Light Asylum, Asa Ransom, These Are Powers (and more!) @ Cameo Gallery!

Yo kids,

So I had a great time last night and I’m here to fill you in. My girl Amber filled me in on another show happening in good ol’ BK, so I had to hit it up. This time, we, and a new friend, an indie artist named Lelia Broussard from LA, hopped the L to Cameo Gallery. (Check out her tunes, by the way!)

I’d never been, but was immediately impressed by the sort of cocktail lounge feel in the front, and the standing room only stage part in the back. We sipped a couple $4 Miller High Lifes and (FREE!) shots of bourbon, and headed to the dance floor.

In the back, the room was lit up with strobes and stage lights of every color imaginable. People were dancing and the energy was perfect.

The first group I caught was Light Asylum, which is fronted by Shannon, whom I met after the set. We caught the last song, but I want to hear more. There was something vaguely Crystal Castles meets Yeasayer about them.  Shannon announced a (FREE!) show Wednesday on 12th and Bedford, I believe…. you guys should check them out. Whatever it was, it was hot!

I only caught one hot track, but I still got a decent pic!

As the speakers boomed hood joints all night long (Soulja Boy and Ciara club mixes), I was meeting people. This hot couple below, Marie and Joe, head the band Hexa-Whorra. Their mashup of electronica and acoustic music would’ve suit them well for the venue.

YES.

Next up was Asa Ransom – Amber had heard them before and told me great things, so I went in with high expectations. They were exceeded.  They had a very dark, Bowie-glam vs. She Wants Revenge stomp to it.  The guitars crunched and buzzed and the bass driven beats evoked something delightfully evil.

I ran into The Loneliest Monk’s Michelle and Miles, from the last post, who were still in town, heading to Providence, Rhode Island for a show.   Michelle and Miles played in Chicago with Asa Ransom a few times.

This is how I officially decided they were good.

Check the guitar! Hot, right?

Dark harmonies accentuate bitchin' rock dance tracks.

Finally, I saw These Are Powers. Before and during the show, lead singer Anna  Barie was handing out popcorn and candy. When I interned at Secretly Canadian in Bloomington, I remember they were a band signed to SC’s sister label, Dead Oceans.  My, has their sound (and look!) evolved.

They hit the stage with what I’d like to call “electro-hood.”  Anna caught my attention with her Karen O-isms. She squealed and squawked and purred and harmonized (while breakin’ it down) over some of the hottest beats I’ve ever heard.  I hadn’t heard much of their new material til now. Check out their MySpace for more. My fave is “Candyman,” naturally. I’d love to catch up with them for an interview.

THESE. ARE. POWERS!

It was also during this time that I met a “chocolate Marilyn Monroe,” in the form of a man in drag. His explanation?

“Marilyn’s been sleeping.” Marilyn did go onstage during These Are Powers to sing “Happy Birthday” Mr. President-style to a friend.

Tomorrow, I head to an EA Sports event with Trevz- should be loads of fun.  In the meantime check out the hot pics after the jump.

The "Chocolate" Marilyn.

Can anyone else say FIERCE? Check out Becca's fly hair.

Amber in her cut up Misfits tee. <3 I. Love.

And yours truly.

XO,

M

Jul 13, 2010 | Categories: ARTS, EVENTS, FASHION, MUSIC | Tags: Asa Ransom, Cameo Gallery, HEXA, Lelia Broussard, Light Asylum, Marilyn Monroe, The loneliest monk, These Are Powers | Leave A Comment »