Last Night: Cake at The Paramount
John McCrea working the crowd early in the show. McCrea's apple tree, center, killed the show. Photos by Joshua Lynch.
Cake
When: Sunday, May 11, 7:00 p.m.
Where: The Paramount Theatre
"Yes, Cake is still in existence!" screamed Cake front man John McCrea at last night’s show. But, sadly, these self-proclaimed "90s geek-rockers" have forgotten how to put on a good show.
After local band Throw Me the Statue opened with a short set (they explained they just found out they were going to play four days before the show), Cake left the show-goers to their drinking for more than 45 minutes. (Good thing they left the chairs in on the main floor so the throng of 30 and 40 year olds in attendance could give their bunions a rest.)
But once they started playing, Cake showed some remarkable life, with guitarist Xan McCurdy and trumpeter Vince DiFiore really going the distance. Yet McCrea ruined much of the band’s grooving rhythms with continual interruptions and jokes about Mother’s Day, awarding a red delicious apple tree to the mother with the most kids after a brutal 10 minute lack of music. "This mom obviously needs a carbon offset," McCrea joked while his supporting cast waited impatiently to play and young and old got belligerent in the audience.
Throw Me the Statue front man Scott Reitherman rocks just one of his instruments.
The best part of the show came post-encore when everyone on the main floor stayed on their feet, bringing energy fitting the "Rock ‘n’ Roll Lifestyle." Word of the wise to Cake: Keep the stand-up short, the show organized, and the seats clear of the main floor. Then geek-rock like mad.
Some of the cheapest "big-name" band merchandise I've seen in a while...
3 comment(s)
fro says:
What a bummer. I was pissed I could\'t scrape together the funds or the requisite buddies to go see the show but now, it looks like that $32 was better spent on gas. Let\'s hope McCrea can get his shit together the next time they\'re in town.
Posted On: Tuesday, May. 13 2008 @ 9:36AM
Claudia Johnson says:
I thought they were great. Whatever 19 year-old hipster they have writing for this weekly needs to get rid of their \"better-than-thou\" attitude and be able to recognize good music. They may not be the most humorous, but it\'s not their humor that fans are looking for. They want quality music and a good show. Cake did a great job putting on a consistently powerful performance and even the humor was enjoyable, though it may not be for everyone. This weekly has been disappointing with its music reviews. Judge bands for their music, not their personalities.
Posted On: Thursday, May. 15 2008 @ 6:04PM
Stephanie says:
Dear Claudia Johnson,
I believe that in your haste to disagree with that talented \"19 year-old hipster\" you forgot to interpret the actual point of the article itself.
Joshua does say that \"Cake showed some remarkable life\" after they decided to shut their mouths and actually played music. He also states that the best part of the entire show was towards the end when the washed up band brought \"energy fitting the \'Rock ‘n’ Roll Lifestyle\'.\"
The point being is that when people pay money to see a show, they expect a SHOW. You say to judge musicians by their music. If I was only into Cake for their music, I would pull up my iTunes and it would be a hell of a lot cheaper.
I\'m sorry you\'re upset by the review, but I\'m more sorry you feel like you have to defend a band like Cake.
Posted On: Friday, May. 16 2008 @ 7:28PM