Concert Review: Stereolab @ The Fillmore

Stereolab’s new album, Chemical Chords, is certainly a happier album than one might expect from this alternative band. Songs like "Neon Beanbag" have a sort of tongue-in-cheek go-go feel, while others are even reminiscent of happy Motown.

I’m not sure exactly what I was expecting for this show. Stereolab’s often dead-pan, Boards of Canada, melodic style did not lead me to count on a very passionate performance. Stereolab is one of those bands I put on as background music for parties, not really something I’ve ever been aching to hear live. But I was still pretty stoked. I really like a lot of tracks off of Chemical Chords, and I was more curious than anything to see what the live versions would be like.

Sure enough, the show was forgettable. Don’t get me wrong, I had a good time. Especially when they played "Sudden Stars". I really dig that song. But not a single band member smiled once, which I know is part of the shtick, but it left me pretty unengaged. The worst point of the entire evening for me, was when, on the last song, Stereolab “jammed out” on one note for about ten minutes. Seriously, it was just one note. I didn’t know if this was some kind of comment on jamming in general, or if they really just dug that particular note, (B, maybe?) but I really didn’t get it. At all. It actually made me angry. I already don’t like it too much when jam bands get all psychadelic for too long, but this was like a jam band without the band.

One of the reasons I was curious to see Stereolab live, is because I already label them in my mind as “artsy.” So I suppose I was also expecting a little more “artsy” type stuff, like a really amazing light show, or some video or something like that. I know, I know, I already bitched about how I didn’t like video during the Ratatat show, but I have to contradict myself at least a little sometimes. Anyway, the show pretty much went as a typical rock show, without enough rock to really sell it. I think the show could have benefited from some visual stimulus besides the mediocre light show and the deadpan musicians.