Experiencing Aaron Marks in Concert, w/ Sammy Griffin
by Jonas Hunt
"You absolutely have to see him Uncle Jonas!"
"I don't know, the headlining kid looks like he hasn't hit puberty."
"Their absolutely stunning! I heart them Uncle Jonas!"
"Do you now? Well, I suppose I have to see them."
"You totally have to!"
It was June 18th, and it was cold. I wasn't pleased, as I nudged past the multiple pre-teens and college students I finally arrived at the press section for this show. I had the feeling that my niece had bamboozled me into seeing the next Tween Sensations. Recently
AARON MARKS and
SAMMY GRIFFIN had been raising talks about their skill and blah blah blah. I wasn't having any of it, I was cold and annoyed. The chatter around the area came to a stop when the first of the ginger duo hit the stage. Sammy Griffin.
He sounded a little nervous before he announced that he was recording some of this for his next EP. He had already released one? I didn't care, I didn't know who the hell this was and I was only checking this show out so that my Culture Column could get a nice introduction. Plus, I got free beer! Free beer is fucking awesome! Then the crowd start murmuring, 'He ain't singing Behind tonight? What a rip! That's what I came here for!' but he starts singing the chorus to one of his most well-known song, a few of his devotee fans join in with him, I'm still not amused. I down another Guinness and hope the night becomes a blur of bad choices and amnesia.
Then he begins to introduce himself and go on about his EPs, Christ this kid was into himself. The crowd eat him up though, I don't know why. Is his music really that goo- Suddenly, I snap my eyes open and notice the guitar in Sammy's hands. Wasn't this kid a rapper? What the fuck was going on here? Was I being Punk'd? Then, god as my witness, the kid starts rapping, damn well at that. I look in awe as he begins to strum then rap, then strum and rap. Then he sings, and I fucking lose it. Who the hell does this kid think he is? Oh wait, a good fucking musician. I'm cheering along with the rest of them in the course of ONE FUCKING SONG. Fuck, I'm embarrassed to say this but I was sold.
"and next up is Aaron Marks!" Sammy shouts too soon. He was an opener and a damn fine one at that. I was flustered really, Sammy had raped me. He had raped my expectations of him and raped me with some solid music. That between the beers I had consumed had me cheering. Which is probably why I shouted, "BRING SAMMY BACK ON!" as the kid left the stage. Smoke assaulted the stage soon afterwards and the lights fell dark. A small band rushed the stage as chants of 'Aaron Marks!' surrounded me. I was ready for this guy. Maybe he wouldn't be terrible....
Getting Out was the first song he played once the fan girl squeals quieted down. Never before had I wanted to stab teenagers with such a sharp knife but I quelled my rage. I digged Getting Out, it was pretty wild. The next two songs were two, I couldn't quite understand why I was liking the set so much but couldn't think of any highlights so to speak. That's when I noticed it, during the final song...a cover. Aaron Marks is a star waiting to happen but the one thing he's missing IS AN ACTUAL BAND. Aaron oozes star quality, sex appeal and general courage when walks about that stage. He's like Steven Tyler, your eyes just automatically move to him. So whilst he was performing that's when I noticed I didn't quite like the set, not because of him but because of his backing band. They couldn't keep up AT ALL, they were pretty damn crappy.
So all in all I left the Barfly with two new musicians that I could chalk into my like category and I needed to thank my niece. Watch out for Sammy Griffin, he can catch you off guard and Aaron Marks has what it takes, but doesn't have the right brand of help accompanying him.
CONCERT:
4/5
JONAS OUT!OOC: I didn't do a News Countdown this week so I decided to do a column.
Edited by user 25 June 2011 11:46:29(UTC)
| Reason: Not specified
