Monday, December 29, 2008

The GodDamns/Full Vinyl Treatment; December 29, 2008; High Noon Saloon

Is it just me, or do we actually see more of Nate Palan now that he’s moved to the big city than we did when he was a resident of our fair town? Obviously I’m not talking about the weekly Hometown Sweethearts gig at the Crystal, I only managed to make it to that a couple times a year anyway, what with it being on Tuesdays and all. Now it seems that not only do we get the Sweethearts at places like the High Noon on nights other than Tuesday, but there also seems to be a GodDamns’ show every couple months. That’s way more shows than they played pre-relocation. I am certainly happy about that, but I can’t help being a little miffed that he couldn’t get the Magic Elves together for one of their saucy Christmas shows if he was going to be around.

The GodDamns have always been the loudest of Palan’s bands, a power rock band that can even out-tinnitus lead guitarist Kyle Motor’s Motorz on the decibel scale. That probably has a lot to do with the players. The rhythm section consisting of Chad Ovshak on drums and Darwin Sampson on bass have held the beat for other local monsters of rock such as Skintones (Sampson) and Helliphant (both of them). As with many of the bands that are not his own, Motor seems to let himself have more fun with the GodDamns than he does fronting the Motorz. Or maybe that’s just what happens when you are in a band with the perpetually grinning Palan.

Tonight may have been the best I’ve seen them. Playing behind only one opener (the numbingly loud and somewhat theatrical Full Vinyl Treatment), they went on earlier and decidedly more sober than the last time I saw them at the Frequency. Or maybe it was me who wasn’t sober that last time. All I know is that I enjoyed this show a lot more than previous ones as they featured songs from their cheekily named debut Thriller released earlier this year after only three or so years together as a band. It was impressive to see a surprisingly full bar, almost twice what they had anticipated, for yet another of Palan’s triumphant returns. I’m a little scared to see the crowd at the High Noon on St Patrick’s Day when the Kissers stage their reunion show.











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