Morningwood

Music Box - March 22, 2006

Live Review by Amber Henson

I’ve never had a nerdier time than this.  Wow.  I mean, I’m a big nerd, like stand in line for hours for Star Wars nerd, but this was a whole new level for me.

Morningwood, a “new” band (as in:  their debut album just came out, but they’ve been around for about five years), has been getting airplay, and it was clear that, even though they were in an opening slot (for The Sounds), that people knew who they were.  Once you see them, it’s impossible to not be intrigued.  Horny, curvy, Jewish girl Chantel Claret is the frontwoman, the too cool for school bassist is Pedro Yanowitz, the Darkness-esque guitarist with long blond hair and a high voice is Philip Shouse, and the drummer…well, actually, I don’t know what the drummer is like, as regular Paul Keenon O wasn’t there.

But back to the nerd factor.  I don’t mean nerdy like straight-laced nerdy.  I mean nerdy like horny nerdy.  Claret was all over Pedro, and then during their song “Take Off Your Clothes,” Claret was all over Ginger Lynn, a porn star who they brought out so Claret could, well, be all over her.  Claret took off Ginger’s top and bra, and proceeded to do things I can only imagine, because this was an all ages show.  So Ginger Lynn left the stage with her back to us.

Claret also uses breasts to measure crowd enthusiasm.  If they’re excited, then her arm/gauge comes up to her “titties-nipple” and if they’re really excited it goes to the “bead of sweat” on the “titties-nipple.”  And the audience got there a few times, despite the fact that the difference between their rock/power pop sound on the album and at the concert is considerable.  Claret’s voice just wasn’t quite what you hear on the album, and the band didn’t sound very tight, although that could be related to not having their regular drummer.  Overall, though, Morningwood will wake you up when you’re feeling a little tired.