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Tour Dates
08/05 Portugal Sudoeste Festival
08/07 London 100 Club 08/10 Gothenburg Way Out West Festival 08/11 Oslo, Norway Oya Festival 09/03 Seattle Bumbershoot Festival 09/06 Los Angeles Santa Monica Pier 09/15 Victoria BC Rifflandia Festival 09/18 London The Borderline 09/19 Paris Point Ephemere 09/20 Amsterdam Paradiso (Upstairs) 09/22 Brussels Witloofbar (Botanique) 09/27 Cincinnati Midpoint Music Festival 09/28 Urbana, IL Pygmalion Music Festival 10/14 San Francisco Treasure Island Read More I've mention this before, but it seems within the last year or so, that Los Angeles' Best Coast duo (Bethany Cosentino and Bobb Bruno) really blew up.
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After the demise of the ill-fated SoundTown Festival, which was supposed to take place this weekend in Somerset, WI, bands that were slated to play found themselves all dressed up with no place to go. Luckily, a smattering of those bands found homes at several Minneapolis venues - one of them being Best Coast’s Saturday night gig at the Cedar Cultural Center.
Best Coast brought along former tourmates Those Darlins and JEFF the Brotherhood who opened for the band earlier on their tour. At first, the bill seemed very much like a game of “one of these things is not like the other,” but there’s actually quite a bit that draws all of the bands together. For example, Best Coast and JEFF the Brotherhood released an EP together in 2011 on Jack White’s Third Man Records. And JEFF the Brotherhood shares a hometown with Those Darlins: Nashville, TN.
Speaking of those feisty darlings, they sure know how to put on a rockin’ show! The cow-punk quartet includes Jessi Darlin on vocals/guitar, Nikki Darlin on vocals/guitar, Linwood Regensburg on drums and a tall, blonde guy on bass replacing beloved member Kelley Darlin, who left the band in February to dedicate more time to her organization Southern Girls Rock and Roll Camp (google it; it’s a really cool project). Despite Kelley’s absence, Those Darlins had enough swagger and strut to give every member of the audience restless leg syndrome forever. The music is definitely a cross between the Cramps and the Blackhearts, with wide-eyed vocalist Jessi singing like a punk-rock Brenda Lee and showing off some tasty licks like Poison Ivy. Nikki took over lead vocals on a few songs and traded some playfully dirty two-step shuffles with Jessi. The band oozed, what my concert companion delightfully referred to as, “grungy charisma.” And that’s no lie. Rowdy numbers like “Screws Get Loose” and “Be Your Bro” and a very special “Funstix Party,” to commemorate Jessi’s 23rd birthday, proved that this was going to be a very difficult act to follow. Clearly, Those Darlins had already stole the show.
(BUMMER UPDATE: According to a friend, Those Darlins had their van broken into that very night. Minneapolis folks who frequent used guitar shops, keep yer eyes peeled for: a Red 2006 Fender Jaguar bass, matching headstock, Fender Badass II bridge, gash on upper edge, and a white Richmond guitar, Seymour Duncan bridge pickup.)
JEFF the Brotherhood took to the stage, saving me from having to listen to the guy next to me loudly pontificating about Mason Jennings. The duo, brothers Jake and Jamin Orrall on vocals/guitar and drums, respectively, brought a sound that seemed largely influenced, most notably, by Black Sabbath (although all I had been reading and hearing of the band seemed more garage or punk inspired). At first, Jake sang intermittently, providing a shrill wail through the violent crash of drums and psychedelic swirl of guitar. About three songs in, a fog machine unleashed a cloud of white smoke, causing quite a swell of excitement in a crowd of people apparently unfamiliar with such stage wizardry. In between songs, a young woman from the audience asked the band if they would take things down a notch and “show their soft side.” Jake responded by lifting up his shirt and patting his belly. The Orrall brothers are definitely talented (and have a sense a humor), but something about the set just didn’t click with me. Perhaps the context of the show itself (JEFF following a country-tinged punk band and preceding a sugary pop band) is why I couldn’t get into them. The last two songs they played, one of which was their recent single “Sixpack,” highlighted the band’s catchy songwriting chops.
