By: Andrea Myers
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The Gleam - Photo from their website
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Minnesota’s The Gleam opened for Ike Reilly at the Varsity Theater Saturday. To steal a line from Martin Devaney, The Gleam is "a good band, but good in a really shitty way." By the end of their set I was in complete agreement with the statement. The Gleam have all the elements of a garage band: a blown-out amp that squealed between bass notes, a row of cans of Pabst Blue Ribbon that they took turns chugging between songs, and music that is played so fast and recklessly that they are in danger of falling apart at any minute.
They didn't fall apart though, at least not noticeably, and their rowdy alt-country songs invited the crowd right up to the front of the stage to jump and shake their fists along with the band. The trio looks cocky, especially the drummer with his homemade shirt that read "Tell yr ma I had better," or the bass drum with a sign proclaiming "THE GODDAMN GLEAM." But between sets the baby-faced lead singer and lanky bass played turn around and yell at the drummer, explaining "he's new," and by the end of the set they had self-deprecated so much that the drummer knocked over his set and they all fell down in a huge pile on the stage. They were wild, they were raucous, but they embodied the innocent charm of a rascally kid seeing how much trouble he can get into.
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Ike Reilly's new album - Junky Faithful
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The energy created by The Gleam was a great primer for the outstanding set by Ike Reilly. Backed by a tight band (Phil Karnatz, guitar; Ed Tinley, keyboard/guitar/backup vocals; Tommy O'Donnell, bass; Dave Cottini, drums) who have been with him for five years, they pack a punch that is unlike most live acts. The show was a CD-release party for the new album Junkie Faithful that was released last Tuesday, and about almost all of the songs on the new record were mixed into his set. Ike was dressed in all black with a big glimmering silver cross hanging from his neck, and behind the stage was a huge blood-splattered picture of an angel announcing "The Ike Reilly Assassination." These kinds of symbols would seem too flamboyant, too pretentious for most bands, but as I panned the crowd and saw the way that his fans mouthed along with all of his lyrics and looked at him like he was The One, it all fell into place.
Ike and his band played material off of all three of his recorded albums, including a decent selection from his 2001 breakout album "Salesmen and Racists." The songs on all three of his records feature his gritty yet soothing voice and brutally honest lyrics (though he claims that none of his songs are really about him). But in my opinion, his driving force will always be his live shows. On stage Ike has a commanding presence, and when he sings lines like "it's all right to die" and "everything is going to be all right," everyone believes him. By the time he finished his regular set and left the stage, the room was so pumped up that even the people who showed up to see the first two bands were screaming and begging for more. The band came back out to play a few more favorites, and the evening climaxed with "Last Time," the opening song on "Salesmen and Racists" and an obvious crowd favorite. Taking a look around the room one last time, I noticed that his fan base looks a lot like the lines of "Last Time," "salesmen and racists and football stars, all hanging out at the hotel bar." The people attracted to Ike Reilly range from graying hippies to college frat boys to coked-up divas to quiet music heads, and everyone there manages to get along and have fun.
After the show, Ike is known to come out to greet his fans and friends, and this night was no different. In person he has a softer persona and intense gaze, making everyone there feel like his long-lost friend. As we stood around glowering in his presence and coming down off the excitement of the show, Ike looked around, grinned, and remarked, "Well, I guess there isn't a whole lot left that needs to be said."
See also Cyn Collins review of this Ike Reilly show.
Ike Reilly Set List:
Work Song
Mixture
Suffer for the Trust
It's All Right to Die
What a Day
Holiday in New York
Vicious
Kara Dean
Duty Free
Hip Hop Thighs #17
Whatever Happened to the Girl in Me?
God and Money
Garbage Day
I Don't Want What You've Got (Goin On)
Farm Girl
Commie Drives a Nova
Encore:
I Will Let You Down
unknown cover
Last Time
Everything Is Gonna Be Alright
Location Info:
The Varsity Theater
Artist Info: Ike Reilly, The Gleam
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