The Necronauts - "Tranny Fluid
Is Thinner Than Water" - PNT (Arizona) 2015
The Necronauts have been releasing records in the
Valley for more than 15 years and playing out longer than that. They
seem to be on something of a latter-day upswing with the release of
OTD last year and now the release of their experimental EP Ralph and
Barbara, which came out on April 20. The brothers Goodman, Billy and
Dale, are continually full of surprises, and this time they are joined
by Timothy Dalton Culver on keys. The entire EP is a wildly schizophrenic
affair. If you know The Necronauts, you will love instantly. If you
don't, you will learn to love shortly. Conveniently, if you are not
familiar with them, their entire catalog is on Bandcamp, and if you
listen to their entire works on a Saturday with some whiskey and a
bag of weed, it will be worth it. After listening to the entire EP
over and over again, I kept coming back to "Tranny Fluid Is Thinner
Than Water," and I'm not sure it's intended to be the single
or if there is even supposed to be one, but it should be. There is
a very Ben Folds feel to the keys and the composition, which appears
to be Culver's influence, while the rest is just pure classic Necronauts
feel.
OTD review from Yabyum (Arizona) 2015
The Brothers Goodman (Billy and Dale) have been making music together
as The Necronauts for fifteen years now. Their latest recording endeavor
proves these Tempe musicians still have what it takes to lay out some
relevant, innovative alt-rock. Released through High School Football
Records, OTD opens with Bingo Stampede, a lively jam that
arrives in a layer of garage fuzz. Throughout the album there is a
pervasive sense of discontent that adds a gritty edge to the sound
of The Necronauts. There are variations within. Songs like Pissing
on the Sun and Left at the Carnival remind me of
the early days of indie and bands like Pavement, but The Necronauts
have definitely crafted their own (evolving) sound during their tenure.
The album closes with Bow Tie, a spaced-out instrumental
track that gives the listener pause to take in one last musical flex
from the talented players in The Necronauts. OTD is one of those albums
that I seem to enjoy more every time I listen to it. Maybe that has
something to do with the grungy sound that hearkens back to younger
days, but I think it has more to do with the subtle intricacies of
OTD. It just sort of sneaks up on you. Listen to (and download for
free) OTD here.
Sounds Around Town (Arizona) announces 20 best albums of 2014
Mitchell L Hillman
It seems hard to believe that its been four years since the
double album imperative Gauche Et Droite was released by The Nectronauts,
but its true. The Necronauts have been the absolute masters
of the lo-fi sound in AZ for over twelve years and its really
fucking refreshing to have them back. The only curious fact about
OTD is that it features electric drums when they have one of the most
capable drummers in the form of Dale Goodman. This album seems like
Billy Goodmans declaration to the world that he is first of
all not dead and second of all, still relevant. Both of these points,
to these ears seem true. I think what amazes me here is that their
music is still compelling, it still makes me smile and I sure as shit
hope they have some shows to back this up, because The Necronauts
make me fucking happy. After the last release, this seems like a brief
affair, but it is no lesser. They have a style that is uniquely their
own and its easy on my ears, half of the time listen to them
is pure nostalgic reverie and the other half is that they still sound
so goddamned good. Listen to Wonder and ponder your own
childhood and a view through television, compare cartoons to CNN and
evaluate your modern reality. Meanwhile, Pisssing On The Sun
may be some of the best retro pop that the band has ever pulled off,
ever and its very Kinks-like, which means this could go very
well in everywhere but America. Electronic drums or not, this is a
pretty glad return to form and probably the most welcome comeback
of the entire year. Im not sure how the brothers Goodman will
pull this off live or even if they intend to as a duo, but man I cant
wait for that to occur. I hope its at the Yucca, because it
should be. Without hesitation I can say this is one of my favorite
albums of the year.
Ink19.com
reviews Gauche et Droite! 2013
It's punk, and a there's a heck of a collection of it here: two CDs
with 40 cuts and a big fat lyrics book. This band has been plugging
away for the past decade in Mesa, Arizona. Their sound is pleasantly
fuzzy and energetic, their lyrics clever and accessible. And by "accessible,"
I mean you can hear what Billy Goodman is singing without the cheat
book.
