dating the other half; most were ordering food and margaritas at tables; and only a few were crowding the stage. World Cafe Live does not seem to promote an intimate, interactive atmosphere, but perhaps it just pales in comparison to the basement shows I'm used to.
Brooklyn's Bear Hands opened the night, and without much hurrah, plunged into their set of indie rock and post punk. The band blends chunky guitars with pulsating drums, reverb laden lead guitar lines, and vocals reminiscent of a young Isaac Brock. The most contagious onstage energy came from the rhythm section. Val Loper, bassist and percussionist, was the one to watch during the set. When he wasn’t playing bass and dancing, he drummed along on a floor tom and added more rhythmic complexity to what TJ Orscher was playing on drums. It was a strange twist, where the rhythm section was more compelling, both visually and musically, than the vocals and guitars.
Bear Hands offered an interesting mix that should have earned more of a reaction than the head bobbing and foot tapping they received. Almost every time I go to a show in Philadelphia, I feel a little embarrassed for the bands playing. On too many occasions, I have seen lackluster audiences being called out by the band - exactly what happened with Bear Hands. Vocalist Dylan Rau told the crowd, “We had a better reaction in Milwaukee. Have any of you guys ever been there?” Such confrontations do serve a purpose, though; by the time Bear Hands closed their set with “What a Drag,” the audience was grooving along. And with such driving rhythms, how could anyone resist?
But the crowd was out to see As Tall as Lions, and before the band struck the first chords of "Stab City," they were greeted with veracious applause. It was a good start to a well executed and consistent set, with the crowd joyfully vibing along with the band. The music was layered, textured and sometimes almost epic, albeit in an easy listening way. In fact, when bassist Julio Tavarez encouraged the crowd to start clapping during “In Case of Rapture,” it felt a bit out of place. The drum solo that followed was even more unexpected, although it did serve to liven up the audience.
The band was certainly there to entertain, including themselves. Front man Dan Nigro announced that his birthday was coming up soon, and to go with the Cinco De Mayo spirit, had someone in the audience bring the band five shots of tequila. Nigro's showmanship was enthralling, but bassist Julio Tavarez particularly caught my attention, bouncing around the stage in between bouts of singing backup vocals. In fact, both bands changed my misconception that the bassist is typically the no-frills backing member of the band.
After experiencing my first show at World Cafe Live, whose downstairs venue (for larger audiences) is flanked on all sides by tables and wait staff, the venue seems great for chill music and small talk. As Tall As Lions, with their moody U2-esque textures and sounds, fit this bill. Bear Hands did not. Seeing them together was an interesting contrast, but an odd one. However, with their clear songwriting talent and showmanship, I expect both bands will see continued success, regardless of their venues and touring mates.
