Art Brut @ Schubas Tavern 6/11/09

What's even better than seeing the energy of London's Art Brut at a music festival?  Seeing them in a place like Schubas where you can feel the stage and the floors vibrating with their basslines!  Lead singer Eddie Argos was in prime form with his typical showman gestures and classic pacing and rambling.  Half the time, the lyrics are made up of his astute observations on life with everything from modern art making him want to rock out to his brother discovering rock and roll, as well as the art of the b-side.  If Eddie Argos wasn't interesting enough on his own, the band also pulls it together with a bass-guitar-drum combination that manages to provide consistent catchy punk overtures.  The fact that all five band members on stage appear completely animated and having the time of their lives certainly helps matters.  It can't be denied that they have a certain in your face presence live with Argos even leaving the stage a couple of times and singing from the audience.

As per their usual, Argos had some witty banter in between the songs about visiting the Art Institute (let's hope our Matisse was safe!) and having Jasper Future write the set list.  He also commented on how he'd almost had his mom call him in sick so he could skip that night's show and go to the Empty Bottle for Jonathan Richman. When talking about "Emily Kane" he didn't ramble nearly as much as in other previous shows about her but did say it was a song about a girl he loves very much, which made him seem just as charming as he is poetic.

View the complete photoset