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The Independent March 3, 2007 Review by Jake Thomas Have I mentioned how much I hate trying to go to shows at the Independent? The fucking parking in that neighborhood is atrocious, and BART isnít an option because it stops running before the show is over. And donít even mention that all-night AC Transit bus, because it would probably be daylight before I actually made it home. Which really sucks, cause I love the Independent as a venue. Great sound, good sight lines, and no shortage of good shows get held there, but the crap parking means I donít go to nearly as many shows there as I would were the situation different. One show I wasnít going to miss though ñ the Noise Pop-sponsored gig featuring Earlimart and one of my most favoritest bands of the last few years, Clinic. Because of the previously mentioned parking woes, it took me forever to land my grandma wagon into a suitable home and I ended up only seeing the last few songs of Earlimart. They sounded great as always, channeling that Central Valley sound right into the hearts of the crowd, who was definitely feeling it. There may have even been more Earlimart fans there than Clinic fans, given the crowd reaction to their set. They seemed to play mostly newer stuff, or at least that is my best guess since I know their back catalogue much better than their most recent output. The crowd seemed to thin a little as Clinic was setting up, which was honestly a good thing because the place was packed to the gills when I first arrived. The band came out in their most elaborate costumes yet, looking like Victorian surgeons in top hats and fancy robes to accompany their always-present masks. Yet again, the band proved their brilliance with a set of songs that was the perfect mix of old and new in all their Pixies-meet-Stereolab glory; an unrelenting onslaught with no dead air or goofy banter between tracks other than the occasional ìcheersî. Their set was exactly what the doctor ordered, assuming the doctor ordered a kick-ass rock show. Which would be my kind of doctor. --- Read our previous Clinic Review: May 21, 2004 @ Bimbo's ©2007 playinginfog.com |