Even on a Tuesday, the L.A. music scene brings the love. Admittedly, the lineup at the Troubadour last week felt a bit disjointed, but The Silent Comedy, Marvelous Toy, and Andy Clockwise did what they do for the die-hards willing to take Wednesday morning lumps with extra caffeine. If you came to see the show to see three bands you’d never seen before, you would probably surmise, "Yah, these are three bands that are rocking and sweaty," but you’d miss the nuance of each. You’d miss the Appalachian swagger of The Silent Comedy. You’d miss the preposterous over-sexualization of song as sung by Andy Clockwise. You’d miss the folksy turn of a phrase and Woodstock-revisited fete Marvelous Toy puts on. Together, I’m not sure the three bands worked. But if you came knowing who you were seeing, you could look hard, you could scratch the surface, and dig down and see it. It’s there.
Especially for Marvelous Toy. You don’t have to dig deep to see the joy springing from this Eagle Rock gang. The joy comes from their bevy of keyboards, their big hair (that’s you Jordan), and their girl-boy harmonies. Keyboardist and backing vocalist Ny Lee looked distant but occasionally gave up a smile. She was at her best when she stood front and center and sang, exposed and free from the shield of the keys. The rest of the band, on the other hand, were bouyant and energetic and timelessly young.
We met frontman Jordan outside (with his girlfriend AND his old boss, no less, who proudly claimed to be MT’s biggest fan) and the dichotomy between Jordan’s street-side persona and his onstage presence was profound. Unassuming and polite, the lead of MT took charge and poured over his songs jealously like each was a mistress. He held on so tight and then gave them up and watched us and watched the songs get set free. He had little interaction with his bandmates, playing to the audience solidly for the eight-song set. We clapped and MT smiled so graciously, seemingly charmed by the well-deserved adulation.
MT’s set was brief but packed full of energy and uplifting and bouncy and tight. Jordan wasn’t bothered by inane audience chatter. MT kept it about the music and that was the right thing to do. MT have a show on August 8, 2010 at Spaceland.
-Angel Baker