Click images to view full size picture
 |
Despite the fact that it was Halloween weekend in a college town, Emo’s was packed with a crowd of bloodthirsty indie rock fans. Upon arriving at the typically unthinkable hour of 8pm I was greeted by a line of fans at the door for the outside stage of Emo’s. Dress ranged from homemade Voxtrot t-shirts to “hipster casual” to Santa Claus costumes.
The early show started late at 9:30 PM with local act Yellow Fever. The band features Jennifer Moore of Voxtrot and Isabel Martin along with drummer Adam Jones. Yellow Fever couldn’t seem to sit still, switching up instruments for the first few songs. Calling on the indie pop gods for inspiration, Yellow Fever caused audience members to recall bands such as the Beat Happening with their straightforward lyrics and simple yet catchy melodies. Without too much talk, the band played flawlessly through almost every song on their recently self-released and adorably packaged 20 minute long CD-R.
 |
 |
I couldn’t help but compare the night’s line up to an Eastern European sandwich on Indie Pop bread. By the time A Hawk and a Hacksaw successfully assembled their elaborate percussion set-up, the venue was almost packed.
 |
Jeremy Barnes, formerly of Neutral Milk Hotel, had a few small drums and an unusual arrangement of cymbals, gongs and foot pedals that allowed him to play them all whilst simultaneously playing his accordion and occasionally singing. Accompanied by violin player Heather Trost, Barnes played a short set of lively, mostly instrumental tunes, including a few traditional Romanian folk songs, the style of which has greatly influenced his work.
Beirut, brainchild of Zach Condon, and one of the big newcomers of 2006 has the happiest drummer I’ve ever seen. Seriously, this guy could not be happier to bang on stretched pieces of animal hide.
 |
The rest of the band seemed to be having a great time as well. Condon’s voice conjures up memories of singer-songwriter all-stars like Jens Lekman and Stephin Merritt, and makes a striking accompaniment to the gypsy-like music that he composes for his expansive backing band. Reinforcing the link between the two sandwich-meat bands, Heather Trost of A Hawk and a Hacksaw played violin for Beirut in exchange for their help on a couple songs earlier in the evening.
 |
 |
Finally, headliners Voxtrot took the stage for their final show in their hometown before their short U.S. tour including stops in New York, Chicago and San Francisco. Some fans seemed to be a bit disappointed by the lack of dancing this time around,
 |
but throwbacks to old favorites like “Raised by Wolves” and “Start of Something” got feet moving. A highlight of the night was when a friend of the band clothed in a wedding dress ascended the stage to toast the band’s keyboardist Jared Van Fleet on his 24th birthday. With Voxtrot three-deep in EPs, fans are waiting in anticipation for a full-length album and an answer to the question on everyone’s mind: What’s next for Voxtrot?
 |
 |
Review by Stephanie Bonham/Photos by Marleigh Jones and Chris Yetter
