I first heard the band Girlpool a few months ago on The Current. I heard their single Ideal World, and looked them up right away as I listened to just two girl voices, a bass and a guitar. I learned that was the whole band. Two gals, Cleo Tucker, 18, on guitar, and Harmony Tividad, 19, on bass. I streamed some of their other music, and dug it. I told myself that if they ever came to town, I gotta see 'em.
Looking at the concert calendar on the City Pages website I saw that they were coming to The Triple Rock 10/15, and the show was sponsored by First Avenue. I emailed my contact at First Ave. asking if I could get a stool for thew show, and she told me "no problem." I was all set.
I hadn't been to this venue since I saw Doug Stanhope open for Metallagher probably in 2007 or '08, and forgot what the place even looked like. I relied on my phone's GPS to get me there. The show was to start at 9:00 with the first of two openers. As I drove by the club, the line was curling out the door, and past the building. I'd bought my ticket already, so I wasn't worried about getting in.
I parked a few blocks away for three bucks, and had an easy walk in the fall October night air. As I arrived to the line, I felt every bit of my 38-years as I stood in the second-hand smoke of the 18+ crowd waiting to get in. The people-watching showed me that "these kids today" have the same apathy, and give-a-shit attitude that I did when I was young, in [technical] college and knew everything.
I showed the guy at the door my ticket (that was texted to my phone) with my ID. He slapped a wristband on me showing that I'm over 21. I found my stool not far from the door and parked it as Half Tramp played. Half Tramp is one girl with an electric guitar. Her songs were slow and haunting. I didn't mind that I missed the first few. While she played I got up from my seat and familiarized myself with the place where I'd performed a sketch show once, back in probably 2006-'07.
Cleo Tucker was sitting at their merch table with her nose buried in her phone. I wanted to talk to her, but didn't have the guts. Looking back on it, it would've been so easy to get a selfie with her to post for you right here, but I felt that I should buy something if I was going to bother her for that. I have no need for CD's, and a shirt was only $15, but I know it would be suitable for Ozzie to wear after one washing, so I just got a Diet Coke at the bar and creeped back to my stool.
After Half Tramp came a three-girl punk band: Kitten Forever. Bass, drums, vocals. They cranked out a couple of two-to-three minute songs, and then the vocalist took the bass, and the bassist took over on vocals. That's when I really started to pay attention. It got even better when the vocalist (who started on bass) traded with the drummer during a bass interlude, and the drummer sang a few. Then the original drummer took the bass, and the first girl who sang was singing again.
The songs all sounded similar, with that punk beat, and staccato lyrics. They had such an energy and spirit; and a full-on mosh pit broke out. I hadn't seen a mosh pit since the late 90's. Kitten Forever wailed for about 30 minutes, and then it was time to tone it back down with our headliners.
Girlpool took the stage a little before 11:00, smiling as they tuned their instruments. They opened their show with their radio hit Ideal World. I have high respect for musicians who open their live show with their hit. I have ever since I saw Lou Reed open with Sweet Jane. It tells me that you're confidant in the rest of your show. We know that you're going to like it, so here's the song that brought you here first.
They smiled most of the time in between songs as they bantered with the crowd, and fine-tuned their instruments. Kitten Forever could be seen watching from the side of the stage. Tucker and Tividad chuckled a few times while singing, obviously having a good time up there. It put me in a good mood too.
They played a 2-song encore, and the music was over at about 11:45. After the show Tividad was busy selling insta-shrink tee-shirts to a line of people. I left the club, again, wading through the second-hand smoke of the millennials. It was a windy, blustery-cold walk back down Cedar to my car.
It was a good night of all-female music. I was really happy to have my stool when the friendly-violent mosh pit broke out. I don't remember the last 18+ show I went to, but my birthday was October 1st. In all of my birthdays, this night was the first time I've felt like an old goat.
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