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 TV
Vintage– Turn On Tune In
15 may
2007
In the context of the wide
range of physical spaces open to musicians in Mexico City VC15 represents
one of the more comfortable venues for live music. Unfortunately as with
the Los Fancy Free gig a couple of weeks before a disappointing turn out
perhaps dragged the night on even later than planned as audience and
organisers tried to wait each other out.
The unpredictability of
start times, with a tendency towards tardiness, must be a contributory
factor in poor attendance. A flyer that advertises a 9pm start should be
accurate to within half an hour. Expecting people to hang around while
bands hang around waiting for more people is somewhat of a vicious cycle.
But it will be a brave band and a long, lonely period of transition before
this trait can be reversed.
Post Pastel eventually
took to the stage after midnight in a murky darkness due to the lack of
stage lighting. With a debut only made in March Post Pastel is still a
somewhat under baked concept. Keyboards and a voice like Mickey Mouse on
helium create an electro pop punk that moves along at a variable
pace. The use of live drums provides the performance a bit more texture
than most proposals that stick within the digital delivery system.
Xara and LLexi take there
fashion as seriously as their music and the stage outfits always give an
extreme 80s twist to their electro bop. The band is rising in confidence
with each live outing and although the style may not be everyone’s “cup of
tea” it makes for an entertaining and easily digestible portion of pop.
The Stupidsrocknroll
completed the night with their usual attitude loaded rock heavily influenced
both in sound and style by seventies icons such a Bolan and The Ramones.
The band has been receiving some serious air time for their first single
“Radio” from the debut album. The release includes 14 tracks in an
ambitious project that achieves mixed results according to Ulises their lead
singer and creative core.
Certainly songs like
“Afraid of the World” show exceptional promise from the foursome based in
Naucalpan, Estado de Mexico. Meaningful melodies scattered with brittle
keyboards, The Stupids show far more emotional fragility than most
teenagers, and for this their music should be approached considerately.
Although the proposal is interesting there is a strong suggestion that the
band is still finding its identity and the best is still to come.
Both proposals on the
night offered a distinct style and thus contrasted effectively. However,
taking the best elements of both with Xara’s samples and electronic breaks
and Ulises soft, unsteady voice and bittersweet lyrics and you have one of
the most interesting new acts on the scene. TV Vintage has just
reached the point of producing some demo material and the potential is
impressive as the music swings between softly undulating digital loops and up beat
electro boogie.
While Post Pastel and The
Stupids may develop to be robust musical proposals, TV Vintage already has
that internal strength build in. If the success of their alternative
projects does not make things too complicated in terms of developing the
basic concept it will definitely be something worth switching on and tuning
in to in the near future.
http://myspace.com/thestupidarocknroll
http://myspace.com/postpastel
http://myspace.com/tvvintage
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