Cats and Cobras, NBT 1.15.09

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Cats and Cobras was setting up, and I didn’t know what to think. As guitars were tuned and amps were warmed, a Taylor Swift t-shirt was ritually draped across the wedge monitor at center stage. Perhaps a tribute to the teen queen of the country scene? Hardly. The shirt, and any reference to tween-pop, disappeared shortly after the music began. Seth (vocalist) bid it farewell with middle finger raised. This is Cats and Cobras.

"But just when you thought New Wave was back, he was back on the guitar, with a tone so harsh it sounded like it was coming through cheap AM radio speakers.”

This dude flips everyone off. He flipped his fans off. He shot the bird to Splattered Inc’s photographer. He even kept a middle finger raised as he held the microphone, keeping a cigarette pinched between his fingers. And yet for some reason it was endearing. A smile never crossed his face, but somehow Seth was amusing, even charismatic. By the way, is there some kind of love/hate relationship with this band and their "fans?" At one point I saw someone throw a drink or something on stage while the guys were playing. I don't think they even noticed though, which was pretty funny.

I would compare this band most closely to The Killers, without the glam makeup, doing a remake of Nirvana’s “In Utero.” Dancey, melodic songs interspersed with bouts of raucous, abrasive screaming. A good example was “That’s What She Said”, the set’s penultimate track. One guitar player grabbed a keyboard and dialed up a synth sound for a short introduction, then carried on a melody as the band kicked in a danceable backbeat. But just when you thought New Wave was back, he was back on the guitar, with a tone so harsh it sounded like it was coming through cheap AM radio speakers.

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The band had a somewhat muted stage presence throughout most of the set, but kicked the energy up a notch for the finisher, "Strip Pole." Guitarist Chase actually got a little too energetic earlier in the set. He jumped on top of a box during "X Ray" and thrashed wildly on his Telecaster, alas breaking a string after a few seconds. He wasn't too concerned when I asked him about it after the show though: "Aw that's nothing," he said. "My fingers used to bleed from playing so hard. At least I've built up calluses now." The drummer (sorry, didn't get everyone's name) remained pretty animated throughout the set, and exhibited what I always consider the mark of a good drummer -- he made it look effortless, bobbing up and down with the music and singing along on choruses.

What else do I need to add about this band? Guitarist Brad looks like Cameron from Ferris Bueller's day off. I think these guys should work up the dance-punk version of "Twist and Shout" and we could all skip school to go to their show.

Cameron from 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off'

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Setlist:
Let’s Go
Joey Boy
X Ray
Muse
Snow
Elephant
20 Something
That’s What She Said
Strip Pole

For More Info, visit: myspace.com/catsandcobras