Centro-matic w/ the Deathray Davies @ Boland Plaza and Hi-Pointe 9/7/01

Centro-matic played two very different shows in the St. Louis area on Friday, although the banner behind the stage mysteriously remained the same.

Lead singer Will Johnson echoed the banner’s message by exclaiming, “all styles of karate are welcome tonight,” before opening their late-night set at the Hi-Pointe with a beautiful version of “Love You Just the Same.”

Centro-matic is a karate kick of indie rock `n’ roll, and they graced the St. Louis area with two shows of unforgettable music. The band is on tour to support its amazing new record, Distance and Climb, and made an afternoon stop in Boland Plaza, located in the quad area of Saint Louis University.

Centro-matic played at KSLU’s food-drive benefit last year, blowing the Old 97’s off the stage at the Firehouse. Those who took note of that great opening set were delighted to have them back at Saint Louis University.

A small, polite crowd showed up to watch the band play songs from their six-album catalogue, including a fantastic version of “To Unleash the Horses Now,” which is the best song off their new album.

Strong winds blew through the quad during a rocking “Hoist Up the Popular Ones,” from their Redo the Stacks debut and a solid “Biology Tricks.”

The SLU show was a nice hour-long warm-up for the scorcher that was going to unfold at the Hi-Pointe-but it was very puzzling. You have to wonder what most of the student body was doing as Centro-matic was playing an accessible, free show on campus.

The kids certainly don’t know what they were missing, as Centro-matic is proving to be one of the most reliable and vital bands in the cluttered and monotonous indie rock scene.

It was a great afternoon of music, for those who caught it.

At the Hi-Pointe that night, the band was on fire. They played a number of the same songs from the afternoon show, but they sound even better.

“To Unleash the Horses Now” was more commanding while “Flashes and Cables” and “Strategy Room” were brilliant. “Fidgeting Wildly” and “Innocence Kindly Waits” turned out to be the highlights of the gig, which justly drew a sizable crowd.

Centro-matic is certainly one of the most vital touring acts around today. Their live show can be grouped with those of Bob Dylan, Oasis, the Black Crowes and Outkast-they get better every time you see them. Centro-matic’s charm is undeniable..

The Deathray Davies, led by John Dufhilo, opened both shows during the day and showcased songs from their latest album, The Return of the Drunk Ventriloquist.

At times, the Davies can go from sounding like a muscled-up Fountains of Wayne before changing to sixties-influenced power-pop.

“All the best records are misunderstood,” sang Dufhilo during a great version of “Jack Never Crashes.” They are a good band definitely worth keeping an eye on.

A few lucky fans were able to catch both shows on Friday, as the bands pulled double duty in two great showcases of indie rock.

Centro-matic proved that they are the black belts of the Saint Louis University concert scene and literally took that banner with them to their unforgettable show at the Hi-Pointe.

Ozomatli @ the Pageant 9/6/01

Ozomatli begins and ends their shows with a samba line where they bang on cowbells, play horns and blow whistles as they march through the audience.

When a gig goes particularly well, the crowd follows the band outside of the venue where they continue to play as long as anyone will stay and listen.

It’s hard to find a band that loves their music as much as Ozomatli. They wear their hearts on their sleeves while performing and that is what makes them so great.

Ozomatli are a 10-piece outfit from Los Angeles who play a funky combination of hip-hop, jazz, rock, and Latin salsa. Their songs, sung in Spanish and rapped in English, contain subtle-yet-pertinent political messages. Appropriately, they are named after the Aztec god of dance.

On Thursday night, the band came to the Pageant and turned it into a big party. It seemed more like a celebration than a concert, as everyone latched onto one of the band’s many grooves, and rode it out until the end of the show. The music, heavy on horns, turntables, and percussion, was incredibly infectious and ultimately irresistible.

Ozomatli will release Embrace the Chaos later this month, and the set concentrated on that. Although most of the audience was getting a first taste of songs like “Dos Cosas Ciertas” and “Suenos En Realidad,” they generated frenzied responses. It really didn’t matter what they played, as long as everyone could dance to it.

The band is at its best on songs like “1,2,3,4” and “Super Bowl Sundae,” when Chali 2na takes the mic and bandleader Jiro Yamaguchi commands the bongo drums. 2na, who is also known for work with Jurassic 5, has a liberating vocal delivery, reminiscent of Dilated Peoples or Black Eyed Peas.

The set-closing duo of “Como Ves” and “Ranch” led into the traditional samba line as the audience on the floor parted to make way for the band. Ozomatli its acoustic jam toward the right side of the Pageant’s lobby, where most in attendance followed.

At first it was a thrilling sight as band, audience, security guards, and Pageant employees were gathered in jubilant celebration.

They delivered a memorable and effective extravaganza.