Garage rock and go-go dancers filled the Hi-Dive on Friday night as the Omens released their new CD. Photos by Jason Claypool.
As I believe the Rolling Stones once said, “Itap only rock ‘n’ roll/But it has a nice annual percentage yield.” While itap a safe assumption most bands will never see more than a fraction of the Stones’ success, the notion that rock ‘n’ roll is an uncomplicated art form still seems as relevant as ever.
With a reverb-infused set on Friday night at , exemplified this bare-bones approach to rock ‘n’ roll to celebrate the release of their new album, “Send Black Flowers.” As evidenced above, my recall of rock lyrics is not what it used to be, but I don’t believe the album’s title was meant to reference a Rolling Stones song — though I could be wrong. In one band incarnation or another, the members of the Omens have for years been some of Denver’s foremost representatives of the stripped down, no-frills rock sound, and the packed crowd at the Hi-Dive, equally at home by the stage or at the bar, seemed to understand they were not going to be treated to any MPC beats, loop pedals or fancy drum solos.
This was meat and potatoes, not foie gras.
Though no one part of the Omens’ set sounded much different from another, the short, fuzzy bursts of songs like “Won’t Be Ashamed” and “I Need Your Love” built a momentum that eventually won the crowd over and had people dancing by the end of the night. Did the singing of lead guitarist Michael Daboll and 4-string guitarist Brandon Richler always match in time and key? No. But how important is it to scream “Alright!” in harmony anyway? Over the last few years, plenty of other so-called garage bands have sacrificed the music’s rawness for an unnecessary precision, as if being able to play three chords merits a symphonic achievement.
With a go-go dancer to either side of him, Daboll’s head-shaking, high-pitched wail wasn’t always decipherable, but the energy was contagious. Dedications like “This one goes out to Arthur Lee” and “This song is for Lux,” in honor of the late singers of Love and the Cramps, were often the only part of the songs I could understand before the wash of jagged guitars rained down. Eddie Breidenbach added an occasional organ flurry, a perfect instrumental accompaniment for the go-go dancers, and drummer Forest Bartosh worked hard to push the beat on every song, which were all fast-tempo rippers.
It would have been nice if the Omens had played a bit longer. The set went by quickly, with Richler insisting toward the end, “We don’t know any other songs!” If thatap the case, it shouldn’t take too long to learn a few more. This rock ‘n’ roll stuff ain’t meant to be complicated, just good fun.
More of the Omens
Overcasters
Hawks of Paradise
