July 11, 2006
Georgie James & Camera Obscura @ Black Cat
Written by DCist contributor Ian Buckwalter
D.C. music fans still lamenting the loss last fall of Q and not U had two reasons to celebrate last night. Not only was Georgie James, Q drummer John Davis' new project with Laura Burhenn, playing yet another DC-area show, but they were playing with Scottish twee darlings Camera Obscura, who are so good at doing the "Belle and Sebastian thing" that it's quite possible they may do it a little better than B&S themselves sometimes.
As Georgie James took the stage, a line of people still waiting to get into the Black Cat extended halfway down the block. The story has been much the same elsewhere. The two bands have just started a tour that will take them all the way from Boston to Portland and back again. In Boston and New York, not a stray ticket could be found.
And with good reason. Georgie James' live shows have been getting better and better since the band started playing out earlier this year, and the excited crowds at their shows already seem primed to break out in impromptu sing alongs, even though the band hasn't even released a proper record yet. They're just that catchy. And more than that, they seem to have a lot of fun up there, which is transferred to their audiences and magnified the more people come out to each show. All the live gigs they've been playing have paid off. Even with a new touring drummer last night, (Cale Parks filling in for Andew Black), the band was extremely tight, and John and Laura's sweet harmonies, along with Adam Robinson's enthusiastic bass, had to put a smile on even the most dour hipster's face.
Camera Obscura refused to be upstaged. The two bands are extremely well suited to touring together, as Camera's twee pop with the occasional country flourish goes down even more sweetly than it already would with Georgie James as a lead-in. It's quite possible that Camera could even get by on singer Tracyanne Campbell's charms alone, but that might start to wear thin after a while. Luckily, her voice is not all they have going for them, and they were as appreciative of the large crowd as the crowd was of them.
Most fans in the room seemed fairly new to the band, but still enthusiastic. Camera Obscura's latest record has continued the critical-darling trend of their last, and this time around they're adding a significant amount of satellite radio airplay to the mix. Tracyanne asked at one point who had their first record, as it turns out the cover model was at the show, and was met with slightly embarrassed silence. The band just smiled and continued on. By the time they reached the much-clamored for encore, they were leading the assembly in waltzes in the crowded room, rhythmically complex hand-clapping, and shy twee smiles that would have made Calvin Johnson proud.
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tracyanne looked sleepy.
I thought Georgie James sucked, I'm sorry.
Camera Obscura were amazinggg!
Wait, which club was this?
I just don't understand the appeal of Georgie James. I think they're average at best (but I was still umimpressed). The only thing they have going for them is how easy Laura is on the eyes.
I have to agree with Joe. Please don't hype a band that sucked because you think they are cool. The band was boring and not a unique element was to be heard.
I was unfamilar with both bands before the evening. Camera Obscura is an amazing band for a number of reasons from composition to performance.
Oh, now I look stupid. Thanks.
so since you don't like them, suddenly anyone who says they like them publicly is just trying to score hip-points? somebody's taking a long ride on the ego train.
i wonder if maybe, just maybe, it might be possible that there are some people with different aesthetic sensibilities than you who actually like the band for the band, and not as some kind of pose?
or is that not possible since it's not an option in your world?
and hey, i thought camera obscura was pretty cool, but i wouldn't by any stretch call them "unique". and who says everybody has to break new ground anyhow?
How many show reviews a year does Georgie James get?
And no, those of us lamenting the breakup of Q & Not U are not at all thrilled with a band doing late-70s-esque pop numbers. Perhaps you should go back and listen to "No Kill No Beep Beep."
And um... Laura Burhenn looks skinny and strung out. Somebody feed her a Luther and give her the itis, you know what I'm saying?
Why does everyone have to be so mellow these days?
I know a number of people who don't like Georgie James. I think it stems from the inability of their cold, black hearts to let the love shine in and make their butts jiggle to the beat. It always makes me think of that Simpsons episode where Bart sells his soul to Milhouse, and then he can't laugh because laughter is the language of the soul (according to Pablo Neruda).
ladi dadi, you are quite an asshole.
