my We Are Scientists shirt and button

Let me start this by saying it's going to be shorter than most of my usual reviews. My apologies to all that were expecting details on Chris's beard, Max's drumsticks, etc. but that's not happening here. In fact, I'm writing this several months after the fact from the notes I took whilst at the gig (yeah, you know me, I get a pen and paper out and everyone around me looks at me funny) and the pictures I took of the actual gig (most of which were terrible). This one is, in hindsight, ridiculously silly (because somehow between the jokey banter between me and Keith Murray BEFORE and AFTER it was taken by a German teenage girl tourist, I have my eyes closed and Keith looks like a deer in headlights). I swear that we were talking about D.C. and music and gigs and such before hand - and you know I'm being honest. Oh well. Maybe someday I'll get a DECENT pic with him and/or Chris Cain. Would be funny/ironic if the pic ended up being taking at Reading or Leeds next year or the next...

It is also one of those gigs that highlight the importance of having reliable gig-going friends. Friends that don't mock you for what you like and are willing to accompany you to these gigs. For those of you not from the area, the Black Cat is in a part of D.C. that isn't that great - a show I went to in October, one of their own staff got mugged by a preteen with a gun! - so I have to weigh this somewhat with whether or not I should go to a gig.

This time I went with a former co-worker of mine, who didn't really want to go to this gig but she didn't want me going alone, so she came along anyhow. I would have preferred to go with someone who had at least heard of WAS beforehand, b/c she refused to stand near the stage. I prefer being up front as much as possible for gigs, purely so I can see (I'm 5'2"). It however may have ended up better anyhow b/c people were going crazy during the encore and I probably would have gotten beaten up some way or another and you all know that I'm very delicate :) So sitting in the back on the comfy sofas was actually a good thing!

The actual club doors opened around 7.35 at which time we were 7th and 8th in line. The two of us got drinks and just hung out. One thing I love about the Black Cat - I can get a glass (not quite a pint) of Stella not from a bottle but draft. I couldn't figure out why these gals who looked in their tweens were standing by the ATM - they were lining up to get upstairs to the club floor. Meanwhile, who should walk by to the backstage area but Keith Murray and Max Hart? I tell my friend and of course, she has no clue about this, but I told her it had to be him. (Even though he was wearing a hat. you can tell by the hair, right girls?) More about him later.

They didn't let us onto the club floor until almost 9.00, and WAS didn't take the stage until 11.40. I don't think I could have stood that entire time (yeah, I'm getting old...it's tough getting so close to 30 ;), so maybe it was better that we'd chosen the comfy leather couch high up in the back of the floor anyhow.

Apache Beat...meh. I think the lead singer was trying too hard to be a screaming Kate Bush. I feel bad now that I did not know it was her behind the merch display. I was a bit awestruck with the fact that Keith Murray was selling his own band's merch anyhow.

Oxford Collapse, I rather liked them, they reminded me a bit of Tiger Army (I saw them supporting Morrissey in Manchester 2 years ago). Now I kick myself for missing OC's gig in September - well, hopefully they will come back. (That was another case of, oh, I don't think I'm going to this, no, not by myself anyway...)

The WAS setlist:

Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt
Chick Lit
This Scene is Dead
Inaction
Impatience
Let's See It
Cash Cow
Can't Lose
Callbacks
That's What Counts
After Hours
Textbook (with Keith getting down in the crowd and freestylin')
Tonight
Dinosaurs
It's a Hit
--
(the encore to end all encores!)
Lethal Enforcer
The Great Escape

FYI, the setlist was nearly identical to the Bowery Ballroom setlist earlier that week except we didn't get "Ghouls." The set was blinding, effin' brilliant, even if I was further back. It was probably better for my feet (finally, a gig where I'm not on my tippy toes!) and I didn't have to worry about getting bruised ribs. (I think back to the Bridgewater gig with both fondness and regret.) Keith and Chris were bantering as they always do, but I had no idea what they were saying. If I have learned anything from my internet friends who have seen WAS - you must be up front to catch all the amusing things they say to each other. Next time I'll be up front, for sure!

Oh yeah, and maybe this time I'll have enough poise to be able to conduct a conversation with Keith without sounding too chattery.

Since the gig I won an autographed copy of Brain Thrust Mastery - thank you Popwreckoning in Pennsylvania, who by the way has a photographer from my HS graduating class...talk about small world! - and regularly rock out to their albums in my car on the WAY HOME from work. This is rather cool considering I read an article a long time ago now that Chris Cain said they tried to write music that made people happy when they were stuck in the car on the WAY TO work.

All is right in the world.

gig-going habits
moved on over 06.09.09