11/17/01 Detroit, MI, Magic Stick

w/ Superchunk (headliner), Aereogramme

[review]

(from amplifiermagazine.com)

Superchunk In the Motor City
By Elizabeth Sokol

Detroit is never an easy show, whether you are a relatively unknown indie band or a mainstream chart topper. And tonight at the Magic Stick, it seemed as though the deck was stacked against Superchunk even before they ever hit the stage. First, "band of the hour" the Stokes were playing at a venue only minutes away. This competition for attendance was remarked upon even on Superchunk's Web site and left a fairly noticeable void in the small, pool hall-style venue.

But perhaps more importantly, Superchunk's openers were less than stunning. This tour had initially featured Gorky's Zygotic Mynci, a surefire draw. But having cancelled, Gorky's was replaced by two lesser-known acts. The first, Rilo Kiley, is a quartet that performs unassuming, inoffensive melodies, each of which sounds exactly like the one before it. Not bad, but not exactly welcome in Detroit's accomplished band circuit. But hands down, the prize for most ridiculous band goes to second openers, Aerogramme. Imagine Michael Stipe at his most self-indulgent backed by Spinal Tap. Now move one step down the ladder. Yup, that's Aerogramme. The crowd reacted accordingly, ranging from laughter to wild screams to looks of confusion.

Then there was Superchunk. I can't imagine anyone wanting to hit the stage on that backdrop. But they bravely did and for that I commend them. But that's about it. While the front-row devotees undeniably loved the band and pogoed along with almost every tune, Superchunk had a hard time getting anyone else involved. The pool tables stayed packed and those who couldn't get a seat stood around, looking at the bar, waiting for an opening. The non-pool players chatted up the opposite sex as if they were still waiting for the show to begin. Admittedly, it was a tough show, but the band didn't seem interested in attacking the challenge. Instead, they ran through the set in an academic, soulless fashion.

Promising "an evening with the band" as they hit the stage, Superchunk left the impression that its average evening consists of little more than day-old pizza and a B-grade comedy movie. They played a bunch of songs off Here's to Shutting Up, their newest release, and some other stuff, too. They certainly must have more life in them than this show revealed. No band could last for more than 10 years and not self-destruct if this night out was typical for Superchunk.

Let's just chalk it up to the full moon and hopefully, next time out, Superchunk won't let the competition derail them.