Wow, the quality of comments on this site is really decreasing.
Name calling? Check
"___ sucks"? Check
Personal attacks? Check
Is anybody from DCist paying attention to this string? Guys?
I'm with Gabe Frylock on this. In my experience, the subset of people who don't like Georgie James are identical to the subset of people who need to be pushed out to sea on an ice floe and forgotten about. Having duly prepped their arms for "maximum folding" by attending area concerts, they'll no doubt stay warm until they make landfall in Greenland.
One of these days, Georgie James will play Fort Reno, and on that day, history will record the first ever incidence of a Fort Reno concertgoer experiencing a moment in which they do not take themselves and/or their lifestyle so deadly effing seriously.
Presumably, that moment will be followed by dogs fornicating with cats and the moon colliding with the sun.
"I think it stems from the inability of their cold, black hearts to let the love shine in and make their butts jiggle to the beat."
Or it could be that their giant craniums are impenetrable to giant sappy pieces of superficial dookie. Or perhaps they just demand something a little more from their pop music than butt jiggling.
Anon--who posts comments on this board who isn't an asshole? Please, leave your obvious observations at home.
Wow, DCist Jason. It took me a few reads but I realize what you are saying... because people don't like a band that you have decided is cool they deserve to be put on an ice floe and forgotten about.
Hmm... Let me see, there was nothing original, unique, compelling or entertaining about Georgie James. The female vocalist has a weak imitation of Beth Orton voice and the guy can't sing. The lyrics are not unique, too many of the songs have the same theme and pattern.
We always welcome your opinions here, but please keep our comment policy in mind and curb the personal attacks.
Yes, please, pardon us Jason, for not enjoying the fluff that fills you with such glee. Hey, I hear that new Adam Sandler movie is HI-larious! Did you see the part where the kid gets hit in the nose with the baseball?
Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go take myself really effing seriously. Arms crossed? Check. Scowl on? Check. All right, time to put on some Godspeed You! Black Emperor.
Like I said: Prepare those arms for MAXIMUM FOLDING!!
Cap'n, I just can't fold them anymore! She can't bend any further!
Consider this comment my notice of copyright on "Rob Goodspeed You! Black Emperor," whether for merchandise, Halloween costume ideas, or future film rights.
First thing - I think Georgie James benefits from their associations with Q and Not U in terms of fan. I am part of that group. Because I was so excited about that band's creativity and excitement, I was naturally excited about Georgie James and Ris Paul Ric. Even more intriguing than particular songs was how their music hung together and evolved, which follows in my third and fourth points.
Second thing - they have a history in this town. People, inlcuding myself, like that.
Third thing - they are veteran musicians doing something new and ambitious. They have a lot of tools on their belt and they are applying it to something outside their normal range. That process has so far been interesting.
Fourth thing - despite being veterans, they are a new band with a new sound. They have not released an official EP or LP yet and for that reason alone, it's sort of early to say they suck and there is nothing original about them. Could anyone have predicted "Power" by listening to "No Kill No Beep Beep?"
Commenting boards have a way of tending toward radical subjectivity because of the disconnect from people. Confrontational arguments are much less vicious in person because our dimensions of communication, including the empathy of simply looking at someone's face or hearing their voice, allow us to be more precise. Also we exercise more control in front of people who can see us, quite possibly just so they don't get angry and hit us. So much for the interdependent internet communities of the future....
Oh no! Be careful. It's hard enough trying to clean up ONE broken social scene!
First thing - I think Georgie James benefits from their associations with Q and Not U in terms of fan. I am part of that group. Because I was so excited about that band's creativity and excitement, I was naturally excited about Georgie James and Ris Paul Ric. Even more intriguing than particular songs was how their music hung together and evolved, which follows in my third and fourth points.
