Pop fans who think the current vogue for a sort of trashy pop style simply appeared out of nowhere with the hits of Ke$ha have not been paying close attention. In particular, they have missed out on the efforts of former Warped Tour mates Cobra Starship and 3OH!3. It's loud, lyrics are liberally sprinkled with expletives, and there is a tribal bonding encouraged between bands and fans, but a catchy, poppy melody is never far away. Few would assign to this show the pretensions of art, but it was frequently tremendously fun.
I Fight Dragons and Travie McCoy Open the Show
Kicking off the shows for the Too Fast For Love tour are Chicago's I Fight Dragons. Their special notoriety is a penchant for bringing their Nintendo toys into their music and stage show. One song included an intro played entirely on Nintendo game controllers, Rock Band guitar, and a dance pad. The concept may seem a bit cute and gimmicky, but I Fight Dragons deliver strong power pop songs among the bleeps and bloops.
The second act of the show is Travie McCoy of Gym Class Heroes kicking off his solo career and promoting the upcoming album Lazarus. He entered the stage clutching a small bunch of balloons that were quickly set free and seemed to match the overall uplifting tone of his new music. Travie McCoy is an energetic and engaging stage presence. His Gym Class Heroes bandmate Matt McGinley took drum duties during the set. However, the recorded vocal backing tracks, and, in particular, Bruno Mars' gorgeous hook for the hit "Billionaire" seemed to overwhelm at some points and threaten to make Travie McCoy's rapping simply a featured role in his own songs. A highlight of his set was the just released single "We'll Be Alright" which should make pop fans eager to hear what he is up to on the entire Lazarus album.
3OH!3 - Energy to the Nth Power
It only take moments for Sean Foreman and Nathaniel Motte of 3OH!3 to hit the stage and ramp the show's energy level up to 12. Green lasers scanning the venue from the eyes of taxidermy wolves announced the pair's entry to the sound of "Starstrukk." The set relied heavily on tracks from the duo's album Want, but it also included three tracks from the upcoming Streets of Gold, the new hits "My First Kiss" and "Touchin' On My" as well as the leaked anthem "House Party." Just in case fans might have forgotten that the pair did release music before Want as well, they sneaked in "Don't Dance" which is only available in recorded form on their self-released first album.
On record 3OH!3 at times veer into electro-pop territory. For the stage show they clearly put energetic rap and hip hop songs at the forefront. The old favorite "Choke Chain" and "House Party" positively thundered from the stage. More than a few in the audience may have found themselves shouting along with "I gotta shock collar for my Rottweiler" to their own surprise. Despite the intensity of shout along anthems, the pop melodies of 3OH!3 did leak through as well. The new "Touchin' On My" backs lascivious lyrics with an unabashedly beautiful hook.
Cobra Starship - Tighter, Sharper, and More Entertaining
This was not a first time seeing Cobra Starship live. Over time Gabe Saporta and company have tightened up the musical approach and backed with a screen of lights Cobra Starship comes alive for the crowd. The pinnacle of energy was reached with a searing peformance of "Smile for the Paparazzi." Marc DeJesus of Gym Class Heroes joined Cobra Starship onstage to add visual and vocal oomph. The entire show emphasized a feeling of oneness between the performers onstage and the fans there to watch. For this tour the band does have a genuine major hit to pull out for an encore to please the audience. The familiar strains of "Good Girls Go Band" brought the house down and sent the fans home happy.
The Too Fast For Love tour continues on for approximately another month. At this point, there are two current top 20 pop smashes to be heard at the show with "Billionaire" and "My First Kiss." The show is efficient and energetic. 3OH!3 and Cobra Starship turn in sets just under an hour apiece while the openers clock in at 20-30 minutes. It's a show of noise, energy, ragged language and, if in the mood for good trash pop fun, it will put a smile on your face.
Reviewed at Kansas City's Uptown Theater May 19, 2010.
