Rock Plaza Central
(Playing the Yep Roc showcase at Mo' Pitkins)
The oddest show we’ve been to this CMJ. Sure, Rock Plaza Central isn’t all that well-known in the States, but a solid record and some good Pitchfork hype brought them around to New York a few times already this year, even opening for Bishop Allen at South Street seaport this summer. So when one of the bandmates looks into the crowd at the start of the set and says “the label is half the audience,” you start to wonder. “Half of you we know by name, the other half… we’ll get to know.”
The second odd thing was the fact that the lead singer was sick and could barely talk, let alone sing. Allergies, it was claimed, had nearly closed his throat up, though he felt fine otherwise. So instead, the mandolin/trumpet player sang most of the songs, with the others backing him up.
Trouble was, he didn’t really know all the words. “Don here doesn’t know all the lyrics to all the songs,” the singer explained. “When he doesn’t know them I told him to say ‘horses.’” Good thing every other word on 2006’s Are We Not Horses is “horses”.
Other than that the music was hot and rocking, with dueling trumpets and pained but hopeful guitars. The two trumpets dove into the crowd, walking around the audience, standing on chairs.
Then the third odd thing. While the ailing band debated amongst itself how many more songs to attempt before quitting, a group of girls in the front started shouting “play ‘Sexy Back,’” their recent cover of Justin Timberlake’s hit tune. Sure, they said, but the backup singer didn’t know the words.
Well, the middle girl claimed she knew all the words, and the three climbed on stage like this was Karaoke Plaza Central and they were a three-headed J.T., singing the lyrics while the band played and chanted “Go ahead, be gone with it”.
“I’m bringing sexy back, those motherfuckers don’t know how to act…”
That couldn’t possibly last for long. After a few choruses the girls broke down and admitted they didn’t actually know all the words and apologized to the audience, the band, and God for making an ass of themselves. Nah, you’re fine. Go ahead, be gone with it.
“If this were Canadian Idol you’d already be champ,” consoled the singer. Good show anyway, girls. Have another drink.
–David deLeon
