Everest played The Casbah and brought the crowd. Seriously brought the crowd. The guys in the band have said they love San Diego and, man, does San Diego love them back. Just before the music started, all of the members got into a tight huddle and had a moment of camaraderie. The band made the most of the small Casbah stage, with singer/guitarist Russell Pollard occasionally jumping and jogging in place, and occasionally stepping up on the monitors. Set highlights included “Ownerless,” the titular track from the band’s new album, as well as “Raking Me Over the Coals” “House of 9′s,” “Rebels in the Roses,” (“about Louisville, Kentucky”) and “Rapture.”
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Touring to support its new album, Songs of Patience, headliner Alberta Cross played thirteen songs, starting with “Crate of Gold.” Before the band started, lead singer Petter Ericson Stakee said, “This is a bit of a late show, but I promise we’ll make it up to you.” His little gyrating dance — reminiscent of Axl Rose’s “snake dance” and exhibited throughout the set — was worth every penny. Other crowd favorites included “The Thief and The Heartbreaker” “Old Man Chicago” and “The Devil’s All You Ever Had.”
The crowd at the House of Blues on Sunday was comprised of middle-aged people who had undoubtedly followed The Jesus and Mary Chain during its ’80s heyday — as well as a number of 20-somethings and teens, who were probably still sucking their thumbs when the band broke up in 1999.
During the nearly sold out show, The Jesus and Mary Chain played a variety of songs from its back catalog, including favorites like “Head On,” from 1989′s Automatic, and “Just Like Honey,” from the band’s 1985 debut, Psychocandy. The band also played “Snakedriver” — which was featured in The Crow — and other Psychocandy classics like “The Hardest Walk,” “Taste Of Cindy, and “Never Understand.” Overall, despite occasional miscues, the band more than showed its musical chops.
New York’s Cold Cave opened for The Jesus and Mary Chain at the House of Blues, and played a darker, Depecheier version of Depeche Mode, with David Bowie-esque vocals. The audience loved Cold Cave’s dramatic and elegant performance, and expressed approval via dancing, singing, and loud cheers.
San Diego band Phantom Ratio was the first opening band for The Jesus and Mary Chain at The House of Blues
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The house was packed. It was a completely sold out show. Everyone in the venue was standing shoulder to shoulder, dancing, clapping, and stomping their feet to the music. In my case, specifically, the enamoured, enthusiastic, and inibriated fan next to me chose to stomp on my toes time and time again as she danced and shouted out to the band, “I love you! I think you might, like, be my favorite band ever. I love you Banjo.” Lead singer Dave Simonette acknowledge her and pointed out to banjo player Dave Caroll that both men and women were professing their love for him. Yes, everyone in the room was quite enraptured. Trampled by Turtles played an incredible set of music, begining with a powerful rendition of “Alone” off of their newest album “Stars and Satellites” and ending with “Wait So Long” and “Again” off of their second album “Palomino.” The crowd loved every single minute of it. Every single minute.
The Darcys, who hail from Toronto, Canada opened up for Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah at the Casbah on Friday night with a strong set of songs from their self-titled album “The Darcys.” Their set was an incredible wave of sound where vocals and melodies and solos all blended effortlessly into one. Jason Couse, Wes Marskell, Michael le Riche, and Dave Hurlow spent a few days in San Diego before the show, surfing, going to a Padres game, visiting Balboa Park, and writing new songs. They hope to be back in the Fall. You’ll want to catch their show when they are back in town, this band has a great sound and great energy on stage.
Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah chose San Diego’s The Casbah to launch the US leg of their tour promotting their third album, Hysterical, released in 2011. Lead singer Alec Ounsworth said, “It is good to be back in California,” and the fans responded with a wild cheer. They played 16 songs and came back for a 2 song encore. They played well together and managed to recreate their unmistakable sound in the live setting. The stage at The Casbah is rather small their performance could have been more dynamic if they could have played on a larger stage. Keyboardist/guitarist/backing vocalist Robbie Guertin really needed more space to dance around and play guitar. Nevertheless, he kept a smile on his face throughtout the show. Highlights of their set included, “Satan Said Dance,” “Is This Love,” “The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth.”
