11 August 2006

Lovehammers in Concert


I was lucky enough to get a ticket to Tuesday night's sold out Lovehammers concert at the Canal Room in New York City. Those boys get better and better every time I see them. Marty Casey has become the definition of a riveting front man. I first laid eyes on Marty during last season's Rock Star: INXS show. In the first episodes, Marty was a spastic Gumby who spent much of his time screaming lyrics at me through my television. By the end of the 11-week audition process, he had become a controlled and powerful performer. I never thought he was "roit for ah bend INXS", but I thought he was a talented singer and I fell in love with his band the Lovehammers long before the season ended.

Unlike a lot of my friends who are Lovehammer fans, I've never really lusted over Marty. I have a history of ambivalence when it comes to lead singers. Bass players and drummers have long been the objects of my rock star crushes. At concerts past, I've spent much of my time peering around Marty, wanting him to quit blocking my view of Bobby behind the drum kit. So, needless to say, I was quite surprised to find myself unable to take my eyes off of Marty on Tuesday night.

From the first sway of the Mad Conductor's arms, I was mesmerized. Only when Marty escaped my immediate line of sight, did I finally manage a few quick peaks at either of the Kourelis brothers or Billy. When I finally caught a few glimpses, I found Bobby as adorable as ever and wailing away on the drums. Dino, on bass, looked perpetually amused and was doing his damnedest not to laugh outright at us while we all sang along to Trees at the top of our lungs. (Apparently, Dino finds it amusing as I do that "the forest will give us the answers"). However, the night belonged to the shaggy haired blonde. Whether he was climbing on the bar to belt out a tune or standing almost
motionless during the cover of "Wish You Were Here", he cast a spell over the enraptured audience that didn't break until well after the the last notes of Our Town faded away and the boys slipped from the stage for the night.

As I sipped my Cosmo afterward, I remarked to my friend that I had a feeling this would be one of the very last times we'd be lucky enough to see the Lovehammers in concert for $15. There's no doubt that these very talented guys are destined for bigger venues and even greater success. Thank God he wasn't "roit".









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