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Written by Bob McMahon Tuesday, 18 April 2006 09:06

Electric Six proved itself a versatile band, easily switching between funk (“Dance Epidemic”) cock-rock (“She’s White”), and new wave (“Future Boys”).

 

w/The Fever
Mojo's, Columbia, Mo.

Mojo’s got a double dose of dance-rock when Electric Six and the Fever visited Columbia. Though neither group limits itself exclusively to the genre, both excel at crafting funky grooves that complemented each other nicely in concert.

The Fever played first, starting with a swinging, blues-rock introduction before singer Geremy Jasper joined the group onstage. The four-piece then launched into the nervy synth-rock of new song “Redhead.” Throughout the night, the group successfully alternated between these two sounds. Taking an approach similar to fellow New Yorkers the Rapture, the Fever employed jerky rhythms and occasional dissonance to add an edge to danceable songs.

While slower numbers, such as the winding “Put It on You,” lurched along, the band expressed soul through the melancholy melodies and Jasper’s animated wailing. Set highlights included the fuzzy keyboards of “Ladyfingers,” the wicked descending guitar riff in “Do the Tramp,” and garage rock of “Fantom Hotel.” A special mention must also be made of drummer Achilles Tzoulafis’s passionate pummeling. Unfortunately, the vocals were criminally buried in the mix, robbing the show of its full impact.

Then came Electric Six. While the audience had warmly received the Fever’s set, it was clear by their reaction to the Six’s arrival who most came to see. Frontman Dick Valentine set the tone for the show when he announced that the band was going to celebrate the release of their new album by playing a song off of their first album. The band then opened with the bouncy funk of “Improper Dancing.” The crowd immediately began jumping and matched the band’s high energy until the finishing cry of “Stop!” (The usual “Continue!” follow-through did not appear.) By the next song, the crowd had developed a fully formed mosh-pit.

Electric Six proved itself a versatile band, easily switching between funk (“Dance Epidemic”) cock-rock (“She’s White”), and new wave (“Future Boys”). However, the main focus of the show was Valentine. When not injecting his singing with drama, Valentine found poses that matched the absurdity of his lyrics (sample: “Radio message from HQ/Dance Commander, we love you”). Such poses included jumping with his arms raised, waving to the audience with an idiotic, open-mouthed grin, and leaning his head against the wall. This added to the silly vibe of the show and helped compensate for guitarist Johnny Nashnall’s lack of stage presence.

The group hit a snag when crucial keyboard parts were either neglected or lost in the mix during “Rock and Roll Evacuation” and “Synthesizer.” Fortunately, the synth shot through for sizzling performances of “Devil Nights” and “Future Boys.” As expected, the audience went especially nuts for Fire’s singles “Danger! High Voltage,” “Gay Bar,” and the encore performance of “Dance Commander.” The evening ended when Valentine yelled “Continue!” and the band finished “Improper Dancing.” This moment perfectly encapsulated the silliness of the night and brought a great conclusion to an excellent show.