ComfortComes

Live Review: Lylah Crying @ The Carousel, Longview 10-29-10

Nestled in the a far corner of southwest Washington, a couple hours south of the alternative music capital of the world, and only a few dozen miles north of the indie capital, there lies a city that many Northwest dwellers may not know, but have likely passed through the fleeting and somewhat abandoned of all hope community that is the twin cities of Kelso-Longview. A once bustling industrial town that acts as the unofficial home to famed Mt. St. Helens, as well as the non Highway 101 gateway to the longest beach in the country. Although the times are tough for folks at the heart of Cowlitz County, for every sense of hope that becomes lost, at least two more dreams are formed. And on one startling October night in L-Town, five young dreamers known simply as Lylah Crying hit the stage of a bar you’ve probably never heard of, and managed to inspire a bit of much needed hope amongst a crowd of folks in desperate need of some sort of non-theological salvation. Or at least a momentary escape from the real world as they guzzled down watered down and overpriced shots of whiskey and became lost in the glory that was one local group of musicians’ attempt somehow, in some way, at least begin to achieve their goals.

Longview doesn’t exactly hold too much significance in the land that created grunge. Green Day once wrote a song about unemployment and chronic masturbation, and named it after the city. A short lived pop punk band who will remain nameless made their way out, and disowned the city almost entirely (even to go as a far to make a song about Oregon, and film a video in Longview?) And the Dandy Warhols have managed to gather a few of Kelso’s talented youth to be on their sideshow act. But, overall, not exactly a place marked on any map as having any musical significance. But, this does not mean the talent is not there. It truly is, you just have to know where to look. And you might try The Carousel Beachway Bar (as a local, they will still tell you it’s “Henri’s”), where Lylah Crying has almost an unofficial residency there. If Henri’s is anything, it is definitely the finest place to hear live music in all of Cowlitz County.

Lylah Crying is the sort of band you might think you know already. Bland and eroded stereotypes have demonized our senses so much these days that we tend to feel elated by the idea that we can know everything about someone before we really give them a chance. If LC had to be boasted in a categorical genre, let’s simplified everything and call them a indie modern rock group. Though some might consider the terms “indie” and “modern” when used in musical terms to be polar opposites, there is no real way to explain their sound. And no need to really. Just understand that when you find yourself miserly drinking in front of this band of hard rock pranksters, you are going to feel at least a bit better than when you sat down.

With 4 hours to burn through, and only a handful of original songs on their playbook the band had some improvising to do. Kicking things off with their sort of heavy original cut, “Pieces”, which has lead singer Ronnie Jones screaming (at times a bit inappropriately) his heart out over catchy and blistering hooks, and borderline nu-metal meets neo-punk guitar riffs courtesy of the genious of lead guitarist Shawn Plampin. Their corresponding singles would prove to be a bit mellower, and a bit more accessible in nature for actually hearing keyboardist Brittney Hartsoch and drummer Kenny Nichols blast away at their respective stations. But 5 or 6 songs obviously can’t cover the time needed. So a few (dozen) covers were in order. They pulled out the obvious punches from bands like Clapton, Sublime, or Pink Floyd. But it was the band’s alt-rock versions of Dylan classics “One More Cup Of Coffee” and “Shelter From the Storm” that really portrayed their wonderful versatility and overall ability to play any and everything they want. And with a couple sets of acoustic intermissions from Shawn, Brittney, and Ronnie, the early morning hour came sooner than anyone would have wished for.

October 29th might serve as an extremely significant date for Lylah Crying if history serves them night. It could be the night they will always celebrate as their first live appearances as a full band, with the introduction to newbie bass player Rodney Carr, and became at the very least, a local sensation with ambitions that could take them up and down the west coast for a while, until they saw the shimmering reflections of the Atlantic ocean after crossing the Missouri river and officially tackling the country. Or, maybe it will be just another day that a few friends got together and rocked a crowd of familiar faces (everyone knows everyone in Longview) and had some people laughing and smiling are at least a few hours. If Lylah Crying accomplishes very little in the time to come, the performance they gave on their opening night is one that portrayed each individual’s spirit and desire to entertain and be merry. With the hearts of rock n’ roll soldiers and folklore warriors, this is a band that can bring out the best in you, by showing the best of themselves.

Ginsberg once wrote that he “saw the best minds of [his] generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked”. Yes, he was speaking of the post Atom bomb times. But, here in the distraught city of Longview, at this very moment, his words could ring just as true for the impoverished society of beings who are lost and torn in this New Depression. But, much like the beat authors and jazz aficionados who inadvertently saved our nation from falling into a Perry Como-esque miserable existence, Lylah Crying has emerged from the banks of the Columbia river to inspire that little bit of hope that can guide us into better times.