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We Are Scientists win over skeptics |
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Written by BRIAN NIELSEN / Photos by MAUREEN VANA
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Thursday, 29 June 2006 |
I did not have the highest expectations for the We Are Scientists show. I don't really care for bands W.A.S. is likened to -- such as The Killers, Hot Hot Heat, and Franz Ferdinand. They're all fine groups, I'm just not into that genre. I've even never even heard We Are Scientists' main influences -- Wire and Gang of Four -- but I listened to some of W.A.S.'s songs and didn't hate them. I really got into the sarcastic and satirical tone of their website while listening to the songs, and was confident I'd be able to write an unbiased review of the band even though I don't dig their genre. When I got to the Metro We Are Scientists further inclined me to like them as I interviewed the band and they turned out to be genuinely cool guys.
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We Are Scientists
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 Entertainment
Art
Metro
Chicago, Ill.
June 21, 2006
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Out front, fans were eager while the roadies took their time checking all of the equipment. As always, this seemed to take an eternity. A large cheer went out as Metro killed the house lights and We Are Scientists took to the stage. The band opened with a deep cut from their album that I didn't recognize. After setting the stage for what the evening was going to be about, W.A.S. really let the house erupt when they went straight into "Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt."
We Are Scientists state on their Web site that one of the intentions of their music is to keep all of the instruments doing something independent of each other. Unlike other genres, the strums of the bass guitar do not mechanically match the beat of the kick drum, just as the notes the bass plays are not just the root notes of the guitar lines. W.A.S.'s songs will get stuck in your head whether you want them to or not, which explains their growing popularity. I commend the complexity of their music that many of their peers lack. This intricacy allows a more jaded listener such as myself to enjoy this band even though I do not appreciate other bands of their genre.
The satirical attitude of the website that warmed me up to the band is very evident in their stage banter as well. While Michael Tapper doesn't get much influence from behind the drum kit, guitarist/front man Keith Murray and bassist Chris Cain play off each other extremely well. Their hilarious and constant conflict kept the crowd engaged with the show. At numerous points during the night I laughed out loud. My favorite moment was when Michael threw some weight around and began to start the next song before Keith was finished with his monologue. Chris joined Michael in protesting Keith's long-windedness. In an attempt to regain power, Keith stated he was quitting the band, shortly before caving and joining them with his proper guitar parts.
I'll admit it; by the end of the show, I (the guy that was still upset because I didn't get to see Slayer the night before) liked We Are Scientists so much, that I stopped at the merch booth and bought a CD. Powered by AkoComment 2.0! |
