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October 30, 2004
Split Lip Rayfield at the King King in Los Angeles - October 22, 2004
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What’s the best gauge of how good a band is in concert? You might be surprised to learn that it’s the merch table. Seriously. If the band has just a couple of CDs and t-shirts for sale, it’s not necessarily an entire lost cause, but if they are selling everything from pencils to pot holders (and I’m talking about the ones you use in the kitchen to help you cook), you can usually count on an awesome show.
Such was the case with Split Lip Rayfield at the King King in Hollywood on Friday, October 22. A fantastic selection of creative souvenirs and Split Lip’s expected excellence made for a good time.
Idaho Falls must have been the first band on stage, but I can’t be sure, ‘cause I missed them. It’s now a dream of mine to see Idaho Falls in concert, because I’ve spent the last three years arriving at their shows after they’ve gone on stage. I really want to see this band!
I arrived in the middle of the Weeds’ set. I couldn’t understand most of the vocals, but the lead singer was very engaging and sported the best “socks ‘n’ sandals” set I’ve ever seen.
Up next was LA’s own Mike Stinson. I never really got into his albums until I saw him live a couple months ago at Spaceland. His CDs just don’t do him justice. If you’ve been passing up seeing Mike Stinson, stop. Go see him live. You won’t regret it.
At last, Split Lip Rayfield took the stage. They must have played for an hour and a half straight. These guys are beyond talented; their fingers seem to fly as they pluck their instruments (I believe the proper term to describe their music is “Thrashgrass”: really, really fast bluegrass). They don’t like to talk, they just wanna play. I think what I love most about Split Lip (other than the gas tank that serves as their bass: c’mon, how country is that??) is that they are a band, and not just a lead singer and “everybody else”. You really get the feeling that they’re very democratic, that there is no band member more important than anyone else. It’s very refreshing.
And to top it all off, at the end of a very entertaining show, there was the merch table. It was irresistible. I spent way too much money. At least I have a head-start on my Christmas shopping now.
- By Vicki Pepper
note: Because I didn't have my camera with me, these pictures were taken by Wanda back in May at the Bottom of the Hill.
Posted by DJWanda at October 30, 2004 11:23 PM
