Review—Ultimate Fakebook, Fern, and The Sheila Divine at the Grand Emporium

March 1, 1999

Aaron Weber
The Zone



For those unaware, The illustrious Grand Emporium and the Zone have conspired to bring you Zone Monday, a weekly foray into the world of Regional rock n' roll. Tonight marked the kick-off of this new partnership, and if a triple bill treat like the one that was presented this March 1st eve is any indication, bands and fans alike are going to benefit from this new arrangement.

The first do-te-do consisted of Bostonites The Sheila Divine, Springfield, MO boys Fern, and Manhattan, KS's reigning kings of pop, Ultimate Fakebook. I first heard The Sheila Divine when they played this previous Saturday (the 26th) at Gee Coffee. While I'll admit that the first two songs didn't impress me, that's probably due to the fact I was more occupied with saying hello to folks I hadn't seen in a month or two than paying close attention to the band. But by the end of their set, I was quite enthralled with their sound and anxious to see them again. So tonight was looking up...

The first band at bat was Fern, and I was quite impressed. I'd seen this band play at least 5 times before, and while I'd never have called them a bad band, they had really failed to capture my attention (this is most likely because they were always opening for TV Fifty, and it's pretty hard to stand out against a band of that caliber). But Monday's show seemed to have that "oomph" that was missing from my previous experiences with them. As a whole, they were a lot tighter than before and put a lot more emphasis on interaction with the crowd. They passed out tapes and CD's from the stage as well as encouraging the early crowd to mosey on up to the stage. Singer Jason Gaylor put a lot of heart behind his vocals, and Brian Snadon and Brian Pierson (bass and guitar, respectively) seemed to be enjoying themselves quite nicely.

Fern has been playing Kansas City for a good three years now, and consequently they've managed to build a small, but extremely loyal, group of fans. Previously, they've had a 3 song tape and a 4 song CD for mass consumption, but they're currently awaiting the release of their self-done LP "Monologue", which should be available in your area record stores starting May 10th. This is a band that continually refines itself, and is certainly one to watch in the upcoming months.

The Sheila Divine took the stage next, and frankly, if you haven't seen this band you've been missing out. Currently on RoadRunner records out of Boston, this three piece is gearing up to support their new full length LP. Their three day stopover in KC was just the smallest portion of a nationwide tour, and let's hope they come back soon. Their self-titled 5 song EP has been in my CD player since I picked it up, and there's no sign of it leaving any time soon. "Emorock" is the closest name you can ascribe to these guys, and it does seem to fit. The alternative label of "Passive/Aggressive Rock" was put forth as well. Overall, they sound like a very well thought out hybrid of early U2 combined with a more guitar oriented Radiohead. Aaron Perrino's vocals alternately soar and crash among the lush chorused guitar and understated bass lines. Compared to their recording, Shelia Divine can seem less full in overall tone on stage, but as a three-piece they manage to cover it well.

Perrino was recovering from some semi-serious throat problems from earlier in the tour, but he still managed to belt it out with little to no restraint. His vocal range gives him a lot of room to play with, and throughout the set he took full advantage of it. My personal highlight from their set has to be "Hum" if for no other reason than the great line "I'm a heavyweight/and I don't know why/I've got a sixth sense/to make the girls cry". Could mean anything, but for some reason it really sticks out. Again, I tend to miss the multiple guitar sound in their live sets, but the songs stand up to the deprivation without seeming to lack overall. Their full-length LP "New Parade" should be available by early Summer.

Closing out the night was Ultimate Fakebook and like their innumerable shows previous, they simply delivered the rock. Tonight's show was a collection of songs of both their previous album "Electric Kissing Parties" and their upcoming "This Will Be Laughing Week". Before the show, Bill confided in me that they were extremely ready for the album to come out, as they've been holding off playing 3 songs off the new disc, including the title track. (Which on the album, is a delightful and moody acoustic rendition.) But they did manage to find time to play a brand-new song entitled "Popscotch Party Rock". I don't know what can be said about this band that hasn't already been said (often by me, no less), but once again, they proved their worth on stage.

All in all, it proved to be quite a night of rock, and as with good birthdays, I wish it many returns.