Switch to the mobile version of this page.

Detroit Metro Times

        
Tweet

Email

Print
Share

In The Flesh

By Chris Parker

Electric Six
Monday, October 3
Cat’s Cradle, Carrboro, N.C.

Electric Six singer Dick Valentine takes the stage and says, “We like to come to North Carolina and get progressively hammered as the night goes on.” Then the band launches into “Dance Epidemic” off the latest, Euro-only Senor Smoke.

Within the first few songs, Valentine’s exaggerated bluster finds further expression in his goofy stage-side antics; he flirts with a girl in the front row, hugs a different chick from the stage, and then steps several feet into the crowd (twice) to hug another. That’s when Valentine isn’t bounding across the stage in his green sports suit like Will Ferrell having a Go Spartans! flashback. And did the band recruit keyboardist Tait Nucleus from Amish country?

Valentine’s swaggering frolic epitomizes the band’s purposely contrived show and disco-fied garage. Aimed at your ass, it’s unobtrusively catchy and subversively fleshy, like wondering what Pete Townshend really meant when he sang, “Tommy, can you feel me?” The 100 or so people out on this Monday night certainly appreciate it. If the Six’s shtick is getting tired, they don’t know; many of them simply thrust arms in air and jiggle ass.

Valentine, in complete command of his audience, shares a funny story about the local Holiday Inn they’re in, where the owner has his employees dress as sports referees. He later mentions their new album (the U.S. release is imminent). Pushing past the 90-minute mark, the sweat-soaked Six close on a rousing “Dance Commander,” lifting all asses off seats.

Appears Saturday, Oct. 15, at the Blind Pig, 208 S. First, Ann Arbor; 734-996-8555. ith the Woggles, Troy Gregory and the Stepsisters.
Chris Parker is a freelance writer. Send comments to letters@metrotimes.com

Tags: Columns, Rock/Pop, In The Flesh

We welcome readers to submit letters regarding articles and content in Detroit Metro Times. Letters should be a minimum of 150 words, refer to content that has appeared on Detroit Metro Times, and must include the writer's full name, address, and phone number for verification purposes. No attachments will be considered. Writers of letters selected for publication will be notified via email. Letters may be edited and shortened for space.

Email us at letters@metrotimes.com.

Detroit Metro Times works for you, and your support is essential.

Our small but mighty local team works tirelessly to bring you high-quality, uncensored news and cultural coverage of Detroit and beyond.

Unlike many newspapers, ours is free – and we'd like to keep it that way, because we believe, now more than ever, everyone deserves access to accurate, independent coverage of their community.

Whether it's a one-time acknowledgement of this article or an ongoing pledge, your support helps keep Detroit's true free press free.