Roman Numerals at VooDoo Lounge
Roman Numerals
Friday, November 16
Harrah's VooDoo Lounge
Cheaper than: Cabo Wabo shots at the Uptown
Better than: A hayride through midtown
Review by Berry Anderson
There are a whopping 35 days left until winter. Before you retreat to the warmth of your velour pants and microfiber couch to lose yourself in the third season of Grey’s Anatomy, remind yourself that the clear nights and brisk air of the autumn we have are prime for adventures. Casino adventures, baby.
It doesn’t take much to get this sister north of the river. The titillating sociological implications of the casino complex, combined with some of the best peoplewatching in the city, are reasons enough to pull out that Total Rewards card and use it for its intended purpose rather than scraping the funk off of the back of the toilet.
Feeling like a winner, I headed for Harrah’s VooDoo Lounge Friday night, the spot for the final KC show of the year for local band Roman Numerals. Rollin’ solo that evening, I decided to save the excitement of The District for another time. Perhaps one day I will be beckoned back for freedom fries and fried bologna from that one bar and grill. Crazier things have happened.
(Above photo taken by Michael Forester of a RNs show earlier this year.)
After an echoey sound check with front of the house sound engineers, the ubiquitious alternative-with a dance beat rockers returned to the bar where the flair bartending had yet to begin. Dressed in earth tones and sporting the beginnings of Chez Charlie beard competition itchiness, the Roman Numerals seemed rather pensive and focused. Maybe the nine o’clock start time was a little early, maybe working on their second release is wearing them out, or maybe they just woke up from a nap on their microfiber couch. However, I could tell right away that the performance would be solid, unlike the last show I saw at the Recordbar on Shawn Sherrill’s birthday a couple of months ago.
I asked guitarist Billy Smith, who was wearing a grandpa sweater and taking a Gran-Ma shot, “Where are all your groupies at, dude? There was a bigger line for snow crab legs when I walked in.”
“The Northeast just isn’t ready for the Roman Numerals yet,” he replied.
The VooDoo Lounge does bring in a different crowd than Westport, an older, more refined crowd with money to burn on five dollar Rolling Rocks. But, donde esta Ricardo? Is it still the same show without the toga wearing dancing man?
Yes, it is.
People eventually filtered in past the beefy men in black to catch all the old favorites in the one hour playtime. Opening with “Consent to Dissent," the band sounded like they did the first time I heard them back in the day at the Beaumont Club on that August night earlier this year when I became a follower. The lucky ones got to hear them drop a new song, fourth in the set. The tune has no name but its really fuckin’ good. They closed with “Rule of V,” and I still kind of wanted more.
So Roman Numerals' self-titled album has some miles on it. From Long Beach to New Jersey, Portland to Cleveland, they have toured the shit out of it and now it’s time to bid farewell for awhile. Until then, it’s another excuse curl up on your microfiber couch with the DVD of Capitvity, available now wherever fine videos are rented.
Post a Comment
