Blonde Redhead @ Bimbo's 4/23/07

It bewilders me that I go to 1 or 2 shows a week, and this was my first time to Bimbo’s. Unlike any venue I’ve ever been to before, it was a perfect mix of kitsch and sophistication. A twenties supperclub converted into a music venue, it dictates a certain ambiance that provides the reason for which this might be my first Bimbo’s show- my music isn’t usually sophisticated enough for this joint. Oh well. I mean, they give you real glasses to drink out of. That would for sure be turned into a weapon at a GWAR show.

Arriving too late to snag a table, we stood in the back, among the coupled fashionistas and surprisingly drunk hipster guys and gals. This was way to mellow of a show for that kind of behavior. As the threesome took the stage, awash in blue and red lights, I couldn’t help but feel like I was in a scene from a David Lynch film. I mean, these are his signature colors. And the clashing sounds and mysterious redheaded girl are certainly befitting. Silencio.

Only being casually familiar with the music, I just kinda spaced out as one song melted into the next. Not to say I didn’t enjoy it. In the one non-song phrase spoken to the audience, the girl, Kazu Makino, said in a strange, non-Japanese sounding accent that playing in the light at their free show at Amoeba the previous day “freaked her out”. I was left mildly confused when during their first encore (there were two), she used a backtrack to her singing, during one of those songs that sounds like it was inspired by the hysterical screaming of a five year old girl. It happened right at the point where I was wondering how her voice could handle all of that- so my first reaction was “busted! she’s not really singing that!”. But she was.

It was an interesting show. Would I see them again? Probably not. I need a little more excitement to keep me awake, especially on a Monday night.

Video that someone snagged from their free show at Amoeba

Excellent pictures that someone took at the show, found on flickr: