After months of touring the U.S. and Canada, Los Angeles’ own Silversun Pickups returned home to play two dates last Saturday and Sunday at the Troubadour in Hollywood. And what a triumphant return it was! The shows were sold out. Band members’ relatives were seen trooping up the narrow stairs to the performers’ back rooms.

Due to work and distance, I have not attended all that many concerts, but over 40 years, the experiences add up. So I have some basis for comparison when I say that this was one of the most spirited and energetic shows I have ever seen. The band was clearly as excited as the audience, and the upbeat mood lasted the entire performance. Within two songs, lead guitarist and vocalist Brian Aubert, drummer Chris Guanlao, and keyboardist Joe Lester were drenched in sweat from their efforts and enthusiasm. Bassist Nikki Monninger remained serene throughout the whole show in a deliciously shiny chocolate-colored dress.

Aubert started off the set to the packed room with “Melatonin,” also the first song on their LP Carnavas, and the group proceeded to whip through the rest of the album plus “Kissing Families” from their EP Pikul. All the songs were much faster-paced than their recorded versions, imparting an electric urgency to each one. Aubert claimed every inch of the little stage, barely staying still for a second. He paid attention to each part of the audience, bantered with audience members near the front, and acknowledged the people back up in the loft.

I wish to heaven that I had a recording of “Future Foe Scenarios” as it was performed live at that show. I have had a very difficult time picking a favorite song from Carnavas for my Favorites of 2006 list, and Foes has been one of the very strong contenders. I had finally settled on a different song (still to be revealed), but when I heard it live, I yelled at Indie Mom, “I just changed my favorite song–again!”

It was everything you want a rock song to sound like: raw, loud, dangerous, intense, and invigorating. It makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up. It makes you want to go out and do something that matters.

this revolution baby
proves who you work for lately
who do you work for baby?
and does it work for you lately?

Another thing I must give this band highest kudos for is the care they show to their audience. This is what I enjoy most about small venues and young bands, but it is even more apparent with SSPU. Brian, Nikki, and Joe all reached out to the many hands waving at them from the audience both before and after the encore, and seemed determined to make contact with everyone who put their hand out. After the show ended, all made appearance in the room to mingle with their guests and sign anything put in front of them, from posters, T-shirts, and CD covers to copies of their limited-edition vinyl EP. Brian even wrote on a couple of arms from biceps to fingertips and seemed delighted to do it. You can’t help but love a bunch who puts so much of their personal selves into making your evening wonderful.

Another little story that made it all more special: Indie Mom and I had been standing in line outside with two young men who did not have tickets. They also didn’t have enough money to pay the scalpers’ prices. One of them has a small part in SSPU’s “Lazy Eye” video. Just before the doors opened, Aubert came out on the sidewalk in front of the club. The boy waved at him, and Aubert recognized him right away. Making a long story short, Aubert got tickets for them. The two boys stood near us at the front of the stage. During the concert, Aubert pulled the boy from the video up onto the stage, hugged him, and told the audience what a great guy he is. I snapped his picture and sent it to him yesterday. Oh yeah, the kid has a band, of course, and maybe next time he’s on stage at the Troub, he’ll be performing himself!

Not having recordings of this incredible performance, the best I can do for this post is two songs that SSPU performed on KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic last Wednesday, Dec. 13, even though they don’t give you the same high-voltage energy of the show we saw. If you ever have a chance to see SSPU in concert, don’t miss out! See the links at the end of this post for future tour dates.

Lazy Eye (live)
Little Lover’s So Polite (live)

Concert pictures (click image for full size):

Find lots of band info, lyrics, and tour dates for December and 2007 at SSPU’s Official website
MySpace | Lazy Eye video

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