Maudib

@ Broadway Studios

The Maud'dib show at the Broadway Studios was a goody bag: it was an eclectic showcase of local talent. The line-up consisted of four bands: Katy J, Red I, 35R, and Maud'dib. With the headlining band's bassist's birthday, the show was put together for their friends as a party favor; thus it simultaneously became a curious spectacle of a birthday party and good-time rock n' roll: the host/guest(performer/audience) roles were blurred amidst a "flash" venue, loud music, and a good mix of people. Each performer celebrated the birthday boy and attributed their independent spirit to the event. From an acoustic set to a galvanizing rock set, the five-hour show displayed all the curious antics of a party.

The Broadway Studios (435 Broadway) was the bag that held the evening together. It contained all the "goods" to satisfy the attendee: aesthetics and atmosphere. As one climbed the stairs leading into the venue, one entered a pseudo tiki-lounge that led into the dance hall. Primarily a swing-venue, the spacious dance-floor was crowned by a velvet-draped stage and bejeweled by a disco ball. With a second floor edging over the dance-floor, one could either lounge at the candle-lit tables above the action or shake it on the dance-floor without missing a thing. Like a good friend, the place conjured a lasting feeling of warmth and familiarity.

The two opening acts seduced the audience into participating with and without their direct touch. Katy J began the night with an acoustic set. As she took the stage, the singer mirthfully announced that this was "a campfire set"; she beckoned the audience to come closer. Katy played a mixture of originals and covers. Her gutsy Chrissie Hynde-like voice pushed one to bend over and attentively listen, particularly with a terrific version of Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing". As she departed from the stage, she said," OK, let's rock n' roll".

Building upon the tempo, Red I played a lively reggae set. Dressed in Hawaiian T-shirts, the six-person ensemble played a swinging swagger of Caribbean sounds, raising people from their seats to dance. Intertwining calls of commemorating life and "reggae maxims" of solidarity and liberty, he pushed for cheers for the birthday honoree and "freedom of speech". Katy J and the RedIs prepared the crowd for what was to come. 35R hit the stage with an explosion. With a crack of a drum, two guys in red "prison-suits" jumped on stage with cowboy hats and a flair for the eccentric. Their music was a conglomeration of various styles: funk, punk, and Texas-boogie; they were an eerie combination of Primus, the Butthole Surfers, and Carl Perkins. With a song called "Spread Cheeky", they got the audience to participate with a small chant of the song's title. Their excitement pushed the crowd into frenzy: bodies were thrown into voluntary convulsions and meditative moshing. They finished off their set with a blistering version of Rage Against The Machine's "Killing in the Name".

As in a party, it was the moment of near climax where everything fits into its right place and someone screams: "Rock N' Roll" or "Viva La Rock!". The climatic point arrived as Maud'dib took the stage. In this set, the crowd participated with their ears. Taking their name from "Dune", their music was introspective and vibrant. The three-piece band was very tight. Their music was an edgier Grant Lee Buffalo. As their set moved on, their playful nature came out in rhythmically pulsating bouts which pushed the listener on. As much as 35R was raucous, Maud'dib was methodical. Special guest "Jar-Jar Binks" came out to play a tune with the band and, in typical rock fashion, met his doom beneath stomping feet and then was jettisoned into the crowd. The headliners left the crowd wanting more. The show ended with an impromptu jam with most the performers of the night and two rappers. They launched into a James Brown-esque boogie that satiated everyone's needs. A good party is unusual: it finds people congratulating themselves for a good time as well as the host for providing the festivity. The Maud'dib show at the Broadway Studios culminated into a loss of individual identity and a beginning of a new collective one. At two a.m., the bouncers pushed the bands and audience into the street. People lingered unwilling to lose the kinship developed: Rock n' roll, baby, rock n'roll!!!

For schedule of events at Broadway Studios: 415 291 0777/ www.citysearch7.com/www.sidewalk.com

35R is on Continuum Records: Hotline: 455 7109 www.35R.com

Upcoming Gigs: Aug.13, 1999: Peris in Fairfield Aug. 27, 1999 Fourth St. Tavern in San Rafael

Maud'dib: Upcoming gigs: Aug.12, 1999: Sweetwater in Mill Valley Aug.21, 1999 Lost and Found, San Francisco

Jason Nielsen

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