Weatherbox

The Avalon, Hollywood California

September 7, 2007 

Honestly, I approached the Weatherbox show at  the Avalon in Hollywood with fairly low expectations. I knew nothing of the band other than a few snippets of their songs  gleaned off iTunes and the 180-word blurb found on Wikipedia where I learned quite informatively that “Weatherbox is an indie rock band from San Diego, California . . . currently comprised of Brian Warren, members Ryan Hill (ex-Cue Dorian), Justin Greene (ex-Lance's Hero), and Lowell Heflin (from Lanterns, ex-Panic In The Streets).” That paltry knowledge coupled with the fact that this so-called “indie rock band” was opening for the opener for MTV-bubble-band Cartel left me feigning anticipation as I awaited what I was certain would be a half-hour of inconsequential pop/rock. 

As the band took the stage, my first surprise was their total lack of packaging. There were no highly stylized coifs, hyper-trendy outfits, or noticeably lined eyelids. Just four guys and their instruments, apparently ready to jam. When they began at 7:15 pm the Avalon’s floor was pretty packed even though it would be hours before Cartel hit the stage. Given Weatherbox’s tendency to name songs rather obscurely, I don’t know what the song they opened with was called, but I do know Warren’s vocals immediately drew me in. He wasn’t the most attractive lead singer and he didn’t impart the most dynamic stage presence, but his voice was full of intensity and emotion. 

By the time they played their fourth song “The Clearing” - off their debut album American Art - I knew exactly who Warren’s singing reminded of. Vocally he was a rawer but just as earnest version of Say Anything’s Max Bemis (Imagine my surprise when weeks later I discovered an interview online where Warren declared his love for Say Anything). A perfect complement to Warren was the frantic exuberance of the band’s instrumentation. Each guitar riff and pounding drumbeat echoed in my chest partially because of the Avalon’s intense speaker system, but also partially because they were rocking out so hard. 

To close, they chose the aptly titled “Trippin’ the Life Fantastic.” It started with a funky guitar intro and heavy back beat that melted into the background for Warren’s evocative lyrics to dominate and finally culminated with a manic flourish. Irrefutably the most memorable song of the night, it left an impressive mark on me, the perpetual hater of opening bands. My jaded tendencies thrust aside, Weatherbox showed me a good time with their refreshingly enthusiastic performance and their seven-song set was over before I knew what hit me. I wouldn’t be surprised if I catch them the next time they roll into L.A.