The B52s
The Independent
Notes, Photos and Video by Janine Kahn
May 9, 2008
Better Than: Watching trippy B52s YouTube clips. These guys will blow you away live!
Stream: The "Private Idaho" video clip I have for you under the fold!
"Rock Lobstah! Down Dowwwwn!" sing-says Fred Schneider in that voice I've heard over the radio waves since childhood, and the some-150 people packed tightly together by the front of the Independent's tiny stage slowly melt to the ground, crouching low as the band does the same onstage - before popping up with a cheer and some otherworldly dance moves. It's 11:30pm on Friday night and the B52s are on their third and final encore song, their energy as wild and wacky as it was when their set started nearly two hours and 16 songs ago.
The B's are in their late 50s, but geez they look good, and they still can bring the house to its collective knees - easily owning every Baby Boomer, kid and fluffy leg warmer-wearing cougar from the get-go with an opening number from their new album ("Funplex") called "Pump." The song bleeds with the snazzy sexual energy the B52's have built a name on, and catchy as sin with lyrics like:
"I look at you and I’m ready to pump
Luminous heartthrob ready to jump
Mama’s dancin’ with jellybone
You better watch out
Take you to the freak zone. . ."
After giving the room a sliver of their newbie tracks, the group dove into their hit collection with "Mesopotamia" and "Private Idaho." The crowd dug it and a wild dance party ensued. Here's a small taste, via our sneaky point-and-shoot:
Deciding I'd had enough of being elbowed and danced upon by the stage-side crowd, I made my way back to my companion, who stood on a bench by the room's right corner. But the party was everywhere, and one polka-dotted dancer spilled beer on my sweater as she gyrated to "Party Out Of Bounds." Some folks partied a little too hard, and one amazingly wasted woman sat holding her head in her hands as her partner asked her over and over if she was all right. In the end, he carried her out of the venue. The smell of weed was everywhere, but the club's security was more concerned with stopping people from taking pictures than figuring out which people were lighting up where.
The B's neatly segued from "Roam" to "Funplex" (another fun newbie) and wrapped the set up with "Love Shack." Then they made a quick exit, leaving the room to chant their devotion for 5 minutes till they came back with "Planet Claire," "Love in the Year 3000," and everyone's favorite lobster song. Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson were kooky cool with the sea animal sounds and Schneider was his silly self, waving the audience off for real with a tongue-in-cheek "Tell your friends about us!"
Personal Bias: When going to a sold-out B52s show with a media pass and spare ticket, it is your duty to bring the biggest fan you know. So I brought my godfather, who introduced me to the band when I was in diapers and we rocked out to "Private Idaho" in his car before walking to the venue.
Random Detail: Schneider's shining shimmering ear piece was almost as quirky as the rest of him.
By the Way: Your next chance to catch the B52s in the Bay Area is June 29 in Berkeley.
The Independent was arguably the best west coast show. I've never been in a venue that small! If you were there, consider yourself extremely lucky. If you weren't there but could have been - HUH?!?! What for?! I'm tryna think... But all the shows were great of course. After 16 years of waiting I know all you other fans who have been there since the beginning are in pure cosmic heaven with this new album. Who needs drugs, FUNPLEX is DELICIOUS and DRIPPING with energy and they are all performing as well and with as much energy as ever!
Posted at: May 12, 2008 3:52 PM