It’s always pretty awesome to watch opening acts put on a better show than the big name bands they set the stage for. And I begin this review that way against my better judgment, considering the headlining band in reference is Best Coast, a group that has etched themselves into the hearts of thousands of fans. I'm not saying Best Coast are talentless, or put on a bad show, or even put out bad music. In truth, their live set changed my mind on their talent, and made me much more of a fan than I could of ever expected. However, opening with as dynamic a pair as The Reservations and Sonny and the Sunsets may not have been the wisest move they’ve every made.
I entered the Holocene expecting a beach-pop explosion set to go down, and was immediately disproven by the morbidly organ-fueled sounds of Portland’s The Reservations. This punk rock quartet did play moments of surf rock, but in general, a description of their sound is better aligned to the soundtrack of "The Addams Family" TV series, were it to be recast for today. The black-and-white shots of cemeteries and dark alleys flashing on the sheets behind them only accentuated this vibe, and seemed fitting judging that Halloween is rapidly bearing down upon us.
Two vocalists swap lead singing duties for the group, and they couldn’t be any different – one feels and sounds like an evangelical preacher on ‘ludes, while the other shrieks out a punky scowl. Add an organ to this mix, toss around some short drum beats and hula-like guitar, and you’ve got the excitingly inventive concoction that is The Reservations. I spent the entire set wondering, “Who the hell are these guys, and where the hell do they come from?,” and was overjoyed when I later learned that they’re just another piece of our wonderful local scene. I can’t wait to see more of these guys around town.
Sonny and the Sunsets put on a likewise delicious set, but with a completely different purpose. Definitely sounding like a more rock ‘n’ roll version of The Mamas and the Papas, this group seemed to truly love what they were doing, and were happy as pie to be sharing it with the crowd. Vocalist Tahlia Harbour carried a Mama Cass vivaciousness, with a Michelle Phillips voice, while lead singer and guitarist Sonny Smith sounded less like John Phillips and more like a Stooges-era Iggy Pop. Songs like “I Wanna Do It Again” were immediately catchy, but it was tracks like their closer, “Time To Split,” that left a lasting impression on the crowd. It was then that they were their most fun, with the drummer imitating a drum solo and Smith impersonating Jimi Hendrix’s guitar gyrations and fire-charming ways. They all seemed to have a blast playing with each other, especially since they put out such happy and likable music.
Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You” played as Best Coast walked on stage, and the crowd greeted them by loudly chanting out the lyrics. I’d tried to get into this group multiple times, but was always turned off by how unhappy their music seemed, despite the fact it carried a label of surf pop. Their live show served as a turnaround point for me, though, as their fuzzy love-lorn grooves left a mark. Songs like “Boyfriend” and “Crazy On You” felt more alive and relevant than their recorded versions. Unfortunately, much of their remaining repertoire sounded like reworked versions of each other. There were great moments of roaring guitar and drums, and lead singer Bethany Cosentino threw variation in her vocals at every opportune moment, yet many of the songs blended together in a way that felt like we were listening to an extended version of the previous song.
Just as they started to lose their appeal, Best Coast left the stage and came back for an encore that explained their hype and fan base. Cosentino chose to stand on a chair and sing their last song, then jump down and kneel on the stage with guitarist Bobb Bruno. The two rocked out in that moment harder than they had all night, and drummer Ali Koehler's banging only solidified it.
I give Best Coast a thumbs up, but I can't help but think that they need to incorporate more variety into their sound before they can be considered the next best thing. In the meantime, they should really watch out for openers like the two they had this night. Here's to seeing Sonny and the Sunsets or The Reservations soon headlining shows of their own.