Second thing - they have a history in this town. People, inlcuding myself, like that.
Third thing - they are veteran musicians doing something new and ambitious. They have a lot of tools on their belt and they are applying it to something outside their normal range. That process has so far been interesting.
Fourth thing - despite being veterans, they are a new band with a new sound. They have not released an official EP or LP yet and for that reason alone, it's sort of early to say they suck and there is nothing original about them. Could anyone have predicted "Power" by listening to "No Kill No Beep Beep?"
Commenting boards have a way of tending toward radical subjectivity because of the disconnect from people. Confrontational arguments are much less vicious in person because our dimensions of communication, including the empathy of simply looking at someone's face or hearing their voice, allow us to be more precise. Also we exercise more control in front of people who can see us, quite possibly just so they don't get angry and hit us. So much for the interdependent internet communities of the future....
Go ahead Kriston, we copyrighted "Goodspeed You! Blog Emperor" many moons ago.
Gleefully beating Jason to the punch: Kriston, you magnificent bastard.
Wow, Jacques, you astound me so with your music reviews, but your comments... You're like a modern-day, indie-music Aristophanes! Will you be my teacher? You can call me grasshopper.
Seriously, are you in a sociology class and wanted to share the wisdom you learned about internet communication at last week's lecture? "So much for the interdependent internet communities of the future...." -- what the hell is that supposed to mean? Mutually connected Internet societies? What does that have to do with Georgie James or the fact that extremist language is normally used in comments on messenging boards?
Georgie James is not doing anything new--it's rehash of late-70s-pop with kinda lazy vocals thrown on top. Shit's pretty trendy right now.
But they're not bad at what they do--the album is perfectly fine. My original comment was "How many show reviews does Georgie James get on DCist?" (or a variation for the annoyingly meticulous) because it feels like all I ever read about is Georgie James, Georgie James, Georgie James on DCist (and in the coverage of the music scene as well). I don't understand the big deal, but they're music doesn't affect me like soma, as it seems to work on DCist Jason.
So... I didn't see any extreme language in there... Until the Georgie James Lovers (GJLs) came in and started calling us that disagree blackhearted and deserving to be put on ice floes to nowhere.
THEY STARTED IT! THEY STARTED IT! Boo hoo... I'm totally crying to my mommy...
What does this teach us? Georgie James Lovers are nothing but a bunch of big ol' meanies.
Georgie James doesn't have an album out. Not even an EP.
They have a demo.
Rob Goodspeed is the black emperor of my heart. Lift your skinny fists like antenna to Ann Arbor.
Seeing Georgie James live is so underwhelming and quite honestly, just boring. They're not doing anything new and no one would give a damn if the fat one hadn't been in Q and Not U. No, they haven't officially released anything yet, but what does that matter? The live show is what sets you apart these days. Not how great you sound when your tracks are overly produced and the timing of the hand claps is perfect.
I dig music....
IM ON DRUGS!!!
Kids, let's not get so serious. Everyone has opinions. Some have stronger ones than others. Some like to make fun of others' opinions. It is fun to have an opinion AND to mock the opinions of others.
And remember, this is a comments section that will continue for the forseeable future - you are NOT going to get the last word, and there is always someone more witty and eloquent than you.
At the risk of being branded as "in the tank" for Georgie James, who are just one of many delightful DC bands, I'd like to point out that they're not mindless pop, they're pretty sharp pop. Far from "superficial dookie," I think some of their songs carry quite sophisticated emotional and psychological themes. Now, I suppose you could contend (and already sort of have) that I only think that's the case because I'm hopelessly emotionally and psychological stunted and wouldn't recognize a piercingly witty Fieldsian observation of the vagaries of the human condition capable of upending centuries of human social philosophy if it hit me square in the groin, not to mention the garden variety pithy statements that dot the "clever pop" landscape like so many rhododendrons, but I can assure you without a trace of a doubt that that's not only a completely unwinnable argument, but eminently loseable from your side.
