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Review: Dear Penny @ El Corazon
Apr 17, 2010 Concerts 2 Comments
Posted by
Gabe
So, another concert at the El Corazon … on a Thursday. It seems like the promoters would have learned by now. Never have an all ages show late in the evening at a bar on a school night. Parents don’t like dropping off their kids at a bar. Parents don’t like their kids alone in downtown or SODO after 10pm. The roving homeless and professional drunks scare me … and I’m a strong, ex-military man.
In the end, only the most interested souls (if they’re allowed) show up. By 10pm, the fans have headed safely to bed, resting for either school or work the next day; The main acts plays to abandoned rooms. It is so sad. Even the opening acts have left.
That said, this does not diminish the quality of the performers. I’ve reviewed some great acts playing to empty tables and uninterested bartenders. Dear Penny is no exception. They may be young and inexperienced, but their personality shines through in the performance. Yes, I loved A Current Affair and Sleep for Sleepers; Their performance was everything I expected. I wasn’t there, however, to review them.
From the first song to the last, Dear Penny truly endears themselves to the crowd. From the fun sing-along “Sunshine” to the more serious worship style of “Stay,” not a song went by that didn’t hold value all on its own. What do I mean? You know how signed bands occasionally play a … well … track 5 from the CD; It’s a formulaic piece their producer really liked. The lyrics are bland and the music uninspired. Dear Penny doesn’t have any of those songs. Every song, no matter how simplistic, is something they honestly enjoy playing … and that makes a difference.
Are these educated musicians? No. The act wasn’t clean or technically savvy. It was the chemistry that held them together on stage. As Nick laughs, screams and dances, Dakota drives the rhythm or, just as seamlessly, provides claps in time. All the while, the ever versatile Steven plays an eclectic arrangement of tambourines, shakers and something I can only describe as an air powered keyboard with an accordian straw; He also provides background vocals. I’m not really sure who the bass and guitar players were; They didn’t contribute much anyways. That said, the core trio of Dear Penny are good friends playing music they love. From it flows raw talent wrapped up tight behind funny glasses.
Speaking of that, let’s talk fashion. Nick is apparently aware he’s in a band. Sporting grandma’s glasses from 1989 and a loose, bandanna-like scarf stolen from the dumpster behind Claires, he epitomes the random stuff found in the garage look. The pants were too tight and probably stretchy (“When you are a man, sometimes you wear stretchy pants …”). Even his green slip-on shoes could have been sown by street vendors at Pike’s place. It was wonderfully different and only added to the fun.
Steven, I believe, was aiming for metrosexual hippy. Donning a trendy English driver’s cap, a scarf he apparently stole from Nick’s dumpster adventures and sans shoes, Steven’s attire screamed city boy. He made a good counter point to Nick’s garage sale attire. Yet, somehow, they worked together to form a strange cohesiveness.
This cohesiveness makes their stage performance work. Nick, the clear leader, kept the songs running orderly despite his sometimes wild antics. Following faithfully, Steven provided much needed harmony and texture to otherwise mundane pieces. Dakota, although probably under utilized, did a good job playing along. I really have no complaints about their stage presence.
That is actually something I can say about Dear Penny’s performance at the El Corazon in general. Yes, they’re immature as both musicians and performers, but their love of the music and talented stage presence only highlight their potential. I can see these boys moving up the musical food chain in much the same way as Josiah James (who also played that evening). So, if you get a chance to catch these young men in concert, and it’s cheap, please bring your comfy slippers and funny hats; The fun is about to begin.
Of course, I wouldn’t expect you to take my word for it. Here are some videos from that evening. Each one has something different to offer. Listen, watch and enjoy!
