February 1, 2001

Creeper Lagoon: Hollywood Knitting Factory

San Franciscan alt.rock stalwarts unleash tracks from new album 'Take Back The Universe And Give Me Yesterday'...

When Creeper Lagoon released their first album, much of the buzz about the band centred around the fact that the Dust Brothers produced three tracks on the record and that the San Francisco foursome worked samples in and around many of the tunes. What got lost in the shuffle and hype was the fact that Creeper Lagoon write great songs, and after a slew of tours over the last few years opening for everyone from Archers Of Loaf to the Dandy Warhols, they've gotten pretty damn good at playing 'em.

On a West Coast junket to unwrap tunes from their upcoming album 'Take Back The Universe And Give Me Yesterday', Creeper Lagoon's stop at the Knitting Factory in Hollywood shows a band stepping away from their influences and into their own. Catchy without sounding like something you've heard before, the steady swell of 'Chance Of A Lifetime' and the punchy 'Hey Sister' spark an industry-laden gathering to behave in a manner closely resembling that of actual music fans, with vigorous head bobs and lip-syncing aplenty.

Relaxed in the frontman's role, singer/guitarist Ian Sefchick lurches and leaps around with his guitar and alternately clamps his lids shut or bugs his eyes out for emphasis as he sings. Make no mistake, it's a dreadful time for a band to release an intelligent, well-written album, but as we hunker down for another long winter in the Limp Bizkit/Britney bunker, it's stellar performances like the one Creeper Lagoon give tonight that make it possible to believe a thaw is coming.

Colin Devenish

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