Inside Cowboy Journalism
Friday, October 26, 2007
Los Straitjackets, Boise, ID
For a landlocked whiteboy, I sure do love some great surf music, even in español, and that is exactly what I got at the Los Straitjackets show this week at the Neurolux right here in Boise Idaho. I mean, I'm sure it doesn't move me in the same way as a local kid from Santa Cruz, but I still entertain thoughts of taking a month or so off and travel to the coast to learn to surf.Then I remember I have all the grace of a slug and the balance of humpty dumpty. Todos los caballos del rey,Y todos los siervos del re, No podía poner mis sueños juntos otra vez.
At any rate, Lost Straitjackets is a fun show to be sure. This Nashville native band has been working the small bars and club scene all over the world with their unique brand of Mexican Surf paired with the mystery of their masks for 13 years. Not to say clubs and bars is all they play. They have played and formed friendships with some of the best names in surf rock. The list includes Link Wray, the Reverend Horton Heat and (my personal favorite), The Ventures. They have appeared on Conan O'Brien no less than 6 times, played for 70,000 fans in Mexico City on request by the Mexican Government and even taken a bus of fans with them on one of their successful tours of Spain.
When I got to the show I was surprised to see the place wasn't nearly as full as I had expected, maybe only reaching 200 people, and that is even a generous guess. I got myself a pitcher of beer and settled into a good seat in the center of the room with a couple of friends. When the band took stage they had an awesome presence, due in no small part to the matching suits and unique full head masks, but in no smaller part to their immediate start into instrumental surf. We were in for a treat this evening because on this tour they brought with them the Hispanic vocalist Big Sandy, of Big Sandy and his Fly-rite Boys out of California. Big Sandy is a commanding figure on the stage reminiscent of what I imagine the Blues Brothers would have been like live had they been a real band with origional songs as well as soulful renditions of songs we all know. Only one catch, 90% of the songs are sang in Spanish. Now while this may throw some folks off, it is a nice change of pace for me personally. Even if I can't understand the words, I know the songs and sing along anyway as did many other people I could see. Musically, this show was as solid as they come. The band was commanding and had a lot of really good energy. I recommend seeing this show if you ever get the chance weather in a large stadium, or a small club, you owe yourself some good surf rock!Even though the band was great, preformed flawlessly and was encouraging of the crowd, this particular crowd wasn't very engaging. Surf is meant to be danced to. This isn't Ani D'Franco we're talking about here, this is body moving, soul shaking rock and roll! How a person can merely sit and watch this band is beyond me. I can't dance, I never CLAIM to be able to dance, but this type of music almost rips you from your chair and throws you to a beach bonfire on some indescript shore on the west coast, yet a good majority of the people there seemed to have no desire to move more than their glass to their mouths, and unfortunately this does affect the band, the show and their future decisions weather or not to come back. Big Sandy was almost pleading with the crowd to get up and party, yet they remained motionless until the last few songs. It has been 10 years since Los Straitjackets has been to Boise, and with a reception like this it is no wonder why.
Now look, I'm not trying to bring anyone down, and I am not trying to make anyone do what they don't want to, but I just see this too much to keep silent about it. Bands have a good time when you have a good time. They like coming back to p
laces where they have had a good time. If the crowd doesn't show it is having a good time, it can frustrate a band and make them not want to come back. Unfortunatly, that is a reason some good bands never do come back.But I digress, All in all, Los Straitjackets is a great band and I had a blast and hope to see them again, here, in Boise Idaho.
My name is Beaker Bongload, and this has been my first Blog on cowboyjournalism.com.
For more info on Los Straitjackets Please visit their website.
For More Info on Big Sandy and His Fly-Rite Boys Please Visit His website.
Labels: Big Sandy, Boise, Idaho, Los Straitjackets, Neurolux, Reveiw
