The Lolligags/ The Apes, PopFest, 40 Watt, 8/15/08

The Apes

by Casey DeHoedt
08/19/2008

Heart-shaped spectacles, synthesized techno beats, and enough swagger to make the word “tude” popular again; the Lolligags took the stage at 40 Watt on Friday August 15th. A duo comprised of Dallion Lollihag and RG Lollifag, the two cheeked out tunes such as “Sister Lover” and “Best Behavior.”

Lollihag’s breathy declarations and pitched sighs present a nihilistic side of Cyndi Lauper. It suddenly became clear to me how women in rock had gone from Ronnie Spector to Gina X. Lollihag’s voice ebbs and flows during “Staircase Mystery” as the keys chime the most haunting hooks.

Midway through the set, the Lolligags caught their groove as candy peanuts were tossed to the crowd with an imperial shake of Lollihag’s head.

So, where were you for the Apes? Were you there? I didn’t see you there. You shoulda been there. Not at all dismayed by a smaller crowd, the Apes tore down the stage by good old fashioned hard-hitting-performance. This foursome from our nation’s capital has forced me into dark and undiscovered terrains of my musical lexicon.

Beginning with some pop catchiness, this was soon split by atonal agitations in their chord “progressions.” Vocalist Lucius Twilight – can we getting a standing ovation for that pseudonym? – loomed over the crowd as he shrilled and shrieked against the fuzzy bass range of keys and guitar. The clash of high and low ranges literally created an assault on both stomach and head as their music is a force into an altered plane of... Well, I haven’t quite figured that out yet.

And here’s the truth kids... Chatting it up with other viewers of the set, no one can really – I mean really – describe what had happened to them while the Apes quaked and quivered. I can’t say anything capturing or definitive about them, but no one can say enough good things about them either. Militant. Unique. Industrial? Black Flag-ey? Faith No More-ish? Proto-Rage Against the Machine-esque? All I know is that I’m dying to see this band in a dank club basement. And I venture to guess that they’ll hit it hard and fast once a genre is designed to catch up with them.

Man... Where were you for the Apes???

Technorati Tags

Popfest Athens Live Review Apes Lolligags

Comments [post a comment]

Twenty-Five Years Of Murmuring In Athens: Athens Bands Play R.E.M.'s Murmur

more popfest

more from casey dehoedt