Review: Verbal 1/3/2006

#1

January 3, 2006
Verbal
Tungsten 74
Blackcat
PHOTOS!!!

Ah, first show of 2006. Even though it was at the Blackcat, it wasn't too annoying because most of the typical crowd aren't back from college breaks yet and it was Tuesday night.
First up, Brooklyn-based experimental instrumental rockers Tungsten 74. Musically it was good - pretty similar to Verbal. Their fans though: there was a high school chemistry class there, dressed in costumes with the atomic symbol for tungsten painted on their faces and heads, waving signs and a periodic table like a flag. Awesome! I guess they do this everytime Tungsten 74 comes around. I need tungsten to live! Tungsten!

Next up, Verbal. There were a fair number of people there considering the above mentioned conditions (the kids left though). The 'backstage' room at Blackcat has terrible acoustics. A lot of the time, where I was standing, it sounded like the guitar was out of tune. On the other side of the room, it was just loud. I don't know. Frank broke a couple strings and had to borrow a guitar from the Tungsten guys - apparently his guitar strap is an old flannel shirt. Sorry I didn't get a picture of that, but I felt I'd blinded them enough (since there were only about 4 lights on over the stage, I had to use the flash). Resolutions for Verbal: Frank - get a guitar tech; Bill - clean your bass; Dempsey - uh, get more tattoos.

And now it's time for the first in the 2006 series of 3 Ridiculous Questions
This week's guest is drummer Dempsey from Verbal; questions were held over from the last Verbal show because I couldn't find him.

PH: Which is more ridiculous: 'Bachelor' Bob Guiney's band (now called the Bob Guiney Band, formerly called 'Fat Amy' - wtf kinda band name is that?) or that Constantine Maroulis's band is now called Constantine Maroulis featuring Pray for the Soul of Betty?
DDfV: Tough question...Bob's band
PH: Both bands coming January 29 to a club near you (former to Iota, latter to Recher)

PH: Who has the best flute use: Jethro Tull, Lake Trout, Gloria Estefan, or somebody else?
DDfV: Zamfir, Master of the Pan Flute
[which always reminds me of when I worked at the lightbulb factory because that commerical was on every single day during our 4 am lunch break - until it got replaced with the Jim Reeves collection from Time Life Music]

PH: Who would you pit against a weasily club promoter in a steel cage match?
DDfV: George the Animal Steele - is he still alive?