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Pete Townshend long ago said of Who bassist John Entwistle, “I think John finds a challenge with us that he can’t find with any other band.” Assuming that he wasn’t inferring the challenge of Keith Moon’s inability to keep time, could there be a greater compliment for a musician? With The Aristocrats, I’d wager that any of the three members feel that way about playing with each other. Guitar, bass and drums isn’t a complicated formula for a band, but add virtuosic ability for each member and a penchant for playing at the outer edges of music theory… It’s obviously complex and complicated music. It’s not (just) rock, or prog, or jazz or metal but rather a fusion of all that uninhibited by, in my view, any obligation to an accessible song structure, never mind a recognizable one. And it’s that way because that’s what they want to do and have the ability to do it.
With eleven years and four studio albums behind them, the band has finally returned to the not-quite-post-pandemic road. This was their third trip to Atlanta and probably my favorite in terms of their song selections and overall flow. Their live performances, regardless of which songs they play, are extraordinary. While their albums are enjoyable, watching them play live is where it’s at and, frankly, deserving more of Atlanta music enthusiasts’ attention. I’m not complaining. Seeing them at Aisle 5 or years ago at the former Masquerade provides an intimacy that is lost in larger venues.
A glance at the band’s album covers and song titles makes it obvious that they don’t take themselves too seriously. Given their skills, they could easily fall but seem to revel in the indulgences that they can create together. Instrumental pyrotechnics are great, to watch, of course, but the Aristocrats make it fun.
Take dinosaurs. Now imagine a highly complex instrumental rock fusion whatever song being introduced a being about dinosaurs. No. Of course not. And so it goes, with each member introducing their song typically in hilarious ways. “Furtive Jack” – a tango in 5/4. “Last orders” – a bar closing and the sound of “boo!” or “boohoo,” depending on the state of the person. “Hey, Where’s My Drink Package” – a “fucking hard song.” Well, that was after the comic setup.
Another Townshend comment about John Entwistle was that he kept the band grounded, otherwise they might take off.
No clue with this band; they could all fly off, but don’t they don’t.
And that’s where the creative vibe is most evident. Sure, they play to the crowd, but they’re often looking at each other, not so much like reading a music chart, but enjoying and feeding off of what each other is doing. Shared smiles, nods, satisfaction… relief?
The Aristocrats are not a “full time” band, sorry, “supergroup” per Google, at least that I can tell. Each has other pursuits, partnering with other musicians, solo albums, guest spots, teaching, but it’s easy to see why they come back to each other. There seems to be joy in the music for them which is transparent to the audience.
Highlights included two new songs, “… Drink Package” and “Aristoclub,” a “90’s dance song” (not quite) with a classic Marco Minnerman drum solo. “Terrible Lizard” and “Ohhhh Noooo” are always great to hear, and “Through the Flower” caught my ear more than it had in the past. There weren’t any misfires in the bunch, certainly. Overall the set’s pacing seemed less frenetic (too strong a word) than prior tours, but each player had their audible space for the audience to follow as they wished.
And, of course, the highlight is just watching. Each deserves the spotlight, but Guthrie Govan… I don’t understand what’s he’s doing, but it sounds amazing. At the same time, it’s appropriate to be bewildered by his dexterity and speed… never mind fingers that stretch across five and six frets like they live there.
Marco Minnerman deserves the Neal Peart treatment, with an overhead camera and projection screen to see exactly what’s going on. He inhabits his kit sonically, and I can’t help but wish to see more of it. But what you do catch of him between the cymbals is his trademark joy of performing.
Beller seemingly holds the role of keeping it all together, not that he’s in any way inactive. With his bandmates occupying a greater portion of the aural space, I had to watch what he’s doing to appreciate the way he supports, blends with and occasionally leads the musical madness. And when there’s an aggressive moment in the music, he’s the one who shows it.
Great stuff.
The closer, “Bluesfuckers,” was a worthwhile sacrifice for those who might have preferred it played straight, but it worked as the evening’s closer as the band got volunteers to count off the beginning, middle and outro of the song. After the “experience” of what came before, this was really well done to close out the evening by engaging a very enthusiastic and responsive audience.
The band has a busy couple months ahead. Check their tour calendar as they generally work their way north to Canada and then west through the U.S.
Setlist:
Stupid 7 – Tres Caballeros
Terrible Lizard – You Know What…?
Louisvillle Stomp – Culture Clash
Bad Asteroid – The Aristocrats
Hey, Where’s My Drink Package? – unreleased
Aristoclub – unreleased
Through the Flower – Tres Caballeros
Ohhhn Noooo – Culture Clash
Furtive Jack – The Aristocrats
Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde – You Know What…?
Last Orders – You Know What…?
Blues Fuckers – The Aristocrats
