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March 21, 2008
Tavern in the Woods
Homewood, Illinois
"This is a Pizza Hut gig," Virgel, the lead singer and guitarist for American Anti-Gravity says to me before he goes on stage. More than likely because the venue is so small. We laugh. Then bass player Scott Sanders, aka Blueberry, a super--friendly guy who looks like a compilation of punk and emo, tells me, when I ask what their day jobs are, that Virgil, "is a prostitute and sucks dicks for living." Virgel encourages me to put this in the review. So I have. He may have a deliciously satisfying day job, but his night job with AAG is where he should focus his talents, because he's an extraordinary performer and AAG is an extraordinary band.
I had never seen AAG perform live, so I did a little research before I went to the show. I read that they used a lot of props, but Tavern in the Woods' stage was much too small for that. Keyboardist J Ross Green told me he was disappointed that their mannequins, Kim Kim and Jen, couldn't make the show because they were, "cutting the grass in the garage." Hmm. So no props. Yet, not even a proper stand for J Ross's keyboards (he used two bar stools as a stand), could keep this band from playing. Working on the fly is definitely an understatement for American Anti-Gravity.
Before they went on, J Ross asked club management to turn off the two super-size tv screens next to the stage. Then Virgel asked if the lights could be turned off. Only a couple of lights in the back of the venue were left on. It provided a gratifying effect for a musically gratifying band. Virgel did a long sound check and, without notice, the band plunged into "Hip Hop", an unbelievably powerful song that had Virgel bumping and grinding against the microphone and wiggling suggestively on the floor. It was mesmorizing. I certainly didn't expect this from a guy who hit the stage barefoot, had on a pair of sparkly black emo pants, and an oversized-tie which he agonized about before the show as to whether it was tied properly.
Drummer Duke, a young Iggy Pop-look-a-like, completes the band, and every one of these musicians really gets into their music, almost hypnotizing the audience into joining Virgel on stage to moon along with him. Virgel is an expressive singer, leaving the stage to sing up close to audience members, then jumping back on stage to launch into another song. J Ross's keyboard intros are fascinating, as are the drums, the bass, the guitar, and the singing.
At one point in the set, Virgel accidentally disconnects his guitar, but the rest of the band keeps playing in perfect rhythm, not missing a beat. Later, Virgel breaks his guitar strap, probably because he was having continuous musical orgasms on stage. And still, the band played on.
AAG gave off the feeling that they wanted the audience to feel it was worth coming to see their show. That's what live music should be about - being in the moment, playing for the crowd, and living the energy.
I can't imagine what American Anti-Gravity's show would have been like with props, since this prop-less show completely blew me away. It's no wonder they're so popular in Iowa. Maybe next time I'll get to meet and chat with Kim Kim and Jen, because I certainly won't be missing AAG's next show. Neither should you.
Set List
Hip Hop (Feels Like)
Puppet
Find a Cure
Loopy
Greens (new)
Tomorrow Never Came
Offbeat
EDrops
--review by Lucy Midnight
AAG Website
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