Pushing and Shoving

Why You All up in my Grill?

So I realize that it’s taboo to complain about people pushing and shoving on the floor when you’re at a show. It’s like you’re just supposed to be a badass and pretend that it is not irritating as all hell. But, the truth is, a whole hell of a lot more goes on than a little pushing and shoving. In fact, I was once bitten on the arm by a young hipster-ette about half my age and twice my size. I’m not talking about a little nibble. It was an all out Jaws bite. It involved teeth marks, blood, and bruising that lasted weeks. I have been kicked in the head, spit on, punched, been put in a head-lock, taken numerous blows to the ribs and had chunks of hair pulled from my scalp. On the flip side, I once had a girl’s boyfriend ask me to stop dancing into his lovely lady because she was known to bruise easily (wah.)

So, I think it’s time to admit that we have a situation. Maybe some guidelines are necessary to help us know how much brutality is acceptable when losing ourselves to the music.

** Side note: These rules do not apply to death rock or hardcore. You’re on your own with that. Be prepared to take a couple punches straight to the face.

1.Getting to the Front.

I propose that it is always okay to push to the front, as long as nobody is stopping you. If someone is just giving you evil looks, or calling you a bitch, I say just keep on shoving. However, if someone decides they have some balls and want to guard their territory with a little shove back, good for them. Move to another area to fight for prime real estate.

2.Dancing or Whatever You Call That.

Bumping into people while dancing is okay. If you’re not okay with a few bruises go to the opera. Stepping on people when they are down, and using their face as boot cleaners, not okay. This one seems pretty obvious people.

Also, if some one in the crowd looks scared for their life, have the decency to let them get out safely before returning to your spastic interpretive dance.

3.“Hey, Down in Front!”

This one goes out to all you tall guys out there. Why must you always take residence directly in front of poor little 5-foot-3-inch me? You’re tall! You can see over me! If you’re acrophobic standing on the ground, move to the back please.

4.Hitting the Bottle

If you don’t know where your pants are, all of a sudden love everyone around you, and lost count of how many Pabsts you’ve pounded, go home! We’re all too busy worrying about when you’re going to hurl on us to enjoy the music.

5.Shower Before You Go Out

(This one might be too much to ask. I’ll move on.)

6.Crowd Surfing

It’s fun. Do it. But, there is no need to lose all control of your limbs. It’s a rush and all, but it’s not heroin. Use your muscles and stop kicking me in the nose.

Also, its a shame I even have to mention this, but a girl should be able to crowd surf with out having to worry that you’ll rip her new push-up-bra to shreds. Hands off guys! Your here for the music, not the tits.

I think that about covers the big ones. Just add a little thought and care to your pushing and shoving and we will have a happier, healthier crowd.

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Victor Victor Band Brings Good Rock Back to Philly.

Good blues-rock is not dead. In fact, some of the best of its kind is coming from our very own City of Brotherly Love at this very moment. Who are these soulful masters of instruments that keep the legend alive? Well, they happen to be a graphic designer, Jamie Victor, and his lovely accountant wife, Danielle Victor, from the Northeast. Now I realize that the thought of an average Joe, and his Joesette, rocking out in their basement may conjure images of airport-karaoke-type music, but I assure you the aptly named Victor Victor Band has something really special. The type of music they put out requires a shit-ton of soul, and these two have it.

The sound is big drums and big guitar. It’s rock-n-roll. No silly labels, no trendy experiments, just straight up rock-n-roll. Jamie’s lyrics are love, sex, pain and fear. Add to that a cornucopia of pedals and distortion, some sick natural-born-talent, and a pinch of salt, and there you have it.

To listen to Jamie is to know that he was born with music pulsing through his veins. It’s natural for him, and he makes you feel it. Danielle is another story all together. These days she knocks out a beat with one hand, while playing the bass line on keyboards with the other. I have even witnessed her shaking the maracas while performing this trick.

In 2005, as a joke, they decided to dress up as a rock band for a Halloween party they were throwing. Danielle had never played an instrument, couldn’t read music and wasn’t particularly interested in either. However, they both agreed that a drum kit was needed to complete the look. One Craigslist ad and $100 later, and Danielle had her costume accessories.

“We literally had to look at the Guitar Center catalog to figure out how to set it up,” laughs Jamie. “Then I just plugged the guitar in and started playing. Right away she just starts playing the drums like she had always done it, hitting the cymbals and everything. I couldn’t believe it!”

From there, they never turned back. They started playing shows at local music havens like The Fire, Tritone, and JC Dobbs. They quickly earned a name for themselves among other bands and those in the industry. Propelled by word-of-mouth and their own ferocious dedication they started to build a following. Before they knew it, they were receiving accolades from the press, booking tons of shows, were voted Philadelphia Style magazine’s 2008 Best Unsigned Band, and had their first album, Chatterbox, under their belt.

Without a doubt, Chatterbox is one of the best unsigned albums I’ve heard in years. The 13-track album is a dichotomy. It’s a driving-in-your-car-blaring-loud-as-hell rock CD, gently sprinkled with sound bites of the duo’s bickering while recording (hence the name of the album.) It works to reminds you of just how unlikely these two music stars are.

But as great as Chatterbox is, the real “gift” is seeing them perform live. Their chemistry is undeniable. The way that Danielle stares seductively at Jamie as she knocks on those drums is enough to make this hardened reporter blush. Jamie’s expressions alone are enough to draw a crowd. The man plays the guitar like he is birthing every note, every lyric. He scrunches his face, he wiggles his tongue, he gets on his knees and thrusts around the floor. With the energy, noise and enthusiasm these two produce, you would think they are The Who, playing Madison Square Garden in ’79. They maintain this energy and excitement through every show, regardless of how many they’ve played that month. They’ve never been known to take a day off.

If you’ve read anything about Victor Victor Band before, you’ve probably heard them being compared to The White Stripes. Yes it’s true, if you really dig, there is a similar sound, but mostly the comparison refers to the fact that both bands are coed rock duos with mad talent. Victor Victor Band’s guitar and lyrics scream Jimi Hendrix. Trust me, I don’t dispense that lightly.

Jamie recalls how he fell in love with rock. “When I was 13 years old I found one of my dad’s tapes. It said ‘Jimi Hendrix Concerts.’ I’ll never forget I sat by myself in my rec room and I just put the tape on. I had never heard any Hendrix before. The minute I put it on, I was like, ‘Oh my god.’ I was just obsessed,” he says.

“That’s how he is about anything that he is interested in,” says Danielle. “He just completely obsesses.”

It’s obvious this statement is true about Danielle as well.

“I am very goal oriented,” explains Danielle. “I’m not just doing it because it’s fun. I want there to be an end goal. So, we need to work really hard and get where we want as fast as we can. There’s still a lot we want to do.”

This is exactly why Victor Victor Band will continue to flourish. Nothing they do is ever half-assed, and they won’t give up the good fight until they’ve had the last word.

All photos by Steve Davis

VictorVictorBand.com

Victor Victor Band Shows

Hipsters Eat for Free Launch Party w/Saudi Arabia @ Kung Fu Necktie - 8 p.m.

10.9 World Cafe Live w/Downtown Harvest & Prowler -8 p.m.

10. 23 The Cherrywood w/TBA - 9 p.m.

10.30 Mischief Night @ The Fire w/ Sound of Urchin / Surgeon / Big Terrible- 9 p.m.

11.27 Black Friday at The Fire w/TBA- 9 p.m.