Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s live at The Crescent Ballroom

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Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s live at The Crescent Ballroom – Phoenix, AZ 05.26.2012

There is nothing more refreshing than finding new unexpectedly good music. It’s like finding a $20 bill in your pocket right before you throw your jeans in the wash. And that $20 bill makes you dance and sing along to songs it sings blaring over a PA in your mind. And also you’re drunk.

Well, this past week I had the opportunity to check out some music that wasn’t necessarily new but was at least new to me. I booked myself to photograph a show at The Crescent Ballroom to shoot Margot and the nuclear so and so’s and opening acts. Since my only experience with Margot was a station I must have created months ago on my Pandora account it was high time I check out a few albums.

First up was “Swim” by Whispertown.

I opted for one of their older albums to give myself a broader knowledge of their full catalog (And because their newer stuff wasn’t on Rhapsody….) I was overjoyed to find that not only did I find it calm and relaxing but that my fiance felt the same way about this album as I did. As we drove the outskirts of our town with the bright city lights peaking onto the highway we really let this album sink in.

Next up was “Whistle Tips” by Dinosaur Feathers.

After checking out Whispertown my expectations were extremely low for Dinosaur Feathers. I couldn’t imagine two really great opening bands. It just didn’t make any sense. I threw on Dinosaur Feathers to confirm my jaded perspective only to realize I was completely and utterly wrong. My mind was fucking blown.

This band was pure fucking genius. “Whistle tips” opens with the first track “Young bucks” grabs you by your ears immediately with a mix of sounds of The Beatles meets The Beach boys meets The Shins. I could not put this album down and immediately became a fan of this band.

Next up was Margot and the nuclear so and so’s.

I decided on their latest album. Rot Gut, Domestic. However I decided also to dive into their older stuff too so I would know what I could be expecting for the show (and because it was all available on Rhapsody…)

Rot Gut, domestic starts off with Disease Tobacco Free. And once again with this artist I was sucked right in from the beginning. Deliciously rocking indie music. Who doesn’t love that shit. That was it. I had found three new artists that I thoroughly enjoyed and three new albums that were ready to be on heavy rotation in my ear buds and car speakers.

And to top it all off I was preparing to go shoot photos of all three bands live this weekend. Score one for Hesh.

PART 2 – Live and in photos

I arrived at the crescent a half hour early (Which in Music venue time translates to 2 hours early). Plenty of time to tweak some settings on my camera, meet and greet with the Crescent Ballroom staff and catch up on with my Words with Friends games.

Up first was WhisperTown.

I have to say this band really set the bar high as an opening band. Playing flawlessly through their set until a guitar string broke and the show was nearly put on hold. That is until the guitarist for Dinosaur Feathers rushed in from the wings to let Morgan Nagler borrow his. While tuning up and preparing to play a guitar that wasnt her own Jake Bellows entertained an audience members request to play “Free Bird” until he got bored.

Next up was Dinosaur Feathers.

With their pop rock sound that I had already fell in love with the week before there wasn’t much this band could do to impress me anymore than they already had. Except they did. Somehow they transcended their recording and sounded even better live. These guys are great musicians with an incredibly brilliant sound and I wouldn’t be surprised to hear much much more from Dinosaur Feathers in the weeks months and years to come.

And finally Margot and the nuclear so and so’s.

Brilliant performances by the first two opening bands left the audience energized and ready for the indie rock sensations that are Margot and the nuclear so and so’s. And the audience was not disappointed. From start to finish Margot delivered a great show and not one face in the crowd was filled with anything but amusement.

We were thoroughly entertained the entire night.

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