envie cd release at the earl
Since people are adding me to their press sections and shit, I need to start writing decent reviews. Motherfucker*. Decent is a pretty high bar, so this concert review will just feature more words than usual. Baby steps.
the set up
In the days of way back, my friend Chris Hoke**, mentioned he would be playing with Envie and I should check them out. I was super enthusiastic, because Envie featured a harp player. I figured the excitement would never end, because harps are just so fucking punk rock. Shit ain’t going to happen. However, because Chris is awesome, and alert Propeller Skies readers have probably figured out I was a huge fan of his now defunct band, I gave Envie a shot and condescended to show up for the concert. Probably this one.
i thought it was the end, i thought it was the fourth of july
Three months ago at recurring Propeller Skies character The Professor’s swank bachelor pad, I met Natalie. We spent some quality time hanging on the balcony chatting about local bands. I got her number and promised to call. Three months later, I finally invited her to a show. By email. Told y’all I was premium.
the sweetloves
I arrived at The Earl slightly early so I could grab a Rolling Rock*** and check out the gateway scenery. While sipping my beer that certainly did not taste fifty cents better, I caught the last few songs played by The Sweetloves. Despite the stupid name, they are pretty good. Sometime during their set, Natalie arrived.
envie’s new guitar player
The last time I saw Envie, Chris was still playing with them. About a year ago, he got all suburban and shit and moved to Birmingham. Hence, Renee found a new guitar player****. While Envie was setting up, Natalie mentioned the new guitarist was dressed like an accountant. I made a snide comment about him being the toast of the water cooler on Monday morning, because he was out playing in a band while all the other accountants were home counting their bean collections.
the envie show, fucking finally
During the first song, I began to suspect the new guitar player really might be an accountant. However, when the band launched into Passage***** I realized he could play. By the end of the show, we decided he really would be the toast of the water cooler on Monday morning.
Seeing Envie live is a treat, because Renee is precision controlled fury. Sort of like a Honda engine in the VTEC range - an exhilarating sense of power, tightly controlled to awesome effect. The only other singer as intense on stage is Sarah Hubbard of Sunday Munich.
A highlight of this show was the crack rhythm section. Kevin Wallace, who alert Prizzo Skeezy readers may remember from such bands as The Sudden Rays and Ruvolo, was holding it down with his usual skill on the drums. Susannah Barnes, who recurring Propeller Skies readers will recall from such excellent bands as The Black Kites and American Dream, was kicking ass on bass.
spare change
Alert readers, if there are any left after all these mind numbing words, will note that Envie’s non-performing member, Michael Overstreet, has been left out of this ridiculously fucking long review, so far. I suspect Michael writes lyrics, but I am too lazy to check the liner notes and find out for sure. Spare Change is my all time favorite Envie song, because of the premium lyrics. If Michael happens to also write things other than songs, I would appreciate more info via the comments section.
buy an envie cd
All five Propeller Skies readers are strongly encouraged to purchase a copy of Envie. Cheapskates can visit Envie’s Myspace page and hear some tunes for free.
notes:
* This does not mean I am not flattered.
** Guitarist and lead vocalist for legendary Atlanta band Thrizzle Dizzle to tha Fizzle Speezy.
*** I am not happy The Earl has raised the price of Rolling rock by fifty cents a bottle. Fucking gentrification.
**** Chris still plays on the album, which all five Propeller Skies readers should buy.
***** I think that was the second song.
****** Fuck all these words. This shit takes too long to write. We now return to our regularly scheduled two line reviews.
October 20th, 2006 at 17:02
This is my favorite review in a long time. Thanks.
BTW, Michael is a very prolific writer and creates many important works such as grocery lists and bad checks. We hope that he finishes his short story before we have to surrender our drivers licenses and settle down into fixed-income bliss.