Cherry Ghost - The Afternoons/War Paint

Editor's Note: After a small hiatus, our star writer, Cherry Ghost returns.....yaay!
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The Afternoons @ Spaceland w/ War Paint
6/2/08 (June residency)

Written By: Cherry Ghost

War Paint.

I’m gonna make this quick as I want to get to the GOOD GREAT FANTASTIC MAGICAL part. I like your name. I especially like your name cause you’re all girls (Oops, sorry boy on the drums… I forgot about you for a second).

The main question I’m left with after your set is: What is with the weird adult onesie/diaper outfit? You’re way too sexy to be wearing that. Are you trying to set a trend or did you lose a bet?

All I know is that I will not be rushing out to buy one. I really liked the music although the vocals weren’t for me. I wasn’t into the echo-y vocal effect splashed across almost every song. It seemed like a gimmick. Sometimes the sound in Spaceland isn’t the best and I would like to give you the benefit of doubt, especially as your last song sounded pretty good. Bat For Lashes, you are not.

I enjoyed the show – but wouldn’t buy the album. Or an adult onesie.

The Afternoons!

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Right from the start, an ambiance was set on stage – the low warm tone of the lights combined with the blinks and blips coming from machines that I’d never seen before gave Spaceland an inviting and cozy feeling. And with the start of a steady beat on the bass drum I could feel a smile that formed in my gut plaster itself on my lips.

It never left my face for the next hour (and more… I think I fell to sweet dreams with it still lingering on my lips and crinkling the corners of my eyes). I can’t explain where they transported me. There were moments that I felt like I was in a 1920’s revival tent. Or at a 1940’s fair.

And moments where my feet were firmly planted in the 21st century. Claire Mceown. Oh how her voice rang out. I’ve never heard a voice quite like hers. And it lured me in and held my attention so that I could barely breathe. I’ve never wished so hard: “Please Please Please may I be in your band? I’ll do anything. I learn the harmonica in a heart beat.”

I didn’t know any of the songs, yet I felt included in what seemed to be a joyous sing along.

“Joyous.”

This is a word I would use to describe the evening. They all sang with harmonies that made me squirm they were so spot on! Sam Johnson. He was all over the stage. First as the second drummer (yes, they had 2 drummers on 2 full kits) and then as trumpeter. Going from the most mournful notes until they shifted and lifted to become suddenly …again… joyous! Then to vocals, bass, guitar, and on and on.

I could hardly keep track of all the moves he was making. Brian and Steven (maybe more but I’m not sure) came out on the other side of Irving with a shot that has been echoing in my heart since the first note and probably won’t leave for a long, long time.

If you have it in you to make it out late on a Monday night, you should. It’s magic. I’m going to try to go at least one more time this month. It’s free (except for the $3 EP you’re bound to buy). And it’s incredible. And you shouldn’t miss it. To the moon!

Cherry Ghost.