Girls: Image Isn’t Everything.

When the California lo-fi band, Girls, took the stage last night at Kung Fu Necktie, I was a little concerned. The motley crew looked like it would rather be anywhere else but at that exact place at that exact time. Christopher Owens was a mousey little guy who looked terrified at the thought of playing for the obviously indifferent audience. Not at all what I had expected of the free thinking, drug consuming, cult surviving, writing wizard  that is Owens. I wondered how this band would hold up in front of this testy Philadelphia audience.

However, Owens and his band were quick to win me over. It took a few songs to warm up but soon Owens was wearing his heart on his sleeve and bearing his soul for all to see. It wasn’t an extremely eventful show and the rest of the band seemed to want to fade into the background, but they played beautifully and backed up Owens as he shared the “sad song in his sweet heart.”

They covered most of the aptly named Album, literally breaking my heart when they performed “Hellhole Ratrace” and “Lauren Marie.” I would have loved to hear “Big Bad Mean Mother Fucker.” That seemed like an obvious choice for a live show to me, but it wouldn’t have fit the mood or the zombie like crowd.

I am glad I went. It wasn’t a bad time. However, listening to Album laying in the sun with your eyes closed feeling melancholy is a much more rewarding experience.

Also, listen, watch, and read album review for Girls, here.