Workin' Hard

Got to see another great show Black Friday. Mark Mallman and The Alarmists played a doubleheader at the 400. A friend and I were at the early show, and it felt like walking into a family reunion. I'm assuming it was the Alarmists' family, since the large gang of aunt- and uncle-looking adults left after their set. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining. Their presence spiked the average age up from sixteen to right about my and my friend's age.

With all the great things I heard about the Alarmists, two things surprised me. One, they didn't look old enough to get into the second show! Two, for how young they appeared, they sounded incredibly tight. But watching them on stage made it apparent how that could be; they are serious and work hard. In tone and simplicity they remind me of Spoon, especially on New Romans and Some Things Never Stop, and the similarity of Eric Lovold's voice to Jeff Tweedy is pretty obvious, especially on Coming to Meet Me. I just read on their website that they are going to start recording their follow-up to A Detail of Soldiers on December 1. I can't wait to hear it.

Like the Alarmists, Mark Mallman sounds great and works hard. But where The Alarmists are economical, Mark Mallman is all about the drama. Through the course of the set, my friend and I compared him to Billy Joel on acid, Rush, Meatloaf, and Alice Cooper, and I'm sure if he'd played longer, we would have come up with a few more. He is undeniably clever and truly entertaining. I would be unlikely to listen to a CD of his at home, but Mark Mallman is not meant to be listened to in the solitude of your own home. You must have him in the room, and be surrounded by friends and booze. I was surprised to learn Mark Mallman is backed by half of The Melismatics, and that that half is married to each other!

(Photos courtesy of Tay-lo.)