So on to why they're likeable? A pretty subjective area, but as for me, I was a fan of Laura Burhenn's work but always thought her palette was a little limited, she's a real solid songwriter but seemed to sort of confine herself to darker textures. Working with someone else, especially someone who forces her into lighter, bouncier territory, led her to really blossom as an artist, and the juxtaposition of her hazy, twilit lyrical style with Davis' upbeat, tambourine-toting jangle is really engaging. And as for the "70's pop" catchphrase that keeps recurring in both positive and negative reviews of the band: they don't sound like the Eagles, or Fleetwood Mac, or any of that crowd, because Georgie James, like all those bands, has a distinct personality, untaintable by indie-rock algebra (a + b - c^d = band) and like any personality, it appeals to some and not to others. It seems to me, though, that those who like them like them for the right reasons (e.g. emotional resonance, honest musical appreciation), and those that dislike them do so for the wrong reasons (i.e. kneejerk iconoclasm, subcultural elitism, and/or other amusical concerns). So while it would be fun to add the pro/anti GJ factions to Martin's list of DC-area feuds, this is sort of like the pro/anti Ben's Chili Bowl argument, which only serves to identify the mentally ill.
To summarize, yes I realize that it's sparklingly cool to be sooo over the popular bands before the first proper album is even out, but in this case the hype is justified, so don't waste your disdain on someone so undeserving, especially in a forum where that particular trope is done to death.
did no one else think she looked sort of tired?
did no one else think she looked sort of tired?
No one should listen to Gabe because I heard he listens to Gnarls Barkley.
In my opinion, DCist should spend some time reviewing a wider variety of local bands rather than posting a review everytime Georgie James has a show. Let them evolve a bit and we'll see what happens. There are plenty of good local acts that never get mentioned on this site.
Paul, I encourage you to delve through our "Three Stars" feature, which covers a wide and widening variety of local musicmakers that has already significantly dwarfed the two concert reviews we've done of Georgie James. And, as always, if some band is brewing up something in a backyard near you, it always pays to tip your editor.
There are wrong reasons to dislike a band's music? Why thank you for informing us! All this time I have been wrong, but Fry made me see the light! How could I have lived so long as such a bad person?
It always amazes me how people who use the biggest words tend to say the least.
Oh, I kid, I kid--still your post makes it sound like if someone doesn't like Georgie James, they don't know how to appreciate music, which is an arrogant and idiotic statement. Reminds me of something I once heard my 10-year-old cousin say about the Spice Girls. While I'm sure you're joking, liking Georgie James is a silly thing to be elitist about. It would be like considering yourself better than others because you have an original Optimus Prime toy.
It only SOUNDS that way, though--I know you're trying to eat your cake and have it too. I'll just have you know iconoclasm, elitism, and amusical concerns have nothing to do with me finding Georgie James' rhythms dull, their melodies underwhelming, and their lyrics I could catch trite.
Now I'm going to jump into my VW Golf, blast some Slint, and drive with my knees. Why no hands? BECAUSE MY ARMS ARE PERMANENTLY FOLDED ACROSS MY CHEST.
Oh yeah, Paul? Well how about we settle this man to man? I'll meet you at 24139 Gum Springs Rd, Sterling, VA this very Thursday at 7 or 8 at night. We'll each bring a musical instrument as a weapon and we'll hash this out properly. Three touring ska/punk bands will officiate. Loser walks home, listening to a mixtape of the winner's choice.
Also, "Local band plays handful of shows, gets picked up on national tour by cool Scots, makes name for self" is a pretty good story, the kind of thing that more folks would complain about if it WEREN'T covered, I would think. If they can make a big fuss about Army of Mediocrity, I think DCist can certainly spare the column inches for a band that ISN'T professionally packaged background noise. The answer to the "wider coverage" problem is the same as it ever was: "Don't See It? Write It Yourself."