Once you're though the little instrumental ear opener, there's a really
cool song: "Sounds Good to Me '83." The guys sing "It
was punk rock and now it's jock rock." True enough, punk has
moved mainstream to the point where the boneheads on the varsity team
listen to it and the little misfit kids have been driven off to Goth
or dubstep or whatever we hide out behind today. "Skateboarding
Hurts" is another nice bouncy mash-fest. It alludes to these
Goths and how, occasionally, they are willing to make out with the
punks. (Just be careful of the pointy fashion accessories.)
Both discs are riddled with gems like these, and the CDs are printed
to let the silver layer glow through the eyeballs of the band members'
portraits. It looks like their eyes are following you -- how creepy
is that? Its punk creepy, that's how creepy. -- Carl F Gauze
Gauche
et Droite gets some love from Andy Hermann @ Metromix.com,
featured in over 60 cities nationwide!
2011
Latest release: Gauche et Droite
Who: Brothers Billy (guitar/vocals)
and Dale (drums) Goodman have been kicking around the Tempe, Ariz.,
rock scene for over a decade, with various bassists in tow. For the
first five of those years, they were almost insanely prolific, releasing
four albums, an EP and various singles and compilation tracks. Then
nothing,
until this 40-track, double-disc opus.
What theyre saying:
You know those amazing rock bands you grew up with? Or wish
you had? You know. The Pixies. Built to Spill. The Replacements. The
Necronauts have swallowed them. Whole. Mike McQuillan,
Yab Yum Music
What were saying:
Listening to Gauche et Droite is like discovering a really
great college radio station circa 1994the slacker-rock hits
just keep on coming! Just when you think Billy Goodmans songwriting
cant get any sharper, it does, culminating in the sunny yet
sardonic Leslies Deal, a Paul Westerberg homage
masquerading as a mash note to a female rock promoter. With 40 tracks
(including some demos and alternate takes, but still) and nary a misfire
among them, the whole thing is jaw-droppingly good. Like, Crooked
Rain, Too High to Die, Perfect From Now On
good. Where have these guys been hiding for the past five years?
Andy Hermann
Listen: The Necronauts
- Ashes Over Idaho
Gauche
et Droite receives 4 star review in
Pennsylvania's Daily News -- courtesy of
Jeffrey Sisk 2011
Gauche et Droite It seems pretty clear to me that
half-brothers Billy and Dale Goodman spent a lot of time listening
to bands like Built to Spill, Dinosaur Jr., Pavement, Sonic Youth,
the Pixies and Fugazi while growing up in the suburban confines of
Mesa, Ariz. Since founding the Necronauts a decade ago, the Goodmans
have paid homage to those that influenced them through their own energetic
brand of indie rock.After a six-year wait, the Necronauts return in
a big, big way with Gauche et Droite, a sprawling two-disc,
40-track collection of tunes that represents the best work of their
career. Rock solid and occasionally spectacular from
beginning to end, it might be tough making it through Gauche
et Droites 104 minutes in a single sitting. Unless, of
course, youre planning a long drive somewhere or are really,
really bored one afternoon. Fortunately, no matter what size musical
bites you take, Im pretty sure youll find the Necronauts
quite tasty.
Disc 1 is (slightly) superior to Disc 2 with standout tracks such
as Land Survey (Put Another Bullet In the Chamber), Depredation
Medication, Firekid/Lovefriend, Gravity Is
Not Your Friend and On Fire. While not quite as
consistent (and bogged down with original versions of
a half dozen songs from the first platter), Disc 2 scores with the
bluntly titled S***, For the First and Last Time,
White Mouth and Too Fast for Johnny. Good
stuff. (JS)
Gauche
et Droite review @ BrooklynRocks NYC Music Blog
courtesy of Mike! 2011
Ive never heard of The Necronauts prior to receiving a review
copy of the bands sixth disc, Gauche et Droite. While The Necronauts
fall into the indie rock genre, this label is somewhat
misleading as this sprawling forty track / two-disc release has much
more in common with bands like Pavement and Sebadoh than with any
of todays indie-rock bands. This release is a welcome throwback
to the days of lo-fi DIY rock where, if a band got lucky, they might
be able to break-out of the get in the van underground
with an appearance on MTVs 120 Minutes.
