Review: THE ALIENS Toronto, ON, CA – Lees Palace – September 22 2007

[Lassie]

[blurb]THE ALIENS Toronto, ON, CA – Lees Palace – September 22 2007

~ By Lassie and StoneMtn

The Aliens are comprised of a bunch of Scottish skateboarders, who are also the founding members of The Beta Band; best-known for popularizing the "Lo Fi" sound (and who probably got their first big break by being referenced by John Cusack in High Fidelity, "Watch me sell five copies of the Beta Band CD" [as he turns up the stereo in his store]).[/blurb]

The venue, Lees Palace, is a 20-something-year-old, medium-sized room; filled in this case to maybe one-third capacity.

Considering the style and quality of the music, the crowd wasn't as hyper as I thought they should be. The music was a combination of the old Beta Band Lo Fi sound, with a bit more of a thrashy, nearly-punk influence. (Must be the skaters in them.)

The two members who held the majority of the audience's focus had great, matching white-guy-afros.

One of them was in an odd, white linen-suit with a thin black tie, and occasionally huge white sunglasses. The other guy, the lead-singer/guitarist jumped around in a frenetic frenzy from the beginning of the show until the end.

He was funny, too, both with the way he danced and self-deprecating Scottish jokes.

The show was too short. When the band stopped playing, I was saying to StoneMtn that it seemed like a pretty short first set. It turned out to be the whole show; except for the encore. The encore was also short, but was a neat medley of Beatles and Aliens songs. The whole show, from start to the end of the (single-song) encore, was probably one hour; total.

They opened the show with a really tight, strong song, "Setting Sun", the first track off their new disc Astronomy For Dogs. That song definitely still has remnants of the Beta Band sound. Two of the most memorable songs were definitely "The Happy Song" and "Robot Man". When they did the latter, the lead-singer dressed in crazy clothes and sunglasses, as well as a goofy hat and head-lamp. I also really liked the use of the megaphone (a la Phish).

Quote of the Day:

How long do these Crazy Pills actually last?

[StoneMtn]

I have a couple of their discs, now, and am really starting to love this band.

Thanks, Bouche, for sending us to this one. I anticipate this group is on its way up, and there is not likely to be another show at a tiny venue like Lees Palace.

[bONES]

I have a couple of their discs, now

I thought Astronomy for Dogs was their only cd!?

[Pumpkinhead]

I also really liked the use of the megaphone (a la Phish).

Personally I usually reference Murray Head when I'm talking megaphones, but Phish is good too.

[StoneMtn]

True; that is their only full-length disc. They have three EPs, though, as well, and I bought the longest one of those.

[StoneMtn]

[bONES]

the Astronomy For Dogs cd is really great!

Great version of Robot Man

I LOVE I Am The Unknown