Art Brut Roll Call

[JohnnyBaconbitz]

I picked up the CD on insound...they're usually pretty goo.

[amnesiac]

Well, that was pretty fucking awesome. That was the most fun I've had at a show since The Pogues. I'll definitely be catching their set at Pitchfork, if I go...

[Bags]

POP MUSIC
 Tuesday, April 11, 2006; C07
 The Washington Post
 
 Art Brut
 
 "I can't stand the sound/of the Velvet Underground," Art Brut's Eddie Argos proclaims in the cheekiest couplet of the London quintet's cheeky theme song, "Bang Bang Rock & Roll." Actually, Art Brut could not exist without the sensibility, if not the sound, of the Velvets' college-educated garage rock. Sunday night at the Black Cat, drummer Mikey B. even played standing up, in apparent homage to the V.U.'s Maureen Tucker.
 
 The crux of Art Brut's appeal is Argos's mocking lyrics, so at first it seemed problematic that the instruments overwhelmed the vocals. The group's founding manifesto, "Formed a Band," was a noisy blur, and only a few numbers -- notably "Emily Kane," an ode to absurdly unrequited love -- were sufficiently melodic to withstand the assault. But it quickly became clear that everyone in the packed room knew all the words (even though the band's debut album won't be released in the United States until May 23). This freed the singer for other things, and the result was engaging, amusing and -- especially by the standards of British art-rockers -- refreshingly unscripted.
 
 Because he didn't have to sell the songs, Argos put most of his energy into asides. Sporting an earring and a way-uncool mustache, the singer admitted to realizing he's no longer in love with childhood flame Emily Kane, did a quick a cappella survey of California standards to conclude "Moving to L.A." and led a chant of "Art Brut! Top of the Pops!" that expanded to include the evening's opening acts and a number of D.C. bands, Fugazi and Nation of Ulysses among them. On its album, Art Brut may seem a bit smug, but onstage the band was playful and unexpectedly generous.
 
 The Rogers Sisters, the Brooklyn trio that preceded Art Brut, played the sort of punk-funk for which their borough's indie-rock scene is now a little too well known. The band's grooves were formidable, but -- aside from swooping backup vocals that recalled the B-52s -- its sense of style was confining.
 
 -- Mark Jenkins

[Bombay Chutney]

Originally posted by BookerT:
   you know you are witnessing something utterly ridiculous and sometimes hilarious, and it really shouldn't be working, but the band is tight and the songs are really good and the lead singer has charisma to spare and it just clicks.
 

Kind of late responding here, but this pretty much sums up my thoughts on the night.  It was hard not to get caught up in the fun and raucousness of it all.   Great, catchy music and a really fun show to just watch - much less listen to.
 
 They're probably just a flash-in-the-pan, but who cares.  They pretty much kicked ass for a good hour.  I definitely got my money's worth.
 
 All that AND I got to meet Mr & Mrs. vansmack.  Not a bad Sunday at all.  

[kosmo vinyl]

it would be greated to see Art Brut or even Mitch "ESLCN" Benn added to the Arctic Monkey bill... it would be worth it to watch the crowds reaction to seeing the headliners being mocked... The Cribs vs Art Brut would a fun pairing as well..

[vansmack]

Originally posted by xneverwherex:
   just was curious if they ended up playing with a setlist. one of the highlights of that show was eddie decided that there'd be no set list for that night, so it was just everyone yelling out the songs. eddie got mad at one point, and said he was going to play what he wants.

There was a set list at the Black Cat show.