Before Best Coast took to the stage, I felt compelled to abandon my sweet spot near the stage for a less than stellar view sidestage near the back (a result of ingesting fruity perfume and having to endure more asinine conversations from people around me - i.e. “Like, why is the bear holding the state [in regards to Best Coast’s humorous backdrop being an homage to California’s animal]? I totally don’t, like, get it. But that’s just my opinion. I’m going to Vancouver in two weeks!”). Had I sucked it up and braved those minor things, I probably would have felt more engaged in Best Coast’s sunshine and rainbow-filled performance. Lead singer and songwriter Bethany Cosentino was in good spirits, joking with the crowd about being a little tipsy and asking the crowd’s permission to play a slow song (“Even if you said ‘F**k off,’ I’d still sing it.”). The band was tight, playing old favorites (“Crazy for You” and “Summer Mood”) up against new tracks from their most recently released record, The Only Place (“Last Year,” “How They Want Me to Be” and “No One Like You”) with their trademark fuzzed-out, lo-fi pop sounding fuller and brighter. Something that was sorely missed from the performance, however, were the pretty vocal harmonies that are loaded on their records. And despite Bethany’s knack for writing frothy, fun love songs, I found myself growing a little bored with the musical structure and sentiment and started spacing out. After a few songs, I found myself secretly hoping the bear from the backdrop would step out of its 1-dimensional cage and wreak carnage. Or dance along with the songs. I don’t know. And although I have an affinity for California and all things related to the state (wine, palm trees, smog), I really can’t stomach another schlocky tribute to it.
Best Coast brought along former tourmates Those Darlins and JEFF the Brotherhood who opened for the band earlier on their tour. At first, the bill seemed very much like a game of “one of these things is not like the other,” but there’s actually quite a bit that draws all of the bands together. For example, Best Coast and JEFF the Brotherhood released an EP together in 2011 on Jack White’s Third Man Records. And JEFF the Brotherhood shares a hometown with Those Darlins: Nashville, TN.
Those Darlins
photo by Kelsey Tollefson
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(BUMMER UPDATE: According to a friend, Those Darlins had their van broken into that very night. Minneapolis folks who frequent used guitar shops, keep yer eyes peeled for: a Red 2006 Fender Jaguar bass, matching headstock, Fender Badass II bridge, gash on upper edge, and a white Richmond guitar, Seymour Duncan bridge pickup.)
JEFF the Brotherhood
photo by Kelsey Tollefson
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Before Best Coast took to the stage, I felt compelled to abandon my sweet spot near the stage for a less than stellar view sidestage near the back (a result of ingesting fruity perfume and having to endure more asinine conversations from people around me - i.e. “Like, why is the bear holding the state [in regards to Best Coast’s humorous backdrop being an homage to California’s animal]? I totally don’t, like, get it. But that’s just my opinion. I’m going to Vancouver in two weeks!”). Had I sucked it up and braved those minor things, I probably would have felt more engaged in Best Coast’s sunshine and rainbow-filled performance. Lead singer and songwriter Bethany Cosentino was in good spirits, joking with the crowd about being a little tipsy and asking the crowd’s permission to play a slow song (“Even if you said ‘F**k off,’ I’d still sing it.”). The band was tight, playing old favorites (“Crazy for You” and “Summer Mood”) up against new tracks from their most recently released record, The Only Place (“Last Year,” “How They Want Me to Be” and “No One Like You”) with their trademark fuzzed-out, lo-fi pop sounding fuller and brighter. Something that was sorely missed from the performance, however, were the pretty vocal harmonies that are loaded on their records. And despite Bethany’s knack for writing frothy, fun love songs, I found myself growing a little bored with the musical structure and sentiment and started spacing out. After a few songs, I found myself secretly hoping the bear from the backdrop would step out of its 1-dimensional cage and wreak carnage. Or dance along with the songs. I don’t know. And although I have an affinity for California and all things related to the state (wine, palm trees, smog), I really can’t stomach another schlocky tribute to it.
