Vertigo – September 12, 2009

September 18th, 2009 · 44 Comments

Saturday marked part four of the sixth annual Avenue for the Arts Market, a popular artisan street sale that morphs South Division Avenue between Weston and Cherry streets into an art-focused block party.  Besides dozens of booths showcasing original paintings, jewelry, clothes, photographs and other handmade items by area artists, the market also hosts live performances by local musicians, dancers and poets.  And so here lands Valentiger, performing inside Vertigo music, squashed between Mother Nature and My New Black Tooth.  The band’s performance was nearly flawless, while an awkward tension between a drunken Kalish and the band kept things interesting.  Balloons flew everywhere in the store and no one could resist the instinct to throw them at the band.  Drums sticks and guitar necks threw them back into the crowd in an endless cycle.  The keg of Founders beer kept responsible people satisfied, drunks rabid and the floors sticky.  It was truly a great thing to see bands play their full-on rock sets in a legitimate, downtown store where their records were stocked a few feet away.  And, obviously, all while supporting local business and record sales.  So Valentiger played songs mostly from their latest record, “Power Lines To Electric Times,” though sneaking in a rock-solid “Picture Book,” by The Kinks.  The number one highlight may have been Kehoe winning an unopened Menudo record with his knowledge of science.  However, Shirey had talked to a patron after the show who said she really enjoyed the music.  After talking for a bit, they realized she had already owned “Magnet Heart Conveyor” from when the band was called Happy Hour.  It was an interesting thought – a band winning someone over twice?  During the entire drive back to the band house, Shirey threw at least fifteen “Leaving Town” singles to people from out of the van window.  If this happened to you, please share your story – it makes my day.

B.F. Pierce

Make sure to visit Vertigo Music – 129 S. Division St. – and say hello to Herm.

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