The Necronauts were formed
in the year 2000 by half-brothers Billy and Dale Goodman of Mesa,
Arizona. In their first four years, The Necronauts independently released
five albums, including a critically acclaimed self-titled EP in 2004.
Recording for Gauche et Driotte began in 2005 and singer/guitarist
Billy Goodman said I intended it to be a double album. I talked
a lot of shit and opened my mouth about making this epic album, I
had to keep my word. Ill never make that mistake again.
The 2CDs show the evolution
of the band's songwriting process as Disc One (Gauche)
contains nineteen tracks of lo-fi slacker rock and Disc Two (Droite)
contains nine early versions of tracks from Gauche that
are significantly different from the finalized versions along with
ten new songs. The song titles are completely unrelated to the lyrical
themes, as reoccurring themes seem to be about dysfunctional people,
relationships and the silliness of following the implicit rules of
a given scene. On top of the bands general skepticism,
they seem to have a particularly negative outlook toward organized
religion. This somewhat cynical outlook isnt immediately obvious
as it is delivered amidst catchy, sing-along melodies and memorable
musical hooks.
The song Skateboarding
Hurts (video below) is about dysfunctional relationships.
For anyone who shot
up on The Minutemen and Meat Puppets in the 80s and Pavement
and Sebadoh in the 90s, this is essential listening.
Gauche et Droite contains
a 30-page booklet with lyrics, artwork by Dave 'Luster Kaboom' Quan.
"Slack
attack" courtesy of Jarret Keene @ Vegas
Seven 2011
Plenty of 90s, slacker-era rock bands are reuniting these daysfrom
Pavement to the Pixies. But wouldnt it be nice to catch a (relatively)
new, young band evoking the downcast energy of that decade while flying
the flannel for fiercely nonfinancial reasons? Lucky for us, then,
that Mesa, Ariz.s The Necronauts are playing Yayo Taco on Feb.
25, and they seem to be blissfully unconcerned about cashing in on
Gen X nostalgia.
Used to be alt-rock bands
didnt worry so much about having a trademark sound. Theyd
jump around stylistically for the sake of whatever muse they pursued,
often relying on more than one songwriter. Bands such as Firehose
and Fugazi and Janes Addiction and Hüsker Dü relied
on more than a single, primary songwriter, pushing the limits of any
formula they risked falling into, refusing to be pigeonholed, and
preferring to break up than settle for monotony. The Necronauts pay
homage to that time, making it sound like there are 20 writers in
the band, even though brothers Billy (vox, guitars) and Dale Goodman
(drums) are responsible for the music.
From the funky guitar
licks and killer scat singing of Ashes of Idaho to the
highway-driving pop-psychedelia of Stevies Deal,
the Goodmans recently self-released double album, Gauche et
Droite, is a monstrously good DIY masterpiece. Safe to say the band
is quickly becoming an alt-music connoisseurs band.
Thats what
people say, says Dale during a recent phone chat in a Tempe,
Ariz., bar waiting for his girlfriends band to take the stage.
Everyone pins the 90s thing on us pretty strong, but at
least people generally seem to like us.
Well, most everyone. A
few critics chastised the bands first album for being too promiscuous
with too many genres.
Whatever we play
is always in our style, Dale says. So what if we sound
like two or three different bands? That shouldnt be a problem.
Its certainly not.
Now, where in my closet did I stash my flannel shirt collection?
AntiMusic.com's
review of The Necronauts Gauche et Droite 2011
Not unlike Arizona's beloved
Meat Puppets, the Necronauts are tough to categorize. This 2-CD set
finds the duo channeling the Pixies and other bands of that ilk on
the generous helping of 21 cuts on the Gauche disc (gauche et droite
is French for left and right) while the Droite sides are a little
wonkier, reminding of everything from British synth bands to the Velvet
Underground to surf-y garage rock. Probably the important thing here
is not to worry about comparisons; Gauche et Droite goes through as
many enjoyable twists and turns as a MGMT album and you won't regret
the couple of hours spent finding that out for yourself.
