Saint Motel 9.14.09 | Spaceland | Los Angeles, CA by Joe Cortez photos by M'Lou Elkins Weekly residencies at Spaceland always offer something unique in the way of live performance. Los Angeles based Saint Motel brought to its month long Monday night showcases a cinematic sensibility to the famed venue. I happened to attend the second night, with its erotic-themed stage dressing and film projections, unsure of what to expect. Although the band has made a name for itself as a live act in there area for some time now, I hadn't been exposed to the band before this night. Saint Motel play a brand of indie rock that's familiar and reassuring to fans of the genre. That the single, "Dear Dictator," from their latest EP has been picked up for airplay by KROQ is a good indicator of the kind of rock you're in for.
Going beyond just the music, Saint Motel added an interactive dynamic to their set. Surfing throughout the crowd were cameras that gave a you-are-there perspective that was thrown up on the screen. It was a neat affect that made for an interesting change of pace from the erotic themed clips shown on screen. Ultimately, the theme for this night really wasn't that integral to the performance of the music and the show itself probably would have been more entertaining had it been more straightforward. Still, you have to admire the band's ambition for atleast trying something different.
That the music didn't quite fit the night's gimmick is a disappointment but by no means a indictment of Saint Motel's talent. If the band is more interested in having a good time than challenging its audiences with ideas is perhaps to be expected at this point in their career and it's hard to argue a good time wasn't had by all.
Check out the full set of Saint Motel pics.
>> www.myspace.com/saintmotel