I know it's only rock and roll... but I like it!

The Twilight Singers
Southgate House, Newport, Ky
November 3, 2006


Back in the 90's when the world was new and dinosaurs roamed the land, there was a popular local band that called themselves the Afghan Whigs. They were a standout in a sea of competing proto-bands that formed an early 90's class of musicians in the Cincinnati music scene. I had friends that were in bands during that time, so I saw the Whigs, and many others both on and off stage. I remember seeing printed paper flyers stapled to sign posts and telephone poles promoting the latest gig at such spots as Sudsy Malones on Vine st. The Afghan Whigs scored a record deal and started a climb out of obscurity to hit a national stage. While the history of the band is beyond the scope of this blog post it is important to note my connection to the scene in those days.

I remember hearing the tongue in cheek rumour that Greg Dulli, the leader of the band, had sold his soul to the Devil and that is why they were so successful. I wonder which crossroads this deal might have gone down on, Gilbert and Macmillian Ave? It is funny just how pervasive this rediculous bit of gossip was at one time. While Mr. Dulli did trade in a brand of soulful slease, I doubt Beelzebub had any thing to do with it.

The Whigs came and went, and broke up officially in 2001. I have been a fan since the old days and collected all their albums, to this day I love to throw in "Black Love" and turn the volume all the way up. Enter "The Twilight Singers" the latest incarnation from Dulli and company.

I own both studio albums and they are both very good. So when it was announced that they would be playing at the Southgate House, my friend PC Badass and me were all over it. Now the Southgate House is a blog post all it's own. I have been there several times in the last 20 years or so, I have many memories of this venue, albeit hazy ones since there was always alot of alcohol involved. The place is a Cincinnati / Newport landmark, being a historic property and also as a long standing new music venue. Larger shows are always in the "ball room" a 1930's addition to the 19th century house where the lounge is located. The ball room is cool and one can still imagine the grandness of it at one time, but now there is a patina of decadence, squalor and decay that nearly obscures what it must have been like at one time, think the Newport Music Hall in Columbus. There is a balcony two thirds of the way around the large open space on the ground floor that provides excellent views of the stage. We were seated right above right stage and had a very good view. I was encamped in a decrepit vinyl covered chair that like all the others in the gallery, seemed to have had asses in it since the place played host to grand balls, and catered to the Newport gambling scene, the Sin City Era. It was perfect. (take a moment to read the content at that link, absolutely fascinating, in a sleasy sort of way, much of Newport's history seems to be buried, just like the new, clean city of today, is but a veneer over the much more organic and frankly more interesting past.)

The show opens with the piano player from the Singers, I missed this fact at first but the badass pointed it out later in the show. This opening act was quite amazing as it was a one man show, but he was able to produce a full band sound by sampling his own guitar in real time then looping the groove while creating another.

The next act "Stars of Track and Field" took the stage wearing all black and sporting ascots. I found this pretty amusing but a nice touch nonetheless. This band did a very nice job as a power trio, the drummer handled loops on a Mac while integrating his live percussion duties. One of the guitarists also played the keyboard. The lead singer would riff on a wall of sound style groove then kick into a lead part all the while jumping and gyrating spastically about the stage. It was good showmanship. To my ear the bands influences sounded like "Sterolab", post 'The bends' Radiohead, and some "Smashing Pumpkins" thrown in for good measure. I very much enjoyed the sound of this band and would recommend them in the future.

Finally, after a long pause in the action, our mainline act arrived on stage. Greg Dulli and the boys were in top form, although I thought the vocals were buried in the mix on some songs. The crowd was boisterous and into the set. The music was tight and inspired, with a mix of songs from both albums, a good show. Dulli was his soulful, sleasy self and the other band members were rocking with verve. After about 80 minutes it was over, and the band left the stage.

There was a pause, the crowd seemed to quiet down, maybe expecting another set, or an encore. It seemed to me to be just a sigh after a very good hour and a half of show. It turns out our little rest was mis interpreted by the band and made some news in a small way in various blogs. The crew started unplugging the amps and packing up the gear. Most of the folks were standing pat, cheering, finishing drinks, and chatting among themselves. Finally, the badass and I decided it was over and sought to outrun the 500 or so people that were about to make a break for it.

Starving, we made our way to a frou frou, pretentious restaurant that served upscale Asian cusine. We ordered a rather passable Pad Thai, and dined in cheesy faux splendor at 2AM in Newport. Try that 30 years ago, it would have been a Waffle House or a hole in the wall shit on a shigle joint. I think I would have prefered the later.

There was a cab ride back to the hotel, and some minor adventures trying to find snacks and soda pop at 2:30 AM in downtown Cincinnati, but that is probably better left for a new blog entry. Still smarting over the encore issue, we chilled out and discussed the show in the room. It was assumed that becuase Dulli has connections and roots in Cincinnati we would have been treated to a fabulous encore, and maybe even some Whigs material. It turns out that this attitude of entitlement is what got the crowd at the Southgate House in trouble. I later found a blog entry on the Twilight Singers site that explains it in the bands words. Encore O Rama.

All in all, I am very pleased with the show we got, and even though I missed an eventual encore with only the singers and a piano, I feel like I got my moneys worth and a rocking good time. Rock and roll is fun, dont forget as you get older just how fun rock and roll can be. I am 40 and have been rocking for a very long time. This was rock and roll at its raw and wonderful best, yeah I know its only rock and roll but I LOVE IT!

slf 11-06