Parquet Courts plays The Marquis Theater on Nov. 13, 2015. (Photo by Michael McGrath)
Some people at the Marquis Theater on Friday night seemed confused about what kind of band Parquet Courts really is.
“Play faster, play harder,” they yelled to the stage at the band they thought was supposed to provide them with an hour of mosh pit soundtrack. Unfazed, the band seemed to be having fun celebrating bassist Sean Yeaton’s birthday and putting in a high energy, 20 song, musically diverse set that represented a wide variety of influences and genres.
The set did start off with the high intensity punk blast of “No No No,” a track from their new (as in, released yesterday) EP, Monastic Living. From there, the band transitioned into the distinctly Velvet Underground guitar drone of “Bodies Made Of”.
That pattern was the story of their set, moving between fun, bombastic punk that gratified the pogo/mosh crowd, and other work that called upon all kinds of undeniably awesome rock traditions: Lou Reed, Sonic Youth, Captain Beefheart, The Feelies, Pavement, Television, DEVO and the Dead Kennedys.
But Parquet Courts is more than just a rock throwback band; their quirky, literary lyricism and intact sense of playfulness keeps them grounded in something that feels original.
Ultimately, the majority of Friday nightap age-diverse crowd seemed pleased with the multitude of genres and styles in Parquet Courts’ toolbox, and the rowdy throng still had ample opportunity to get sweat and beer soaked. Some complained about Parquet Courts neglecting their hit “Stoned and Starving,” and fans of the band put in a good 10 minutes of whooping and hollering before resigning themselves to the fact that there would be no encore.
Parquet Courts doesn’t seem to be making music with the intent of pleasing the crowd as much as they are trying to have a good time and satisfy their own creative interests. Works for me.
Setlist
