April 24, and someone had tried to throw together a last-minute Armenian Genocide Commemoration, of which several go down every year, usually to biggish local crowds.
2008, and I didn't have to be there to know the one at The Knitting Factory, put on by Visa and its Greek frontman K'noup, was bangin' compared to the scene at The Derby, which is dead, dead, deader every time I'm there. Including this lackluster latest time.
Nonetheless, theAE -- having disrupted the whole "writing" process to take a show that they (Hamlet) believed promising -- took the stage and, well, rocked.
Played as tightly as I've heard them live, thanks much to beat-keeper Garrett. Sang as boldly and effortlessly as I've heard in a while. Tossed and turned and head banged their half-hour of the night away in style.
And, by the end of the short, six-song set, I'd gotten used to the mini roar emanating from the bar behind me after songs and, when coaxed by Dave, during songs. A drunk, short Kanye-a-like had made it to the front of the stage, and was diggin': "You guys, rock, man. You guys rock." When the last metal note of Red Divine had drifted away, I turned and saw that the starkly empty room that they'd started with was 20 or so heads fuller, a good handful of souls who didn't retreat into the back room, or to the back of the room, but who'd moved toward the stage for a better look, listen, whiff.
Moments like these.
Enough to make you believe.
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