Evangelicals Spread Their Good Message to Brooklyn
It was Friday night and Headlights had just played a good set at Union Hall. Afterwards, I had managed to squeeze up front while Oklahomas Evangelicals were setting up. Being a short photographer at packed shows can be incredibly difficult, especially now that everyone and their mother is a photographer. I felt lucky to have managed a good spot to shoot from, but while Evangelicals continued to struggle to get one of their lights to work, a pair of drunk idiots pushed up to the front, right next to me. The one asshole managed to somehow maneuver to be partially in front of me. Evangelicals finally gave up on the problematic light and decided to play. Right as they were launching into their set, the asshole next to me turned to me and told me that Headlights are better. Im not exactly sure what he meant by that, but I did notice him dancing like a maniac while they played earlier.
As the young band started sloppily, not seeming to have a tight grasp on their material, the asshole stood there with phone in hand, text messaging away. After pushing his way to the front he seemed to have little interest in what was in front of him. Theres probably nothing more disengaging to a band than having someone right up front more interested in text messaging than watching you play.
That didnt last long though. Quickly the songs started hitting with more impact, living up to the brilliance of their recent sophomore release The Evening Descends. The cell phone finally returned to a pocket, and the asshole danced like a crazed maniac, seeming to have no concept of anything around him. He surely was totally fucked up on what was most likely more than just alcohol. While I battled versus the tough black lighting, looking for a good shot, I had to keep up my guard to avoid the assholes swinging arms, which often came within inches of taking off my head. This was not one of the hardcore shows of my youth, but I was probably just as likely to receive a black eye. Others watched on in amusement, as he remained nearly as entertaining as the band, always wondering if and when he would totally collapse into the keyboard in front of him. If never happened.
Competing with that sort of unscripted amusement was challenging, but lead singer Josh Jones managed to have enough stage presence to maintain focus on the band. The further into the set they got, the better they got, climaxing on the final song Skeleton Man. The lighting and fog that the band brought for their tour proved to be a smart move, adding an extra element and mood to their performance.
By the end of the year, this weird young glammy Flaming Lips-inspired band will be the one everyone is talking about.
Photo by [Jonny-Leather]