"The
Necronauts are all kinds of awesome" courtesy of dez
@ azmusicconnect.com 2011
Its hard not to like, or at least respect, The Necronauts.
The Tempe band plays excellent music and gives you a lot of it. The
trio has been around for quite a few years, and released their fifth
album Gauche et Droite late last year. Its a wonder why the
world doesnt know about these guys.
The band consists of three
members, Billy Goodman on guitar, keys and vocals, brother Dale Goodman
on drums, and Jason Sukut on bass. Even with just a lineup of three,
the bands high energy indie rock is very full sounding. They
employ a mix of slower songs and faster songs and somehow employ an
incredibly diverse sound. Billy Goodmans voice seems to change
on every song, as if he was switching vocals cords like you could
switch guitars.
We
Dont Want to Know Where Theyre Boldly Going
courtesy of Flagstaff LIVE! 2011
Since the release of their ambitious double album, Gauche et Droite,
Tempe-based band the Necronautscomprised of half brothers Billy
and Dale Goodman, plus an oft-changing cast of musicianshave
been heaping on the praise as they tour the country, garnering comparisons
to everyone from Built to Spill and Sonic Youth to Nirvana and the
Pixies. Catch their furious pop and hook-heavy rock n
roll as they return to Flag for a show at the Monte V.
Gauche
et Droite gets an 'A' on Shakefire.com courtesy
of Jennifer Isbell 2011
Hey kids, do you remember when alternative when it really was alternative?
You know, NO ONE HAD EVER HEARD OF IT, and it didn't win Grammys or
get played on your parents' stations? Well then, "Gauche et Droite,"
the long-awaited fifth album from brothers Billy and Dale Goodman
and Chris Warmuth (i.e., The Necronauts) is right up your alley.
You get two discs of 40
pure and raw and entirely enjoyable songs:
21 songs on disc 1 (gauche)
19 songs on disc 2 (droite)
That's a lot of music, peeps. Granted most of them clock in around
the 2 1/2 minute mark, but WTH? This stuff is good. Is it perfect
post-production quality? Hell no, and thank goodness for that! These
are not your typical three-chord songs that spew angst, rather they
are filled with meanings that may deny the title (e.g., "Skateboarding
Hurts" ain't about skateboards) and hello, odd meter rythms!
Ok, there may be some angst, but it's so perfectly packaged, it's
actually real. And you can relate to it. All of it.
The Necronauts cite Sonic
Youth, Sebadoh, Pavement, Pixies, Nirvana, Fugazi, and Built to Spill
as some of their influences, but honestly I hear more than that, but
I just can't put my finger on what it is. All I know is that I like
it and will be listening to this record a lot.
Dale's
cameo in Dave LusterKaboom Quan's Magical Moments 2011
Java Magazine's Gauche
et Droite Review by Mitchell L. Hillman 2010
Yab
Yum Music "Gauche et Droite" Review 2010
I read a lot. Over the years, this habit has earned me nicknames such
as nerd, poindexter, and Dude, you need
to get laid. And while there is a sliver of truth to these accusations,
I hope to use my bookish habits as an illustration tool in this, my
review of The Necronauts Gauche et Droite.
A month or so ago, I attempted reading Homers Iliad. This epic
struggle between Achilles and Agamemnon, with the meddling of the
gods, was fucking awesome
while I was reading it. The problem
was, every time I put it down and went to start again, Id think
about the 600-odd pages of epic poetry before me. I ended up feeling
overwhelmed and never finished.
Gauche et Droits
one weakness, the one thing keeping it from being my favorite local
album, maybe ever, is its sheer enormity. Two CDs, 40 tracks. Not
one a dud, but I just cant take it all at once.
Where to start? You know
those amazing rock bands you grew up with? Or wish you had? You know.
