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| Birdcloud |
3rd of July, Asbury Park
By Matt Chrystal
Hey, remember the time Birdcloud came to town? If you were there, then it's probably something you will never forget... or at least something that you can never unsee. Summer is all but a distant memory now, but the visions of Birdcloud still fill my head like the plumes of blue smoke that filled the Saint on that sweaty July evening.
Here we are at the end of the year, and I'm feeling nostalgic for all those good times had throughout this crazy year. "Best Of" lists are coming out fast and furious; and, for me, the good times don't get any better than Birdloud bringing their own unique brand of country, rock, and twisted humor to the good ole Garden State. It was The Show of the Year, in my humble opinion.
Picture it. Asbury Park. July 3rd. 2017.
It was a 90 degree day, and the night was about to get even hotter inside The Saint. Little Dickman Records had been celebrating their five year anniversary in style by putting on a terrific series of summer shows and had booked one hell of a pre-Independence Day party that would rock the city by the seashore like a tidal wave. The evening saw the successful pairing of the Nashville based, indie-rock powerhouse duo of Birdcloud with Brooklyn punks, Ex-Girlfriends. Asbury Park's Little Vicious were also along for the raucous ride.
It was a "holiday weekend," but it was still a Monday night. It could have gone either way. People could come ready to party or it could be one of those off nights in between the weekend and the actual holiday. Luckily, it was the former. Little Dickman Records went above and beyond to promote this show as a "must-see" night of rock n roll. And, hot damn, were they right on about this one.
The whole night had a big feel about it. Little Vicious, a two piece rock band and recent transplant to Asbury Park by way of Fort Collins, CO, kicked things off with an epic set filled with post-punk swagger that felt like they were taking on a stadium instead of a Jersey shore nightclub. Ex-girlfriends put on a fun, loose, energetic set and were joined on stage by their former tourmates, Jasmin Kaset and Makenzie Green of Birdcloud for a few spirited numbers. The party vibes were in full swing.
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| Little Vicious |
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| Ex-Girlfriends and Birdcloud |
Then came time for Birdcloud.
I have been to a lot of shows this year. I seen some stuff.
But this… this was different.
They were fun. They were funny. They were provocative. They were ridiculous. They were self-deprecating. They were self-indulgent. They were genius. They were empowering. They were uber-talented. They were mesmerizing. They were intimidating. They were comedy. They were performance art. They were rock n roll. They were everything.
And they were wearing adult diapers.
And they did not give a fuck.
They fed off the energy from the crowd; but they were putting on an unapologetic, mind-melting assault on the senses and having a damn good time doing it. And if you were enjoying it, too… well then good for you.
I was enjoying every crazy second of it.
There were larger than life cardboard cut outs of the band in the background, smoke machines that would fill the room, pauses for shots, beers, and reapplications of lipstick. There were jokes, stories, and -- of course -- songs that could make a truck-driver blush and send any conservatives heading for the door. There was mandolin madness, gooey guitar goodness, and a harmonica solo that was simply unforgettable.
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| Harp solo |
Mackenzie wore a bedazzled neck brace, and I am still not sure whether she actually needed or if it was just a prop used to punctuate some of her punchlines. All I do know is that Birdcloud had the crowd eating out of their hands throughout the entire set. There were moments of pure joy, frenzy, and of shock and awe peppered in.
There is an amazing chemistry between Kaset and Green that is undeniable and a magnetism about them that is undisputable. I had become so engrossed with the performance that, for that brief moment when Mak tore off her neckbrace, finished her beer, and bowed before the audience in one fluid, grandiose gesture, I can only assume that it must have been akin to what the disciples felt when they witnessed Jesus walk on water.
It was a gosh darn miracle!
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| Birdcloud |
Birdcloud was the perfect combination of calculated trainwreck and well-oiled machine.
A little bit country. A little bit rock n roll. A whole lotta fucking fun!
Thank you Birdcloud.
Y’all come back soon now, ya hear.
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