There is something special about seeing a band in a tiny, hole-in-the-wall club. The Casbah is exactly that; a dive venue where local music lovers can stroll over for a low key fix. There are no lines, not even a box office, just a dude sitting at the door making sure you’ve paid your entry fee so they can keep the lights on next week. There isn’t much inside except a small bar, a small room and a small stage. And a small crowd; there were maybe fifty of us, but I might be rounding up.
Not that the size of the show in any way reflects the quality of the music. The wonderful world of music does not subscribe to the idea that bigger is better. Small shows are intimate and personal. You can see the details that you lose from the back of an arena and you can feel the speakers vibrate the wispy fuzz on your arms. A small show is the essence of live performance; you can chat with the band members and request songs. You can buy some merch direct and share a laugh. In my opinion, this is the perfect scenario for experiencing live music.
Blood Red Shoes are a duo from the UK. While they do have a bassist join them on stage at times, we saw just the raw combo of drums and guitar. We were treated to the bare bones experience that your little sister and her friends enjoyed when they sat in on band practice in your parent’s garage. For me, this was just what I needed. I literally feel younger today, as though it was only recently that I spent my weekends watching local acts at the DPC back home in Tucson or attended a party that broke into an impromptu jam session. I had almost forgotten how comfortable an evening out could be.
The band was on point, playing songs from their new album mixed with some older favorites. They tended to lean into their rockers, putting on an energetic and vivid show. It is always a gift when a band from afar makes the journey to come play in your backyard. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to spend some time with them. It was a great show and a fun night.
For anyone not familiar with the band, here are seven songs to check out. They have six albums, so if you like this sampling, there is plenty more to discover.
This post makes me happy and now I have to see if I just missed BRS playing in the Bay Area. I can’t believe they played to such a small crowd! I had their 2019 album Get Tragic in my top albums of the year list. I tried to get others to get into them but don’t think anyone bit. I love your line about how the band made you feel younger. So often I’m the oldest person in the crowd when I see new bands and when I feel young it’s usually when I go see Blue Oyster Cult or some other 60s/70s band at the fairgrounds. So to get that feeling at a show from a current artist is a rare thing.