The Pixies. Built to Spill. The Replacements. The Necronauts have
swallowed them. Whole. And, like the girl in Nightmare on Elm Street
IV that gains the abilities of her dead friends, The Necronauts became
a hybrid of the aforementioned bands, a bunch more from college rocks
heyday, and their own Tempe-bred frustrations.
Translation: seriously
great rock.
Some highlights: Land
Survey (Put Another Bullet in the Chamber) is Dinosaur Jr. on
a particularly good day. Old Highway 666 is the kind of
menacing rock n roll your pastor warned you about.
Droite, the second CD,
is a collection of B-sides, demos, and original versions. If anything,
it shows that the band takes their music seriously long before putting
the finishing touches on. If this were their entire album, they would
deserve kudos nonetheless.
There is a flip-side to
the album being so long. Its a lot of great music. Perfect for
parties where the keg is PBR. Perfect for a burst of energy before
work. So what if it isnt a headphone album?
And I cant help
but think the albums length is a big fuck you. To
who, Im not sure. Conventional album lengths? Those Tempe musicians
stuck in 94, still trying to make the next Gin Blossoms single?
Or maybe to the parts of themselves that thought they couldnt
do it. Well, they did it. And they made one of the best albums to
come out of the Valley in a long, long time.
Mike
Watt fucking remembers us! 2012
(from 2nd heapin' helpin' of 3rd opera tour diary)
raul takes south on I-17, I konk on the back seat and pop when we
pull up to the venue we're working tonight here in phoenix, "the
crescent ballroom" to give directions where to load in cuz I
was here for a fIREHOSE gig opening for m. ward just here last april.
the weather is warm but not broisting, very mild. we soundcheck w/knobman
daniel who is very cool people and then I chow a barbacoa burro (sic)
from the kitchen here, I dig it. the necronaunts (tee hee) are opening
- I think I played w/them in tucson before, maybe w/my secondmen like
eight years ago... my memory, aaarrrgggghhh - but maybe I'm write.
I'm really tuckered and go to the boat to konk.

Dale Goodman immortalized
by Satan's #1 Monk, Jeff Owens!

Flagstaff
Music Review July 2008
July 5 2008 Emperors of japan, Necronauts, and Former Friends of
american kids @ the Monte Vista live concert review
(FORMER FRIENDS
OF AMERICAN KIDS)
As we walked into the Monte Vista hotel and lounge we noticed that
the first band had already taken the stage; Former friends of American
kids. Nothing caught my eye really other than the bass player was
wearing a graduation robe and cap for no particular reason, there
was no definite gimmick with this band, and the lack of energy on
stage and involvement with the audience, they just didnt seem
too into it. The entire band consisted of a drummer, the guitarist
(that was also lead vocals) and the bass player. Im not sure
what was with the back-up singer, she just stood there and hummed
a couple of lines per song. Since were on the topic of songs,
Ill get into their music. It had a very chill vibe
which was appropriate for the small setting and the lighting they
had on stage with shades of blues and greens also fit their sound.
After listening to a couple of their songs it felt tired and boring.
Many of the guitar riffs sounded alike and were very simple and most
of their songs sounded like something you would here in the background
of a movie, or the tracks you would hear at the end of an album
for
the ENTIRE set. Most of their songs also sounded the same from what
we could hear, there was a lot of feedback from their instruments
and the entire thing sounded underwater. They could be
considered ambient rock and if thats what they were
going for, they met expectations but did not exceed them which in
turn left us with the feeling of being let down. The one thing that
really got me in the end was the last song, there were multiple build-ups
with no resolution what-so-ever. Most would see this as a unique move
(if done right) but it wasnt this time and may have caused an
uncomfortable dissonance for the listener. On top of that the last
song dragged out way too long as if they were trying to lull the audience
to sleep before the next band. Over all this band is nothing too special
and I think they can do more.
Former Friends of American Kids gets a 4/10
(The Necronauts)
Ah, the second band, theres nothing negative I can think to
say about this band. They were amazing. Set up and sound check went
by pretty quickly. While they were still setting up the drummer was
nice enough to grace us with a drum solo to keep us entertained. Before
they even started their set they said a few words and even threw around
the names of a couple of other bands, showing them support as well.
