In a scene right out of Stuff White People Like, RecordBar was jam-packed with pleasant drunkards last night. While patrons sucked down pints waiting for headliners Fanfarlo (hailing from the U.K.), we were serenaded by Robert Francis from Los Angeles, and Lawrence of Arabia from Christchurch, New Zealand. Robert Francis casually laughed off the only two fuckers in the bar screaming during his set, and instead did right by the rest of us that were as quiet as church mice. Francis' voice was like that perfect combination of melted butter and smooth maple syrup bursting from the best pancake you've ever had. He's also cute as a button. He covered "Wild Horses," claiming he'd never done it live before, and rest assured he put the Stones to shame -- easily.
Lawrence of Arabia's song "The Beautiful Young Crew" included lyrics: We love each other / But we hate each other / We are afraid of each other / Because we want to screw each other. This was followed by dissociated, beautiful harmonies of "do-do-do's...," and some trumpet kept us all focused on the music. I hate to say it, because it's in no way relevant to the songs, but I know each and every person in that bar was secretly praying for extended banter between songs on account of their awesome New Zealand accents. I caught these boys in the parking lot, after the show, bowling-with a soccer ball and half empty water bottles.
I'm not sure if it's the warm weather or just old-fashioned serendipity, but Fanfarlo fans seem inclined towards the chatty I-want-to-be-friends-with-everyone variety. Several people approached me asking me if I was excited about the show, was my first time seeing them, did I have any of their records, and then informed me that I was going to love it -- as if no one on the planet could possible have a bad experience at at Fanfarlo show. By the time they started their sound check my expectations were sky high.
The lead singer, Simon, from Sweden, was celebrating his 29th birthday but informed us
he was actually twelve and the guy next to me leaned over and said matter-of-factly, "funny, he doesn't look a day over eleven." I've noticed this awful trend (I say "awful" because I've never seen it utilized in a successful fashion until last night) of band members switching instruments in between songs, or sometimes in the middle of songs. (Here's a tip: learn how to play the instrument that's in front of you before you go and do a switch-a-roo because let's face it: you're already on stage in front of people so there's really no time like the present.)
However: Fanfarlo has my permission (you're welcome) to do whatever the hell they want, as long as they put on a show that looks and sounds like the one I just saw. This is the best band I've seen in years. In years. I mean it. They are some talented mo-fo's.
Seriously, I wanted to smash each one to smithereens and then snort them up just to get them into my blood stream faster. I vow to eat, sleep, dream, snort, etc. Fanfarlo until I'm sick of them, which probably won't be too soon.
Fanfarlo aside, the highlight of my evening occurred while I was waiting at the bar to get a drink. The girl next to me said, "Are you in line to get a drink?" I said, "Yeah." She said, "You're never going to get a drink without a boyfriend," and then started violently laughing all up in my grill. That was pretty awesome.
| Nicole Reinertson |
| Lawrence of Arabia playing water-bottle-soccer. |
