We walked in quietly, but excitedly to the sound of a song off Baby Teeth and a surprisingly modestly sized crowd. Screaming Females was performing all of Baby Teeth, their first album, but that wasn't all. The album is now out of print on vinyl, but of course the music lives on. It was the bands first hometown show in nine months and the last time seeing them since September when they opened for Titus Andronicus at Webster Hall. They were celebrating basement shows. They were celebrating their roots. They were playing for their closest friends and fans. With heart, without bullshit, Screaming Females played a stellar 41 song set.
The band played every song like you'd hear a record played at home--from first to last, but with some improvised guitar parts. Because of the low ceiling and pack of people in the front I struggled to catch even just a glimpse of the band and I wasn't even too far back. But the quality of the sound was the best I ever heard from any New Brunswick basement, so it didn't matter whether I saw the band actual play. It was happiness in my ears. Alongside my friend Zandra all I could think was how great this setting was. For once I felt comfortable. I had room to dance and the crowd was respectful. I knew a bunch of people in the room. I felt apart of something exclusive. Something only the true fans knew about.
The bass line for "Baby Jesus" started, so, of course, I was shakin'. Set one finished. Album two started: the heavier album, What if Someone is Watching Their T.V.? Both "Mothership" and "Boyfriend" was prefaced with Marissa saying, "This is a popular favorite." The crowd moved more than before, but were calmer than I've seen at their shows, besides a few who seemed engaged and intoxicated. Intermission. Some guy in a dress is rapping to pre-recorded beats. Insert WTF?
Album three Power Move starts. My favorite. Groovy as fuck. "Starving Dog" and "Lights Out" owned. One of them had a Jeff: the Brotherhood sounding riff improv part. Sick! After the album finished Marissa says, "Thanks for coming. I'm glad we got to have a secret party with you," then plays all of Castle Talk, my least favorite album of theirs, but it's growing on me and live the songs do stand out more. The last thing Marissa says is, "Thanks for coming. It was fun, which was the point."
That's it. It's over three hours later. It's 10:15pm. Wow. I stick around. Shy I finally tap Marissa and say, "hey." She looks at me. I put my hand up for a high five, but she hugs me instead. We chat quickly. She's happy I was there. I converse with some other people and get some fliers for 2 upcoming shows that weekend. I see Marissa hugging someone else, as I approach her to say bye, she says something like: you can get a hug, too, and then hugs me.
Screaming Females is still one of the few bands I give a shit about. They've stayed true to themselves and their music. Everytime I forget to tell Marissa just how awesome she is, how amazing their set at Siren Fest was, how I appreciate the hugs and high fives and small chat. I don't speak to her outside of shows, though I wish I did, but I guess it's ok. I know in some way we're still buddies. And I know that my actions probably speak louder than my words, so she probably already knows how much I love the band. But when you love a band you can't help but wanna be friends with them, at least for me. But it can be scary. And I've yet to really feel like friends with any band. I never know how that click happens. How do you become friends with someone? It's far beyond easy in my mind. Does it just happen or is it acknowledged? Do bands see it as creepy that their fans want to be actual friends with them? I hope not. But I'll keep buying their records, and wearing their merch, and attending their shows and writing about their music. But I wonder, after I've seen a band playing their whole collection (minus singles) how better can it get better than that? I've seen Screaming Females over 15 times and they've always had a punch. I guess I'll have to see if they can pull off yet another awesome show. I'm so proud of this band--they're headlining the Music Hall of Williamsburg on Feb. 6th. I wouldn't miss it. It's like seeing my friend give a speech at graduation, I'm so amazingly proud--except for Screaming Females they are the band playing at the graduation party (or Don Giovanni Records party) to celebrate a great musical career, so far. Baby Teeth was elementary school, What if Someone is Watching Their T.V.? was high school, Power Move was college, and Castle Talk is post-college. Yeah, I know, they went through each quickly, haha. I met them in college, when they were in high school. I'm so very glad I did.
