Live Review: Girls, Feb. 5 at the Earl

By Brock Scott

[We are pleased to welcome our latest contributor - artist, multi-instrumentalist, Little Tybee frontman, and darn good writer - Brock Scott. The illustration above is also by Brock.]

Girls played the Earl on Friday, February 5th to a sold-out crowd of sing-a-long devotees.

This band has been making headlines since September of last year for their summery singles and the mystique and turbulent life story of their leader, Christopher Owens. I won’t use this article to dive too far into his life story, as I am sure you can source a quick Google search to grasp the heritage of this wily group of troubadours. Needless to say, a cult upbringing would certainly pave the way for a lot of honest songwriting.

As I sat waiting for the Smith Westerns to open the evening, I struck up conversation with a twenty-something girl who looked rather spritely while perched to a barstool. Her eyes glared at the instruments that littered the stage knowing full well whose fingers would kiss their glimmering strings soon. After a few words I discovered that she had made a pilgrimage to Atlanta after becoming star struck by Girls in Birmingham, Alabama the night before. “They are going to blow up!” she said, “I’m good at predicting these things.” This statement seemed rather late considering Girls was voted best new band of 2009 by Spin Magazine, received a hailstorm of raving reviews from the likes of Rolling Stone and Pitchfork and was in the middle of a sold-out world tour. For all intents and purposes Girls had supernova’d a good many months ago and the microwaves were just now reaching her brain.

Soon after her psychic predictions were uttered, the room was filled to the brim with the most eclectic bunch of concertgoers I have seen in a long time. There were frat guys, punk kids, leather “bears”, business casuals, and also a (new to me) anti-fashion movement that was being acculturated by Girls and Magic Kids (which consisted of basically, “what ever works”)…I really don’t think it would work for me.

It was about midnight when Girls took the stage. The reticent Christopher Owens (adorned with bright pink lip-stick and a Harry Potter sweater) threw on his high-strapped Rickenbacker guitar and addressed the audience with the subtlest of remarks, “Thank you for being here,” and with this, the show began.

The sincerity Girls had on stage was hard not to notice. The strain on Owens face coupled with his rather odd flamingo stance made it seem that all of his physical energy was being channeled to his performance. The songs shot one after another with little to no delay in between them. “I don’t have anything to say,” he murmured to the crowd. But it didn’t matter. Their performance had captivated the room.

In most circumstances over enthusiastic concert sing-a-longs prove to be rather distracting, but I found it somewhat enchanting with Girls. It was obvious that this audience was well versed with the Girls catalogue, yielding a Beatle Mania-like response to such songs as “Lust for Love” and “Ghost Mouth”. On occasion the PA system had trouble competing with the mostly tone-deaf but spirited audience.

I always wonder how a band will translate live in comparison to their albums. Some bands just aren’t suited to be listened to in a studio recording, or vise versa, but Girls knew what they were doing and they did it well live. They put a refreshing spin on the world of garage rockers, who these days are getting noticed for their persona and antics more often than their music. Needless to say Girls has a natured balance with this equation.

Shows like these are the ones that make me proud to be living in what I consider to be one of America’s strongest and most supportive music scenes. It was evident that all three bands were overwhelmed by the response at the Earl. “I haven’t had this much fun since Williamsburg” Smith Westerns front man Cullen Omori said to the audience towards the end of their set.

Girls ended their last song with a request for any drugs that might be floating around the audience. “We need them tonight” Owens pleaded through the microphone. High or not, I think Girls fans are devoted junkies who would panhandle the streets just to get another taste of “the sweetness” and I’m sure the drug will only get more addictive from here.