Cameron McGill believes that anything worth saying once is worth saying many many times. A writer of undeniable hooks and catchy melodies, he often latches onto an idea like a puppy with a chew toy and shakes every bit of meaning out of the words before he lets it go and takes a nap. It’s great to hear a word as distinctive as “beholden” in a song; it is less somewhat less great to hear it a dozen times. A new song takes the word counterfeit and applies it to every situation until it’s lost its meaning. But it’s like Catfish Haven and their “babies,” for some reason I would rather see them and poke fun than avoid them all together. I guess that’s because at the end of the day, beneath the silly outfits (the bandanna around the head only works if you are Neil Young) and the repetitive songs, McGill is a talented guy with a great voice and a knack for a good pop tune. Someday he’s probably going to write my new favorite song, and I am going to want to hear it.
For now though, it helps that he enlists some very talented musicians to make up What Army. The Wandering Sons Dan McMahon is frequently on the roster, and his gorgeous backing vocals and ability to play anything with strings increases the value of any project he participates in. Drummer Darren Garvey is rock solid behind the kit, and oh yeah, totally adorable.
I’d put Fever Marlene up against any two man band playing today. Their basic guitar and drums sound is buoyed by the addition of bass pedals that lead singer Scott Starr plays with his feet. His harmonies with drummer Kevin Dunphy go a long way toward filling the sound out into something much bigger. Their new record White China written and recorded last January at New York’s Chelsea Hotel mellows out the pop punch of Civil War. It’s a good enough record, but it’s the songs from their debut that still stand out live. “When Daniel Goodings Made it Rain,” “Mad Woman” and “All the Kites in the World” are always my live favorites and the ones that first grabbed my attention years ago at the King Club.
Despite having a good Madison following (unusual for a Milwaukee band), FM has not had good luck at the High Noon. “Every time we play here our equipment breaks” Starr said, effectively apologizing in advance, “hopefully that won’t happen tonight.” It’s true, the first time I saw them there his amp caught fire. OK, so there weren’t actually any flames, but there was enough smoke and a lingering acrid burnt smell to not fault them for calling an early end to that set. Tonight the worst thing that happened was a cartoonishly drunk girl getting on stage and attempting to dance with Starr as he played. While she did come dangerously close to tripping over the sprawl of equipment in front of him, she managed to avoid breaking anything.
By this time we were a bit rocked out and were content to retreat to the back of the bar and watch a typically energetic and entertaining Blueheels set leaning on the pool table. Surprising as it might be, I don’t always need to be right up front to enjoy a show.
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