Rooney
Wednesday, February 27
The Sprint Center
By CRYSTAL K. WIEBE
I’m going to be deaf one day and rock and roll will be to blame. But whatever damage I did to my ears last night at the Sprint Center was in no way the fault of any musician. I barely wore my bright orange earplugs while Rooney performed. Even on the floor of the Sprint Center, the sweet pop rock didn’t seem too oppressive. But when the music stopped and thousands of ‘tween girls started shrieking – that’s when I started to really fear for my ear drums.
Back in the day I screamed like that, too – at Boyz II Men, All 4 One and Kris Kross. Hell, if I found myself in the middle of a Justin Timberlake concert, I would totally squeal in a frequency that only a dog could hear. And I would do the same if Elliott Smith rose from the dead or the Faint gave me a shout-out from stage. But I wouldn’t make a poster or in neon puff paint write on my shirt “Will You Merry Me?” (sic) like one girl did – especially not for last night’s headliner, the Jonas Brothers. But I don’t hold those little girls’ enthusiasm against them. Everyone has to start rocking out somewhere. And we can’t all be as lucky as my plus one for the night, Miss Mandy Mustacha, whose first rock show was Joy Division – when she was 6.
The Jonas Brothers: WAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!.
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Cool as that makes her, Mandy consented to hang with me last night because we’re both intrigued by the Jonas Brothers’ opening act – L.A. band Rooney, whose frontman Robert Schwartzman is brother to Hollywood it-boy Jason Schwartzman. Rooney, I’ve decided, is a like a really cheap, mass-produced bastard child of the British Invasion and the Ramones. If the Ramones ever demanded a paternity suit, though, Rooney’s biological father would probably turn out to be someone like Lou Pearlman.
Rooney: WAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!.
With its cutesy, long-haired boy members and catchy pop songs, Rooney is about as slick as it gets. But there’s a touch of subversiveness in there. The band opened its paltry 25-minute set for the kiddies with “I'm Shakin',” a song I’ve always believed was inspired by some kind of substance withdrawal. From there, pretty boy Schwartzmann proceeded to sing a bunch of love songs like “Are You Afraid?” in which he poses as a jilted lover but really comes off like a stalker: I leave a message every night but you don't call me/
The only times we ever talk you're in a hurry/I know my reputation doesn't help you sleep at night/But lately baby I feel I don't know you. It’s not exactly the Police, I know. But I hope a few of the more precocious girlies in the crowd picked up on Rooney’s subversive undertones and seek out more rebellious sounds.
Mandy and I split before the Jonas Brothers set foot on the stage – but not before donating our Rooney meet-and-greet passes to a pair of teenagers in Rooney T-shirts. I’ve heard that petite Schwartazman is quite the ladies man, but Mandy and I had a date with the Record Bar and Ha Ha Tonka.
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this review sucks!
the jonas brothers are AMAZING
and your a retard for leaving.
they put on a great show, with great music so u can just shove that up ur @$$.
WOW THEY PLAY THEIR OWN INSTRUMENTS AND EVERYTHING...LIKE A LOT OF OTHER BANDS WHO WERE NOT PLAYING IN ARENAS THAT NIGHT WITH DISNEY SPONSORSHIP.
If people would give the Jonas Brothers a chance they would see how talented these boys are. My daughters turned me onto the JB's and they are great. Makes me wish I was younger. You should of listened to them. They will be around for a very long time.
ok! so why are you talking about the jobros if you didnt stay to listen to them, i mean thats what is all about! so dont ever talk about them before you listen, becuase they're amazing! :D
Oh, one of those 2 kewl 4 skool girls are ya? Too bad you are/were so busy being rock and roll superior to enjoy the show. All the rest of us regular girls loved Rooney and Jonas Brothers. These two groups are a a perfect match ! Cute, great musicians and showman. Next time leave your attiude at home and give the perfomers a chance.
Rooney was ok but the Jonas Brothers are TOTALLY BETTER!!! I mean why did you go to the "Jonas Brothers""When you look me in the Eyes" Tour if you thought the opening act "Rooney" was "okay" and didnt even stay for the "JONAS BROTHERS!!! The Jonas Brothers are actually a real band! They sing play their own instruments and dont have choreographed dance numbers like "N'Sync" or "Backstreet Boys" or any of the bands you mentioned in the beginning of this review! The Jonas Brothers are also SOOO HOT!
I have never heard Rooney yet - but I can say one thing - You missed the BEST Part of the show - The JONAS BROTHERS! They are the best - their music rocks - they write all their own songs & what do you know - they even actully play guitar & keyboard & drums - a REAL Band. Too bad you were so closed minded - this could really have been a great article if you bothered to stay and listen to the headliners - the Jonas Brothers - and you might even have liked the bonus part - how absolutely handsome they all are too!
Your loss. Can't wait to see them again myself.
Hmmm. Interesting. I'm looking forward to hearing what Rooney is like. But I don't think you should slam the Jonas Brothers, considering you, um....didn't even stay for their set?
Because there's more than meets the eye. I say this as a 28-year-old with past Brooklyn addresses and euro/britpop/indie-taste cred to back myself up. Maybe that curdled me against hipsters and indie rockers like Rooney who want you to "rebel" out of your pants (or could it be that I have a daughter?)...
Anyway, I only found out about the Brothers in the first place because I'm a mom...BUT, they're simply awesome in several ways that is very unlike other bands. Don't underestimate them yet...Someday you'll understand.
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