Pretty awesome. They got right into their music without hesitation
and the audience exploded with the energy they put off. Their sound
was like funky punk with their own heavier slant. I could even go
to say that they could be compared to a combination of the Chili Peppers
and sublime with a dash of punk. They themselves called it Indie
Space Rock, which pretty much sums it up. They definitely have
their own style that is nothing less of rockin. Everything from
the guitar to the vocals, the drums and bass, was awesome and next
to perfect. The songs were short, sweet and to the point. And they
seemed to have as much fun performing as the audience did watching
them. As my buddy put it, this band has their shit together!
and I couldnt agree more. The show was free that night, but
we agreed that we would definitely pay to see them again, given the
chance. The last sond they played was an instrumental piece that was
darker and heavier than the rest of the set, a perfect finale full
of rockin guitar solos, smashin drums, and sick bass.
Unfortunately the set has to end sometime. The only thing I have to
say is that I would like to see them use more of those super-awesome
last song skills in future work and they just rock. They come at ya
with more energy than you know what to do with and with a variety
of sounds that will leave you wanting more.
The Necronauts get
a: 8/10
(Emperors of
Japan)
So here came the stars of the show. Set up took way too
long, as if they expected the audience didnt mind waiting for
them. The first song started out with a repetition of the same 4 notes
twanged out on a clean guitar over and over. At first I thought that
it was for sound check or maybe just a little jam before the set started
but
it wasnt, it was the song and it was horrible. Soon after the
bass and drums kicked in and again I have to say it was nothing special.
The guitarist was even wearing one of those pooh bear kids costumes
as a hat as if it was cute or unique which it wasnt. And again
like the first band, this band was full of slow redundant riffs that
most people could probably play in their sleep and the lyrics were
incomprehensible and the melodies dissonant. In fact, this could be
compared to the first band only louder with more feedback which was
surprising considering how long they took to set up. We were very
disappointed and did not stay for the entire set, but did however
drop of some business cards of a local costume designer at their merch
table, maybe theyll use them and at least be something to look
at instead of another generic mediocre band.
Emperors of Japan
get a: 3/10
After the show, and after
writing this review, its clear that even though Emperors of
Japan were the headliners for this show, the Necronauts were definitely
the stars. I recommend checking them out so you, too, can experience
their awesomeness.
Arizona Republic 2005

Esquire Magazine April 2004
Get Out (Tempe, AZ) sometime 2003
Indie rock trio the Necronauts have chosen a fine title (translated
from Spanish it means fresh air) for their second disc.
... The new album hones in on an appealingly straightforward pop rock
sound that helps singer Billy G.'s skewed lyrical tales go down easily.
The majority of Aire Fresco was recorded live at downtown
Phoenix's cozy Modified Arts, and though the sound quality is primitive
at best, the charm of songs such as Familiar Burns and
the menacing Bound to the Ground come through unscathed.
....the Necronauts have unearthed a gem...
Zia Zine Sept. 2002
Impact Press sometime 2002
The Necronauts Melodic Array of Change
High School Football Records
From jangly indie pop to driving punk rock to a wee bit of funk, The
Necronauts hop from genre to genre effortlessly. The Arizona trio's
tunes recall a number of alternative staples, particularly the Pixies
(hey, what indie rocker hasn't been influenced a little by the Pixies
over the past 10 years?). This is some good stuff from the Grand Canyon
State. (CL)
-- Kristin Schall
copyright 2001 Made To Be Broken, used by permission
Im sure youre already asking yourself "Who are the
Necronauts?" If youre not, you should be. They arent
some new superhero crime fighting team whose adventures are broadcast
on Saturday mornings for you to watch over a bowl of cheerios. They
may not be super heroes with the ability to fight crime, but they
are a band whose talent, uniqueness and energy have the potential
to make a huge impact in music. The Necronauts, who consist of Billy
G. (vocals/guitar), Andrew Kirk Pangus (bass) and Dale "Mr. Entertainment"
Goodman who resides "neatly behind the drum kit", have been
together for over a year. They hail from sunny and hot Phoenix, Arizona,
but the climate hasnt stopped them from performing a vigorous
one to three times a week sometimes playing two shows on the same
day. Their musical influences are diverse and include bands such as,
Modest Mouse, Pavement, Fugazi, Chuck Berry, Led Zepplin, and The
Pixies. Their discography includes a 15 song demo entitled 15 Songs
About Snoitome and Soitautis, a 12 song demo that will be released
in the very near future and, a studio LP that is halfway recorded
and will be completed using funds from the demos and other merchandise.
