The weather was not (that) bad. The tickets were not expensive. So what happened? Why did the Los Angeles based No Age perform to under 200 people at the Middle East Downstairs on Monday night? Perhaps it was that pesky Dancing With the Stars final episode or something. No Age, touring in support of their Sub Pop release "Nouns," have been popping up on some of the early year end best of lists. Pitchforkmedia gave the record a 9.2 and Paste Magazine had their album listed as this years 22nd best album, yet the band didn't attract the number of people this reviewer would have expected, or that their music deserved.
All that aside, guitarist Randy Randall and drummer Dean Allen Spunt wasted little time in getting the audience fired up. A long guitar fade up served as No Age's into, before Spunt said his hellos and the band kicked off their set with "Teen Creeps." The mix was a slight bit off at the outset, with Spunt's voice being buried in the mix. But that was soon corrected. From the opening shrill of the guitar, those in the audience knew they would be treated to a night of great music. Within No Age's first three tracks, the audience, that had rapidly crowded the stage front, erupted with glee. Bouncing up and down, throwing their hands in the air, the audience didn't stop moving for any of No Age's 19 songs, which they tore through in just under 60 minutes.
Randall works a multitude of foot pedals on the guitar, and, at times, changes to a rumbling bass guitar-like riff. Think Jack White, but with a heavier low end that flashes right back into heavy fuzz pop with the flick of his wrist and stomp of a pedal. No Age changed gears quickly throughout their set, moving between fuzzy guitars and funk back beats. Each song would evolve, and Spunt, who sang the bulk of the songs even paid a quick homage to Boston hard core band "The Freeze" when he howled "This is Boston...Not L.A.". Barring some ebow style fade ups, the band's sound was spot on, although a few people plugged their ears when Randall hung his guitar off his amplifier, twisted a few knobs on the floor, and commenced with a My Bloody Valentine-esque feedback solo.
For the most part, No Age faithfully performed the tracks from "Nouns," and treated the delighted fans to a few new tunes as well. For the encore, the band dropped an inspired cover of GG Allins "Don't Talk to Me" (without human waste being hurled from the stage). The band wrapped up the evening with Randall falling into the hands of the boisterous audience, and being hoisted above their heads as he continued the song. He returned to the stage in one piece, and the band waved and thanked the crowd for their enthusiasm and participation.
This was the final night of No Age's US tour, and the band could have mailed it in. But they certainly did not. For those in attendance Monday night, No Age put on a no holds barred performance, and a much more memorable experience than staying at home and watching Dancing With the Stars.
For stories and pictures from the road check out No Age's Tour Diary
