Gig Review: Scissor Sisters.

picture: idolator.com

SCISSOR SISTERS

12 SEPTEMBER 2010

FOX THEATRE

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA

I just can't get enough of this theatre! And so it was on this blustery and somewhat grey Sunday evening that my significant other and I rode the tube underneath the Bay on BART, heading for an evening of confetti, rainbow lasers, sequins, and campy fun!

After a warm-up gig from Casey Spooner (yep, from Fischerspooner) performing tracks from his new solo album and a DJ set from Sammy Jo, Scissor Sisters took the stage. Babydaddy and Del Marquis took their guitarists' spots on either side, whilst Jake Shears (looking outlandishly fit and amazing in a shiny black leotard with trousers sporting mesh on the buttocks) and Ana Matronic (done up in her Joan Crawford 'do, wearing a black S/M-style dress - looking a bit like a naughty 50's schoolteacher who specializes in spanking naughty students) took their spots at the front. Rounded out with a drummer (Randy "Real" Schrager) and a keyboardist (John "JJ" Garden), Scissor Sisters wasted absolutely no time whatsoever in getting their groove on with the explosive title track of their new album, Night Work.

Never have I seen a band exude such confidence, such ebullience. Maybe it has something to do with Ana Matronic playing in her former stomping grounds (she performed as a transsexual impersonator at the seminal (haha) San Francisco club The Stud, during their infamous weekly party "Trannyshack"), but I'm telling you guys - they were on fire. Examples!

picture by yours truly

Their 110-minute set was a well-mixed affair, consisting of a healthy sprinkling of songs from their eponymous debut and the new album. The widely ho-hum-regarded sophomore album Ta-Dah was only represented twice, with the terribly catchy (and Elton John co-wrote) "I Don't Feel Like Dancin'" and the somewhat mediocre "Kiss You Off." But let me tell you something - Night Work is a phenomenal fucking recording. I can honestly say that it's a flat-out splendid piece of mischievous, gaudy, frolicking, and intense fun. And, I'm happy to report, it translates to live extraordinarily well. Here are some of my highlights!

The delightfully filthy "Whole New Way" was simply introduced by Ana Matronic: "This song," she deadpanned, "is about sodomy." Featuring a lyric about "Well, I think I need a rubber tonight," I'll just let you use your imagination as to where the song goes!

"Running Out" is probably my new favorite song of theirs, and my nominee for the next single! I'm telling you - this song soars, man. It's an incredibly, impossibly catchy piece of pop confectionary that seemingly has it all: sharp indie guitars courtesy of Babydaddy and Del Marquis, a fantastic disco beat, and chirping, swooping synths that bring to mind some of the best stuff that late 70's/early 80's Krautrock had to offer.

Another track off of Night Work that really works for me (especially live) is "Skin This Cat." Sung by Ana and featuring a deep, progressive throbbing bass-line throughout with a fantastically fun 8-bit keyboard flitting about like a stoned butterfly, it's something of a turn-on when she purrs, "Here, kitty kitty, let's skin this cat." Bathed in a flood of dark purple lights, it was a simply divine moment.

Old favorites such as "Laura," "Tits On The Radio," and "Take Your Mama" shone with the light we've come to expect over the years, though I do have a tiny - tiny - complaint with the latter song. I'm not sure if it has anything to do with the fact that they've been playing "Take Your Mama" for, like, ever, or anything, but their performance of it this evening did seem to be a little bit ... lackluster, for want of a better word. Maybe they're getting a little tired of performing it? It's a possibility. Just sayin'.

One little bit of funny occurred during the beginning of the new track "Something Like This." Jake (who's prone to dropping mic stands in the midst of his onstage shenanigans) dropped his mic off the stage just before he was set to begin singing! After the roadie ran out with a replacement, Jake picked up where the song was supposed to be, smiling quite bashfully as Ana did her damnedest to keep from cracking up. He righted himself quite gracefully, and, at the end of the number, Ana laughed and told the crowd, "See? We're really singing!"

Before they tore into the last song of their regular set, "Night Life," Ana Matronic turned serious for a brief spell. "We don't usually read our reviews," she said. Jake piped in "But sometimes you just can't help it!" "Yeah," said Ana, "we read the review of our show in Chicago ... and that fucking bitch called us 'shallow!'" Ana began to get animated, her voice rising, and went off on the Chicago Sun-Times reviewer (I looked it up and the reviewer's name is Misha Davenport) - "So maybe she thinks real life only happens from nine to five; but let me tell you, honey: It's going to clubs that allow people to let their hair down and be themselves. It's where love happens, it's where dreams are born and magic is created. So let me be the first to tell you, bitch: It's not fucking shallow!"

Damn right, sister.

After a five minute break, they returned to a monumental and thunderous rain of applause before scorching into an encore that cranked the show (which was already at a ten) to a fucking sixty-nine. Their highly infectious Pink Floyd cover "Comfortably Numb" was filled with an effervescent energy that shot the already pumped-up crowd over the edge. "Invisible Light" brought to mind the hi-energy rave anthems of the mid-90's, complete with a spoken-word segue from the one and only Sir Ian McKellen (!!!), and then they flew into "Filthy/Gorgeous," which was extended in a huge way, culminating in a confetti drop that went on for minutes!

Campy. Energetic. Boisterous. Ballsy. Fun. Confident. I'd say many things about Scissor Sisters' triumphant return. But "shallow"?

Fuck no.

setlist

night work

laura

any which way

she's my man

something like this

whole new way

tits on the radio

harder you get

running out

take your mama

kiss you off

i don't feel like dancin'

skin tight

skin this cat

fire with fire

night life

-----

comfortably numb

invisible light

filthy/gorgeous

Now, here's Scissor Sisters performing "Running Out" live on Chattyman on UK's Channel Four. Enjoy!