Paul, I encourage you to delve through our "Three Stars" feature, which covers a wide and ever-widening variety of local musicmakers that has already significantly dwarfed the two concert reviews we've done of Georgie James. And, as always, if some band is brewing up something in a backyard near you, it always pays to tip your editor.
What he said.
Paul, I encourage you to delve through our "Three Stars" feature, which covers a wide and ever-widening variety of local musicmakers that has already significantly dwarfed the two concert reviews we've done of Georgie James. And, as always, if some band is brewing up something in a backyard near you, it always pays to tip your editor.
And how come no one has commented about anything the Post said about the show?
They give quite the opposite reaction to Camera Obscura. Was the lead singer's voice really that low in volume?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/10/AR2006071001106.html
Paul, I encourage you to delve through our "Three Stars" feature, which covers a wide and widening variety of local musicmakers that has already significantly dwarfed the two concert reviews we've done of Georgie James. And, as always, if some band is brewing up something in a backyard near you, it always pays to tip your editor.
Okay. I officially suck at this new commenting engine. Apologies to everyone for ganking the thread the three extra times.
DCist has featured Georgie James three times this year. You can argue if you want whether that's too many, or too little, but I thought that it would a good idea to see how often it's happened - in reality - rather than just saying DCist posts a review "every time" the band plays a show.
Though I have to admit, I expected a much higher number. I think people are getting the idea that Georgie James is so hyped by DCist (and I did) because of the constant show announcements, brought on in part by Unbuckled. By now, people that know them and like them will find out when they're playing. So maybe cut back on the show announcements and find readers (those too lazy to look for themselves) some alternatives? I don't know.
I personally think Georgie James, while not necessarily blowing ass, is a pretty lame band that doesn't bring anything interesting, exciting or groundbreaking to the table. But that's my opinion based on my own taste buds. But to be honest, I'd much rather skip over a Georgie James article (you know, you can do that) than even see one about lame-ass locals Army of Me.
Is there a quick link to the three stars feature? It's probably right in front of my face, but whatever.
I must admit, I haven't been a part of the DCist community for that long, but Georgie James does seem to get a hell of a lot of press here.... but you know what, good for them. Maybe they'll help channel more attention to the local DC music scene.
Oh, and Gabe you're on. I'll bring my spoons.
Don't fret Jason, the growing pains from our server switch continue to baffle us all.
Regarding coverage of Georgie James, it's always exciting to see local bands do well. We do tend to feature acts that we're fond of, and GJ falls into that category. But we also make a very concerted effort to make well rounded suggestions.
As always, if there are acts you feel need some more attention, let us know. We love a good tip.
does DCist like everything?
In all seriousness, how many poor reviews have ever been given out by the DCist when it comes to local music? Maybe I just don't read this enough, but my perception of the music reviews here are that there are many contributors who work on their own perogative, not on assignment. Then they submit reviews when they feel like it. This seems like a recipe for blanket DCist approval, because people write when they have a positive reaction to something and want to talk about it, and then DCist prints it because its good to have more content.
But in reality, is there really any objective criticism or critique happening here? Does DCist really have a voice, or is it just contributors who happen to write when they have a strong reaction to something? Is a review really a review, or is it a blank check for contributor music endorsements?
does DCist like everything?
This article, for example, seems to be written by somebody I've never read anything by on DCist - why is his voice valuable? Why should I read his review or trust what he thinks?
In all seriousness, how many poor reviews have ever been given out by the DCist when it comes to local music? Maybe I just don't read enough on DCist, but my perception of the music reviews here are that there are many contributors who work on their own perogative, not on assignment. Then they submit reviews when they feel like it. This seems like a recipe for blanket DCist approval, because people write when they have a positive reaction to something and want to talk about it, and then DCist prints it because its good to have more content.
But in reality, is there really any objective criticism or critique happening here? Does DCist really have a voice, or is it just contributors who happen to write when they have a strong reaction to something?