Mewithoutyou
July 8, 2008
The Bottleneck
Better than: Watching a televangelist from the comfort of your air-conditioned living room.
By CRYSTAL K. WIEBE
One guy on the left side of the room undulated, shirtless, last night for the entirety of Mewithoutyou’s experimental-spiritual indie rock set. I don’t really like it when dudes strip down at shows, but this time I was kind of jealous. The Bottleneck was a sauna. It was one of those shows where the sweat gathers at your neck and pours right down your back and legs, whether you’re dancing or just standing still.
That the singer for opening band Maps and Atlases survived his whole set wearing a long-sleeved, button-down shirt and cardigan is kind of amazing.
Of course, a few scruffy, young hipster types in the crowd, too, had made puzzling fashion decisions for the hot night – hoodies, really, in July? The club was about three-quarters full, mostly of skinny kids in Chucks and earth tones. Among the dudes, skunky haircuts – how I like to describe the overgrown Mohawk-mullet look – dominated. Also popular: the white man’s ‘fro, which must have led to some sweaty heads.
At one point, someone tossed a Nike sweatband onto the stage. Sopping wet Mewithoutyou frontman Aaron Weiss picked it up and said, “A not so subtle hint, huh?” Noting the swoosh on the sweatband, he opted to wear it backwards. But Weiss stopped short of a lecture about the big, bad corporation, explaining that he’d mellowed out recently. With an accordion in his hands, he said that rather than constantly point out hypocrisy in the world at large and within the church, he was working on just being grateful.
It was the kind of statement that people would go home thinking about. Did Weiss mean people should just accept injustices doled out from big business and corrupt churches? Or should they just ignore the bad stuff and focus on the positive – kind of how he utilized the Nike headband but turned it around so the swoosh wasn’t on display?
Similarly, the words that Weiss sang were also intended to provoke deep thought -- of the spiritual variety. Mewithoutyou songs are full of religious imagery and allegory. But it’s not all rainbows and thanks. Weiss sings about suicidal thoughts and invokes weird characters like beetle professors and mice who can read. And he’s always asking questions: “Why tear out single pages when you can throw away the book?” “Why not be utterly changed into fire?” The effect would be preachy if he didn’t look so pained when he sang, and if the music were more comforting than chaotic.
Sometimes Weiss just chanted into the mic barehanded, gritting his teeth and rolling his eyes across the room like a slam poet backed by a full band. Other times, he sang and played a guitar or accordion. He also broke out a trumpet for a few mournful notes and occasionally rattled maracas. His intensity reminded me of another small-framed indie rock poet, whose relationship with the church sometimes enters into his music – Conor Oberst.
Weiss, by contrast, seems a little more likely to want to help save his “brothers and sisters” at the end of the night. Or at least get into a mind-blowing conversation.
Critic's Notebook
Personal bias: I was an English major so I'm a total sucker for lyrics that take multiple listens to interpret.
Random detail: I missed the opener Queen's Club, but I dug the shirt with the giant queen card donned by a fatherly figure standing next to me.
By the way: The best seat in the house at the Bottleneck is the railing behind the three rows of bleachers.
Showing 1-4 of 4
I agree, I'm a sucker for lyrics like mwY's. I think Weiss is definitely one of the best contemporary lyricists. I've seen them twice now, and they really know how to put on a live show!
How about next time you actually talk about the music played at the show you're apparently reviewing?
That would be grand.
I was at the show, yes it was hot, and no, Conor Oberst only wishes he could write the lyrics Aaron Weiss does.
The band was tight and passionate, just like every time they play. They are one of the few touring bands today that are always consistent regardless of venue of personal issues (I saw aaron perform in the winter 4-5 years back and he was sick as hell but delivered the good no less).
So tip for next time Pitch, please actually talk about the music rather than the fashion or half-assedly comparing their singer/lyricist to someone else.
Weak.
How about next time you actually talk about the music played at the show you're apparently reviewing?
That would be grand.
I was at the show, yes it was hot, and no, Conor Oberst only wishes he could write the lyrics Aaron Weiss does.
The band was tight and passionate, just like every time they play. They are one of the few touring bands today that are always consistent regardless of venue of personal issues (I saw aaron perform in the winter 4-5 years back and he was sick as hell but delivered the good no less).
So tip for next time Pitch, please actually talk about the music rather than the fashion or half-assedly comparing their singer/lyricist to someone else.
like
dislike
