MUSIC REVIEW- Scheduler, hello? Orgy of opposites at Starr Hill
Rains, Sickshot
Starr Hill Music Hall
Saturday, February 4
Imagine a 1980's movie for girls 12 to 17. The scene you have just walked in on is reminiscent of every Molly Ringwoldesque Pretty in Pink film of that era. The clothes are baggy in all the wrong places and tight everywhere that constricts comfortable movement.
More than likely, up to this point in the movie there's been a forbidden or cursed romance brewing between the protagonist and her beau du jour. A few plot complications have made it difficult for the leading lady to stay with her one true love. But just before taking that irreversible step– ending it all for good– she turns back, hoping her true love will still be waiting.
As she arrives at the door/airport/long flight of stairs, the soundtrack kicks in, and the tension crescendos. There's suspense, a slow-motion sequence to showcase just how well Aquanet keeps hair in place, and the inevitable signature rock ballad– all sap early on, erupting into predictable yet perfectly timed unbridled emotion for the chorus.
Rains played a ballad like that in the middle of their set Saturday. If I weren't an '80s baby myself, I think I would have started laughing. Instead, I just felt sick. It wasn't badly done; it's just bad music. We're fond of the memories, but please don't make us relive them in public.
Somebody rescue the drummer. He deserves better. What's up with these guys? I mean, jeez, they are so, like, 20th century.
SickShot
The kind of rock that makes my eyes get big– the kind that turns dull action sequences into Jerry Bruckheimer productions and box office board-toppers– SickShot is a big middle finger to everybody who moves to Charlottesville because it's a quaint and charming pseudo urban community. SickShot is a big black boot through a white picket fence. Pure energy.
But energy alone doesn't necessarily a good band make. A good band has to be well rehearsed, put on a good stage show, and have meaningful or intriguing lyrics and recognizable sound. Sickshot held down three of the four (I'm not sure how instantly recognizable their sound is). In a 40-minute set, Sickshot gave the crowd exactly what it needed: not too much, not too little, but enough to make us want to hear/buy their debut album.
The stage show was very well crafted. The four-piece employed a DAT that played tracks to accompany what was going on on stage. The DAT also contained audio segues between songs. There was a hardly a moment in the entire set where there wasn't some kind of music going on. Very nicely done.
Sickshot's pop-centric hard rock sound can compete with 90 percent of signed acts right now. The CD is full of so many singles you could take it to a strip club. SickShot is hot product. They are, without a doubt, a band to watch for– something a little more for the 21st century.
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