Meet the Histrionics
After what has already been a crazy week for me, I’m really looking forward to seeing one of my favorite local bands this weekend. The Histrionics are playing at Cafe Venus and the Mars Bar this Saturday March 17th along with the Dirty Murls and Paper Hearts.
I am a sucker for a noisy guitar, driving bass, and hard hit drums. The Histrionics deliver. They are young 3-piece that already has two full length albums, an EP, and plenty of new material. I first heard them about a year ago when they were picked to be one of the bands in EMP’s 2006 Sound Off competition for underage bands. I was immediately impressed. They cite Silkworm, Shellac, and Uzeda as some of their influences. I think they sound like PJ Harvey backed by Drive Like Jehu or Sonic Youth. Last summer they put out their second album, Let’s Move the Meat. It was one of my favorite albums of the year and it’s still in regular rotation in my stereo. Their newer songs are noisier, less structured and a little more challenging, but still excellent. They are getting ready to head out on a tour that will take them to the midwest, so this might be the last chance to catch them in Seattle for a while.
They have songs up on their website, here.
Saturday March 17th at Cafe Venus and the Mars Bar, The Dirty Murls, The Histrionics, and Paper Hearts, 9pm $6 21+
In my old band, The If/Then Statement, we played a show with The Historionics (sp?). They were pretty good. I’m curious about shows at Mars Bar in general. I’ve never been to a show there, does it sound good? I’m going to Blue Moon on saturday, so I’ll miss it, but please post about the Paper Hearts. I’ve heard good things.
Mars Bar has solid music; it sounds good. Another great show is there on Sunday — THE SPOILS!!!!
Second the Mars Bar. The sound has never sounded bad to me. The back lounge is a great retreat if the live show is not to your taste. Seattle’s best kept secret IMHO.
I wish I could go tomorrow.
Saturday’s show was great. The Dirty Murls played first and I enjoyed them. They had kind of a Jawbox/Girls Against Boys sound going on. I definitely wouldn’t mind seeing them again. North Dakota’s Paper Hearts were next. I couldn’t really get into them. It was just basic indie rock. Their last song was nice, though. The Histrionics were excellent. I felt they completely lived up to my hype. They played one song from their album that came out last summer and the rest of the songs were all new. This is the set they will be taking out on the road next month.
As for the Mars Bar, I agree with Matt about it being Seattle’s best kept secret. The sound is excellent for singer/songwriter types. I saw Michael Vermillion there about a week ago and he had the whole place mesmerized. For bands the sound is usually good to very good. The stage is pretty samll; a four piece band is cramped. The crowd is usually polite and attentive. The back bar in the Cafe Venus portion of the place is my favorite bar in town. It has a great jukebox and a cool view of the Space Needle. But shhhh! Part of the reason I love the place is that is somewhat of a secret.
The food is pretty damn solid as well.
cool, thanks for the follow up, Scissorhands.
i was at the Blue Moon checking out IAMGUN, they ruled. punky, surf-instrumetal. very good. they said theyve been around a while, but havent played in years. they will be big!