It's been a few slow days for blogging 'round here (what could I possibly show you that Brit-Brit already hasn't?) so I let our rockin' intern Miles Clements do a little work while I took a four hour lunch. Let's read what he has to write:
There needs to be more bands willing to crank out good ol' fashioned rock N roll. Almost every Orange County band I've come across recently sounds like its gunning for a spot on The O.C. soundtrack, for some imagined scene where a pair of young lovers first spot each other at a party and share a delicate kiss on the balcony. Ugh. (Note to said bands: Stop. Please.)
Thankfully, there's the Henry Clay People, a group of young lads (read: my age) [Editor's note: he's 21!] who crank out concise and catchy rock songs. The band says that they pull from the Replacements, Pavement and Neil Young. All good references, especially since I can hear a dash of each of those. But there's one influence that the band neglects to mention: Conor Oberst. Vocalist Joey Siara more than echoes the slurred lisp of Oberst, and while it's a little over-the-top, a bit brash and even polarizing, it'll elicit a reaction at the very least.
Like all good rock bands, the Henry Clay People are best seen live. Whether they're accompanied by a PowerPoint presentation in a university lecture hall or donning some ridiculous Halloween costumes, rest assured that there'll be lots of energy and youth. And there's no substitute for that. [Sad, but true.]
As an added treat, this weekend you can discover what happens when you throw them into the mix with a few beers and some bowling!
Henry Clay People play the Eagle Rock Sunday Night Bowling and Drinking Club, 4459 Eagle Rock Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90041. Sun., Dec. 3, 8 p.m. $5. 21+.
