Bear Hands – Visqueen – at Spaceland – Silverlake, CA

One band getting a ton of buzz in the New York music world is a group called Bear Hands. They are label mates of MGMT and are known to bring similar dance groves to the packed venues they have been playing. Well I was lucky enough to catch the trios first performance in the Los Angeles area and local favorite Spaceland before they would rock the Troubadour the next evening. A little preview of things to come.

When the four piece came on stage there was a bit of anticipation in the crowd. I took a peak at the setlist which started with "Slow". A fitting title or maybe just a mood they wanted to set because the song indeed achieve its namesake. Something to set the mood, something to prepare the crowd (which was mostly filled with punkers for the next group), something to get the crowd moving. A slow sultry movement to go with the swaying synths.

Everything about the group screams sexy. "Get a Grip" was a highlight for the funky vocals displayed by Dylan Rau to the drug like wails of Ted Feldman its jest all a dreamy daze. Not everyone is into the sexyness and you could hear some mumbling of them being too mellow for those naysayers "Can't Stick Em" brought the house down. It may start out with faint guitars but turns into a kick drum tyraid complete with overdriven bass. Rau goes from singing to shouting "Go Home" at the top of his lungs.

Yeah maybe those people should have just gone home but they all wanted more after that. A band that successfully takes you in and out of lush haze with vivid shoegaze mixed in is the perfect mix for any indie dance party.

The crowd filled in before headliner Visqueen from the state of Washington would take the stage.
 
Visqueen took a page from Bear Hands and started with a serenade of sorts. Just the two females on vocals and a single violin. I was sure that this was going to be a Flogging Molly type band when they were checking but maybe I was wrong.

Singer Rachel Flotard explained that they had done a stripped down version of their songs over at Amoeba Records the previous day and they wanted to try to recapture that this evening. After hearing that opener it made me wish I had attended that show because the lone violin version was so lovely.

The rest of the set took a more gritty and basic approach. It all resembled more of a ska punk feel of the late Dance Hall Crashers. The duel girl vocal switch, the guitars going chuga chuga, and the members jumping up and down. Even the tiny asian girl on bass. Seriously the bass almost dwarfed the girl. All that was lacking was a little "oi, oi, oi".

I don't think I have ever, or will ever, hear a Silverlake crowd scream oi oi oi but they might as well to Visqueen.

Visqueen might not have been for me but they may be right for you!  www.myspace.com/visqueen

And we know Bear hands was for me but are they for you?  www.myspace.com/bearhandsband
 

 

Carl Pocket
Big Wheel Music Scene Reporter

 

More photos of the show can be seen HERE

 
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