The completion of August 2001 will bring about a slow of pace for
The Necronauts. They plan to use their time to focus on getting merchandise
and demos out. They may string together a few dates for a small tour
of a few southwest states. After playing with innumerable local acts
such as, The Levines, Stereotyperider, and Redfield along with national
acts including, Frank Black, Superdrag, Link 80, No Motiv, Zebrahead,
and Marky Ramone and the Intruders, the change of pace will allow
The Necronauts to focus on other aspects of music beside performance.
I got the chance to see The Necronauts perform on July 21, 2001. This
was one of those days where they were scheduled for two shows on the
same day. Billy (vocals/guitar), who is one of the nicest people Ive
met, picked me up from my house shortly before the first show of the
evening (a gesture Im quite appreciative of) and we were off
to the first show. We arrived at The Buddha Lounge, in Phoenix, Arizona
not too long before the show was scheduled to begin. Much to my surprise
no one had arrived yet, even the rest of the band showed up fashionably
late. This wait before the show allowed me to take in the venue, which
was the nicest venue Ive ever seen. Its lit with black
light, giving it a nice atmosphere, a stage area that is set back,
comfortable chairs and couches line the walls and there plenty of
room to enjoy the show with out being crowded. When The Necronauts,
who went on first, began their set approximately 20 people had arrived.
They opened with an instrumental intro that flowed beautifully into
their first song "Texas". The energy they had from beginning
to end easily compares to the energy of a five year old on pixie sticks.
To categorize The Necronauts sound would be doing them an injustice.
Every one of their songs are different, I found it refreshing to listen
to a band whose songs are diverse enough to be able to tell one from
the next. This could pose as a challenge in transition between songs,
but The Necronauts do it flawlessly. The audiences reaction
was slightly disappointing. I could sense them enjoying the performance
but they were hesitant to warm up to The Necronauts and gave just
a polite response. This reaction most likely stemmed from the fact
that the majority of them were there to see The Levines, who were
set to go on following The Necronauts. In spite of the crowd The Necronauts
gave a performance full of energy, this combined with their talent
gave them an impressive stage presence. After sticking around a bit
to watch The Levines performance it was off to Bostons
in Tempe, a venue not as impressive as the first. Bostons is
a large bar thats poorly lit, and extremely hot and stuffy,
the only good thing about it is the back of the stage opens up to
outside, this allows people to watch the show from the slightly cooler
outdoors, escaping the stuffiness of inside. The Necronauts second
show of the night was held here. This time they went on second, following
a high-quality performance by Hell Is For Heroes. Once again, The
Necronauts did not disappoint. The crowd this time was there to see
them and a bond was formed almost from the first note of their intro.
This bond added to their already magnificent stage presence. One would
think that after their first energy filled performance there would
be something lacking in the second show due to fatigue. Not for The
Necronauts. The second show had just as much, if not more energy then
the first, and the level of talent displayed remained way above par.
The Necronauts are the
most promising band Ive seen in a long time. They have a diverse
sound, immense talent and incredible energy. The chemistry between
members is incredible. Each members sound and style fit together
like a perfectly pieced puzzle. To be able to play two shows in the
same night at such a high level is incredibly impressive. The Necronauts
is definitely a name people will be hearing, most likely in the not
so distant future. Even though they arent crime fighting super
heroes with their own Saturday morning cartoon and action figures,
it is apparent that The Necronauts are on track to become superheroes
among musicians.