Over the Weekend: the Soft Hands, The Victorians, Eugene and the 1914 at the Prospector, Long Beach
Categories: Over the Weekend, live review
The Hype: It's not everyday that a bar calls special attention to their sound guy. Last weekend, the Prospector lined up a trio of native Long Beach acts in celebration of Zack (no one seemed to know his last name), the man running the dials for your favorite dive bar bands on a nightly basis. Judging by the turnout we're pretty sure he is well-liked.
 |
| Soft Hands |
The Show: Shuffling through the Prospector's narrow entrance to catch the flurry of jittery post-punk generated by The Soft Hands (pictured), it's easy to forget that by day, this restaurant/weekend haunt is appreciated for their tender steaks rather than their rotating stable of rock bands. Of course, most people who showed up to "Zack's B-Day Show" on Saturday were only interested in savoring a satisfying lineup of Long Beach favorites.
Sharing the stage with the Victorians and Eugene and the 1914, the Soft Hands mesmerized beer-swilling local fans with tremulously intense tunes like "Numbers"and "Know Your Own." Crackling with spitfire enthusiasm fueled by Casey Stuht's insane, whirlwind drumming, vocalist/guitarist Matt Fry and bassist/vocalist Elizabeth Lindsey charged ahead with the speed of 7 Seconds and the melodic sensibilities of Husker Du, garnering some heavy praise at the end of a very eclectic night.
For show openers Eugene and the 1914, this Prospector gig was an ideal opportunity to sell a few copies of the Troubles EP, their long-awaited mini collection of delicate folk pop. Highlighted with shards of ambient ornamentation, each song features frontman Eugene Owens' restrained, smooth vocals that jump from Tom Petty to Nick Drake to M. Ward. Taking this opportunity to play newer, upbeat tracks like "Amalor" and "One Horse Man," it's easy to see that their sound gets louder as it expands. Judging by all the slow and somber energy generated by the bulk of there work, the decision to throw in some straight ahead rock & roll songs to get the party going proved a wise decision.
The Crowd: A typically eclectic Long Beach crowd of hipsters, scruffy bar room types and drunk people with birthday hats.
Overheard: "It's Zack's birthday? Alright, I love Zack! What's his last name again?"
Email to Friend
Write to Editor
Print Article
