I have to get to shows really early so that I can find a place to put my ass, so I see a !lot! of opening bands. You know how that goes: you see a lot of OK bands, but you have to learn to kind of space out through bands you don’t particularly care for. Every once in a while, though, you score with a great band you’ve never heard of.
Last Wednesday’s U.S.E. show at du Nord? Mega score! I’ve never seen so many people smiling through three bands in a row.
I mean, already you know you’re in for a great time when U.S.E. is in town. They sounded better than ever and are still putting the massive sound into the smaller venues. The new songs from Loveworld are fantastic, and by all rights they should be selling out stadiums. If I haven’t convinced you by now to give them a shot, then, well… I’ll try again next time.
But the awesome surprise was Taiwanese band WonFu, on their first-ever U.S. tour.
Who WonFu?
Got it? You can find plenty of their music videos on their MySpace and on YouTube, but the closest thing I could find to give you a sense of how much fun they are is this one from 2006:
So maybe you understand how overwhelmed with emotion I was when they closed their set with the Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back.” Perfect, perfect. Throw in some of the best stage patter ever (“When you are sad, think of my face.”) and we’ve got a winner for Surprise Most Awesomeness Show of the Jahr. Award.
OREGONIANS AND SEATTLETONIANS TAKE HEED: they are playing near your house this week. Don’t make me mad, just go.
BIG UP to locals Scrabbel, who get the assist on getting WonFu over here and around, and who started off the night righteously with sweetness, melody, and cello.
Smiles, everyone, smiles!
Photos of WonFu and Scrabbel by sdlawsonphoto:
