As somewhat of a ‘70s rock snob, the following statement may seem a bit blasphemous, and yet, it is the best way to describe Foxy Shazam’s performance at El Corazon. Seeing Foxy live is like watching what would happen if Freddie Mercury had been born twenty years later, looked like Guy Fawkes, and joined a punk band. Then add a supporting man on keyboards whose stage presence resembles Elton John on meth. My housemate tells me it’s called “Glam-Punk.”
Whatever it is, it sounds awesome.
Fresh off the release of their self-titled album, Foxy's El Corazon show kicked off a tour in support of it. With a polished sound, the new album's tone is much more pop than punk, a departure from the band's previous albums. The vocals are much cleaner, and the guitar sequences more refined than those in Introducing (2005) and The Flamingo Trigger (2008).
But before Foxy took the stage, three bands performed opening sets, each with remarkably different sounds. With pop/rock from Feverclub, hip-hop from Bad Rabbits, and '60s British invasion era rock from the Young Veins, El Corazon offered the audience a smorgasbord of music, nothing like what they were about to experience in Foxy.
Taking advantage of the thin crowd, Feverclub’s lead singer Andrea Valdez intimately interacted with individuals in the crowd, bringing a charming tone to the start of the evening.
Bad Rabbits followed with undoubtedly the most energetic set next to Foxy’s. “What’s the band’s name?” the emcee yelled several times during the set, ensuring Bad Rabbits' place in group memory. With a backing band band that never stopped moving and a fun, up-beat blend of rock and hip-hop, Bad Rabbits did not need to worry about being remembered.
With a lack of originality and a lack of enthusiasm, the Young Veins, frankly, put on the most boring show I’ve ever seen. The most exciting part of the set was the band’s banter before and after their performances. Nevertheless, the band clearly had a fan base present that night, despite the fact that they haven't yet released their first album. Perhaps nostalgia plays a part in the Young Veins' appeal.
Foxy followed shortly, and, as expected, put on the best show of the night. With lead singer Eric Nally never stopping to take a breath and with the rest of the band following suit, Foxy’s set was the most entertaining, engaging and energetic show I’ve seen in ages. Every band member enthusiastically performed, a nice refresher after the lackluster performance of the Young Veins. It was also nice to see a band live up to the image they portray in official videos.
Playing a good mix of songs from their latest release and their earlier albums, Foxy effortlessly blended the diverse styles from their extensive catalog. Though their latest release may have stronger pop appeal, it's great to see that they haven't strayed from their punk roots.
