Maxïmo Park at the Varsity Theater - July 17, 2007
Source: morecowbell.net
You know how there are some bands that you grow to have an unnatural obsession with? We all have them. Some are embarrassing, some just get us curious stares, and others we parade around with pride, proclaiming them to be “the best!” For me, British pop music has always been an unnatural obsession in pretty much any form. Lately, it’s been Locksley (yeah, I know they’re from WI), the Fratellis and Maxïmo Park.
July is my month, it seems, as two of the three obsessions in my life are not only coming to Minneapolis, but also to my favorite venue, the Varsity Theater. The Varsity is a place I feel relaxed and at home. However, I rarely sit in all the couches and comfy chairs littering the sides of the floor. I’m usually bouncing from one side of the stage to the other, attempting to get some good photos without interrupting the experiences of concert-goers. So I feel exceptionally blessed that both of my crackpot crazy obsessions will be playing their upbeat jams at my current place of worship.
Maxïmo Park is a band I first heard played by Brian Oake on his radio show, Freedom Rock. I’ve always made a point to listen to Oake since he and Mary Lucia hosted the morning show on Rev 105 back in the day. I trust them both with my musical life, which says a lot. Oake played a song called “A Year of Doubt” which blew my mind. It starts with a quick guitar riff that flutters downward into a bouncy tune you can’t help but dance to. It’s not particularly intelligent or complex, but it makes me move, and sometimes that’s all I need.
The rest of Maxïmo Park’s music varies between punk-influenced kicks and mellow, thought-provoking tunes that discuss inevitable events in life. Their newest album, Our Earthly Pleasures, has some of my favorite songs yet to date. “Nosebleed” speaks of that time when you change yourself for someone else. It rarely works out. “Girls Who Play Guitars” is how life used to be, and how it’s changed. My overall favorite album, however, is titled Missing Songs, and contains ”My Life in Reverse,” which is pretty self-explanatory, “Trial and Error,” about living with another person, and “Stray Talk,” which carries lines like “The only one you really trust is the one who always lets you down. It’s not my place to give advice, when all I’ve done was make mistakes.”
My favorite Maxïmo Park song of all time, however, is “Kiss You Better.” Lead Paul Smith croons, “…and if it comes down to me and him, you know I kiss you better.” Sigh. Smith’s voice is clear and low, conveying perfectly the emotion in whatever song he’s singing, whether it be the more upbeat tunes or the ones that make the girls all swoon. Smith wasn’t the original lead of this band, composed of jittery keyboardist Lukas Wooller, drummer Tom English, guitarist Duncan Lloyd and bassist Archis Tiku. However, without him it couldn’t be the same experience. Smith’s dancing alone would be reason for pretty much anyone to attend a Maxïmo show, as his leaps and bounds are, without question, the best I’ve ever seen. The man gets four feet into the air just on his own… no trampoline required. You sort of wait with baited breath for him to complete another pass.
Maxïmo’s show at the Varsity contained all I love about the band (and yup, they played “Kiss You Better”) and British pop. In less than two weeks I have the opportunity to rip it up at the Varsity once again as The Fratellis take the stage on July 29. Sorry to tell you the show is sold out, but there’s an in-store at the Electric Fetus earlier that day (time is still TBA). Just remember to make room for me & my camera.
Ollie Stone of openers The Oohlas loves her guitar
Paul Smith of Maxïmo Park
Paul Smith jumps and leaps like a madman
Keyboardist Lukas Wooller practices his air guitar
Paul Smith of Maxïmo Park
The rest of the set (along with photos of opening bands the Oohlas & Monsters Are Waiting) can be found by clicking on this link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mnconcertphotos/sets/72157600891073658/
Leicester’s finest 
Oxford lads 
The complete line up for this summer’s 
