|
|
 |
All
Mod Pros:
The
Five O'Clock
Heroes
7.09.04
@ Mercury Lounge
by Abby Davis
|
“The Five
O’Clock Heroes…hmm, why have I never heard about
these guys before?” I wonder as my body starts to sway
in rhythm to their first song of the night, entitled “Head
Games.” Maybe it’s because they resemble every other
hot, tight jeans and black converse wearing young band which
plays at The Mercury Lounge, Sin-e, or Pianos. Only this time
there’s clearly one apparent difference between The Five
O’Clock Heroes and all those others- these guys can actually
play. Granted, talented or not, the girls would drool either
way. But it’s nice to finally be able to salivate and
dance at a show.
|
|
| The Heroes, composed of two Brits and
two Yanks, give us the best of both worlds. Antony Ellis, the
lead singer, produces an attractive British slur, while the
drumming and bass lines are comparative to The Police. While
guitarist Elliot Thompson does have a striking similarity to
Julian Casablancas from The Strokes, that’s the only thing
this garage-rock/ pop band and The Strokes have in common. The
hard drum beats which compliment Antony’s vocals and Elliot’s
coy back-up singing have a perfect love affair with each other.
|
|
Their songs,
catchy and melodic, intoxicate the senses. Each one seems
to bring you back to those days of drinking 40s on a stoop,
chasing boys with bad skin, and not caring that you’d
have to be up at seven the next morning. As they plunge into
their single, “Run to Her,” I can’t help
but notice the girls in the front eagerly gyrating. And, although
the guys in the audience clearly held a certain jealousy towards
these boys onstage who were getting into their girlfriends’
pants without ever having to touch them, even they could not
help but mouth the words along with them. Fellow Cityzen writer,
founder and friend Craig Cook summed up the scene in front
of us by exclaiming, “There’s sexy ass shakin’
going on all over the place!” Yes Craig, I’d have
to agree- sexy ass shakin’ was definitely present.
|
Their lyrics,
cheesy at times, funny at others, and incoherent in between,
are nevertheless fitting. “Won’t you stay the
night? Don’t want to be alone…” croons Antony.
His lips pursed, and eyes half open, half closed- perhaps
imagining the one he’s singing to. It’s hard to
believe that he would ever have to beg a girl to stay the
night but, alas, this charming display of puppy dog vocals
is disgustingly effective. Their song “White Girls”
on the other hand, made little to no sense, however, who really
cares if the song’s lucid or not when you’re dancing
without contemplation or reservations?
These guys were the perfect foursome
to join forces. As a group, they seem more like best friends
from high school than musicians who were merely pooled together.
Their camaraderie onstage and off give them a cool confidence
while playing which translates into a surprising show of professionalism
without the smugness that all too often follows. Drummer Mike
Williams looks like he could be drumming in his sleep if he
wanted to. While watching them play, it’s undeniable
that he’s an incredible asset to the band.
|
|
 |
One remarkable thing about
this show which I’ve noticed lacking in many others
was the number of phenomenal transitions from one song to
the next. Mike consistently keeps the band in check- with
one song flowing into the next like an audio waterfall. Nader
Kheirbek, bassist, also looks like he could be playing with
his eyes closed . Clearly the stoic and more subdued member
of the band, there’s something deeper just waiting...
like a firecracker about to be lit, don’t be surprised
if the bass lines traverse suddenly from solid pop to raucous
Brit-punk. Together, these four make it possible to believe
that within them lie the quintessential roots of rock ‘n
roll.
As a whole, their high-energy performance
is contagious. And why shouldn’t it be? After all, they’re
well on their way to becoming known for what they already
are- a naughty pleasure. If, like myself, you fear liking
them for their hipster/ pretty boy appeal, well, that’s
too bad. It’s inevitable that you won’t be the
only one. However, when you find yourself humming their songs
before you fall asleep at night, don’t say I didn’t
warn you.
|
|
|
|
