Semi Precious Weapons Welcome Police
Jun 29, 2009 at 10:19 AM By: Will Bryant, Founder and Executive Editor
"No, no, don't boo...if the police come, you know you're doing it right." Justin Tranter was spot on; Semi Precious Weapons were doing it right, very right. Not to gush, but their little soiree on the the outdoor garden patio of the Hudson Hotel was something to make a fuss about. It was a welcome mix of smooze, booze and a gorgeous outdoor setting (a refreshing change from the downpour nights we've been experiencing in New York). Though a mix of a publicity grab and fan appreciation night, SPW had the ball rolling in the right direction.
The stage was set with an ideal summer setting, a good natured crowd, the well-timed DJ and the right mix of passed libations. The folks in attendance were chomping at the bit to see the scantly clad Tranter take the stage and vulgarly coo the familiar lyrics of the trademark SPW songs. Just as the crowd was getting antsy (about an hour after their "published" set time), SPW took the stage to a flurry of flashes and bass licks. They quickly ran through their half-hour set playing a few of their fan favorites as well as a couple of new tunes not included on their recent disk. The set was only interrupted with "thank yous," applause, hamming, and taking a moment to address the "noise issue." Even the pretentious folks of the mainstream "indie" rags found themselves toe-tapping to the catchy, singalong tunes.
Though this was not a "normal" setting for a rockshow, it was ideal for seeing one of my favorite up-and-coming glam-rock bands of the moment.
We at Knocks strive for impartiality when it comes to reviewing bands, but on occasion when bands go above and beyond for their fans, we simply must gush a bit. Kudos to Semi Precious Weapons, their label, manager, and all who made the night a lot of fun. You can see pictures of the show here. They will be playing in LA for a few nights and are not locked into shows for the fall. But, whatever you do, catch these guys in a small venue while you can -- they may not be rocking our local favorite clubs much longer.
Reader Comments (1)
Semi Precious Weapons are a great band and put on a great show! However, I'd like to point out that most of the fans who showed up to the Hudson Hotel on Saturday night did not make it into the show. Why? Labeled an all ages show, fans under 21 traveled from all over to get to what was promised to be a glamourous party in their appreciation, were rudely dismissed at the door with no explination except that the rules had been changed and they weren't allowed in. The band was very quickly notified of this, but seemed to do very little to address the problem, telling fans to try to sneak in the side door where security was rough-housing 18 to 20 year olds half their size.
Sure it was a great show, for the people who got in. For the rest, who left, devistated, or watched through the slats of window blinds and dodged hotel security, there will be no thanks to the band or the managment. I understand the concept of under 21, but bands and venues need to be clear about how they label shows, especially when their fans are involved.