Kansas City Blog

REVIEW AND PORTRAITS BY IAN HRABE

Ian Hrabe

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I know at least three people in Lawrence who think Kim Deal is the most perfect woman on planet earth. This is completely understandable, and I may or may not be one of these people. She's been an integral part of two of the best alt-rock bands of the mid-'90s (Pixies being the other) and can write a pop song like nobody's business, which is even more endearing given that all of this started when she answered an add for Pixies reading "female bassist/vocalist for high harmonies no chops."

Somehow, this unassuming, seemingly average everyday woman became one of the coolest figures in modern rock. Even my dad thinks Kim Deal is cool (based on his random viewing of the Pixies documentary LoudQUIETLoud), and he hates pretty much everything recorded after 1980. That is how cool Kim deal is.

Openers and fellow Ohians Times New Viking has put out a couple of stellar records, but catching them live is a goddamned treat. Though many critics describe them as pioneers of the "shitgaze" movement, I think that tag is a little inappropriate given the absolute ebullient joy these three emit on stage.

Ian Hrabe

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While their songs are the same kind of hyper-distorted, incredibly fucking loud lo-fi employed by fellow shitgazers like Wavves, Psychedelic Horseshit, and No Age, they're pretty much a noisy indie-pop band. "Call & Respond" from their most recent release, the Stay Awake EP, is a perfect example of the ingenious way they bury perfect pop melodies under layers and layers of distortion and clipping levels.

Despite the fact that they were a bit sloppy, the Breeders on their worst night are still going to put on a better show than almost anyone. It certainly helps that the Deal sisters were grinning from time to time, but mostly it's that regardless of how tight they are, the songs are so strong they sell themselves.

And with the set full of positively righteous jams this past Saturday night, I really had a hard time caring about Kim not singing loud enough and Kelley seeming confused most of the time.

Pretty much every song (with the exception of a few clunkers, like "New Year" and "Night of Joy" which fell flat and were sandwiched between the best songs of the night) earned an Oh fuck YES! from me upon hearing the opening notes. As per usual, there were a few Amps tunes thrown into the setlist, namely "I Am Decided" which actually caused me to uncontrollably Woo! (Fun Fact: That song was gifted to Deal by fellow Daytonian Bob Pollard for her production duties of certain tracks from Guided by Voices' Under the Bushes Under the Stars).

Each LP was equally represented, with the exception of Last Splash, which has an inordinate number of songs they are probably required to play at shows. Of course there's "Cannonball," which warrants its own special microphone for the intro and the chorus, and I'm pretty sure the audience would have been pissed had they not played "Divine Hammer" and "Saints." However, the air-drum inducing "No Aloha" might have been the highlight of the show.

Fan video discovered via this blog.

The first encore began with "The She," most likely for the sole purpose of Kim getting to play drums, and I watched Oscar from Rooftop Vigilantes totally lose his shit and sing along. It ended, naturally, with the alt-country inflected "Drivin' on 9" with Kelley Deal taking on violin duties. The second encore consisted solely of the quick pop ditty "Fortunately Gone," and I watched Dead Girls frontman Cameron Hawk totally lose his shit and sing along. It's comforting knowing that musicians in this town have a firm adoration of the Breeders, but then again, why wouldn't they?

Despite the fact that they played a little looser than I was expecting, the ear-to-ear grins of the Deal sisters and the off the cuff attitude of the set made it a blast. To see a musician smiling these days is almost taboo, but ultimately, the point of starting a band is to have fun. Even after twenty years, the Breeders still get that.

Set List
Hoverin'
Little Fury
I Am Decided
Walk it Off
Divine Hammer
Night of Joy
No Aloha
Metal Man
Do You Love Me Now?
New Year
Cannonball
Saints
Happiness is a Warm Gun
?
We're Gonna Rise
Flipside
Fate to Fatal
Huffer
Bang On

Encore 1
The She
Overglazed
Drivin' on 9

Encore 2
Fortunately Gone