Live Review: Cameo
February 28, 2009
By: Becky Firesheets

Rating: 6.5/11

Blending sci-fi electro effects and punk-influenced rhythms with surf rock guitar riffs and twangy blues, Your 33 Black Angels charmed the audience at their show on Saturday the 28th, held in Bedford’s newest art and music space, Cameo.

The band kicked off their set with “Vanity, History, Rosemary and Thyme,” an upbeat number driven by a poppy dance beat, exuding a fun and relaxed vibe from the start. Lead singer Josh Westfal sang catchy melodies in his higher ranged vocals, capturing the carefree feel of a surfer band and the grittiness of a garage band simultaneously. Backed up by full organ harmonies, laser-like beeps and pleasant guitar chords, the song set the tone for a head-bopping, cheery night. The band quickly followed up with a few short and fun pop/punk songs, swaying their hips while jamming out their happy grooves. These tunes, reminiscent of early Violent Femmes, upped the intensity and the volume, drummer John O’Callaghan playing fast, aggressive beats while organist Jon Reeve backed up the vocals with more urgent, driving riff. This section of their set was hooky yet rough, edgier than the opener, and drew their crowd in much closer.

Though distinctly different sounds, it made complete sense when Your 33 Black Angels switched styles for a handful of country tunes. With Benji Kast on harmonica, Westfal strummed old country guitar lines while singing in a southern tinged voice, the keys and rhythm guitar playing up the bluesy vibe in the background. Well planned, the set then took another turn with a song blending the poppiness of Fountains of Wayne with the true Americana blues of Bob Dylan and The Band. Your 33 Black Angels embraced multiple different genres and blended them naturally into a cohesive whole, maintaining an animated, completely fun air for their entire performance.

“Every Time I See Your Broken Face” was by far the highlight of their set, contrasting a whiskey laden, sing-a-long chorus with futuristic synths and experimental sounds. A falsetto harmony accompanying every verse grooved in a perfectly silly way, giving way to Westfal crooning in a sexy yet sad voice, “My my what a lovely woman, my my what a lovely woman you are.” This old-timey feel, enhanced by the soulful, jazzy organ solos, stood out starkly and brilliantly against the spaceship synth sounds and electric bass lines. Though one of their slower tunes, this song still carried a swaying dance beat and captivated their audience more deeply than the previous numbers.

The only downside to the show, which unfortunately had a huge impact, was the rough sound mix. But despite these difficulties, Your 33 Black Angels remained jovial and smiley, playing their tunes with their contagious, happy aura. A highlight for the band and audience both came when Sergio Sayeg of Garatos Suecas, a Brazilian rock band, popped up by the stage full of dancing energy. Westfal’s face broke into a wide, goofy grin and he invited Sayeg onstage, ending the night with a powerful and overjoyed vibe.

Currently touring down south, the band won’t return to New York until April 6th to play a show at Cake Shop. In the meantime, listen to clips and download their latest album, “Tales of My Pop-Rock Love Life,” here.