Cars Can Be Blue, Hotpants Romance, Marc with a C. |
I had been looking forward to this show the most this summer. Not only were Athens, Georgia pop band Cars Can Be Blue returning to Orlando but Hotpants Romance from Manchester, UK were making a small tour in the USA. I was so excited about this I even made posters and distributed flyers even though none of my bands were playing.
Having played the Athens Popfest, put on by Happy Happy Birthday To Me Records, the weekend before Orlando lo-fi indiepopstar Marc with a C landed the opening spot. He writes funny, sometimes dirty pop songs. He's pretty prolific and sometimes can play a two and a half hour long set. All I can say is Hotpants Romance ruled. They were one of those bands I found on Myspace a year or two ago when I got into a lot of UK bands (Das Wanderlust, High Plane Drifters, Bearsuit, Theoretical Girl, The Winter Club) and the case they were coming to do an American tour was totally unexpected. They barely have 1,500 people on their friends list. I found out that Happy Happy Birthday To Me Records have released the domestic version of their CD 'It's A Heatwave'. This made a little more sense they were here in America. Needless to say I was super excited they were here and the delivered the goods. Their primitive, simple pop songs call to mind The Slits and Beat Happening. They were just the right amount of sloppy with each of the girls sharing vocals.
The last time Cars Can Be Blue came to Orlando was two years ago when they played a house show at Chris V's (from the Elks) house. That was a super fun show. I remember the band killed it to the point drummer Nate ran around the house in his briefs. That show was probably more attended than this show at Taste (unfortunately). But Becky and Nate still bring a hilarious "finesse" to whatever they do. They're a comedy stand-up team in band form. They can have normal fun pop songs, then some rather off-color very un-PC songs that can make you blush. They tackle everything from family violence, lack of health care, abortion and anal sex. Their first album is classic. If you don't have it -GET IT. Their in between banter is just as entertaining as the music. They are a pop secret that should be shared. Pictures:
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