After emerging from holiday food comas feeling well-rested, the idea of doing work again can be daunting. Luckily, the Sat. Nite Duets performance at Turner Hall Ballroom on Saturday sideswiped any back-to-school blues, capping the end of break and kicking off the 2012 school year on a high note.
The Milwaukee natives’ following has grown rapidly over the past two years. The band has been featured on CNN Radio and in GQ and just finished their national Winter of Nourishment tour. Sat. Nite Duets have maintained a close connection to their roots, saving their album release party for their latest effort, “Summer of Punishment,” for their hometown turf.
Turner Hall’s overall acoustics with the band’s simple equipment made the lyrics particularly difficult to distinguish, and it was unfortunately tough to differentiate one song from another. The overall experience of the show would have been improved immensely if the sound quality was better.
Even so, some of the songs had a high energy and guitar thrashing beat that kept the band members on their toes and the audience on their feet. “Endless Summer of Love” reminisced about long awkward adolescent years, while “Don’t You Love Me, Baby?” was harsh and angry.
Unique instrumental choices made for the show’s most interesting numbers. In many of the songs, the band incorporated a trumpet and a tambourine. The use of jazzy instruments was an unexpected twist to the grungy, power pop feel of most of the set. The trumpet added a classy feel, especially when accompanied by a slow backup duet.
In spite of the poor sound quality, the audience seemed to enjoy the concert. While the crowd was not full-fledged dancing, they enthusiastically tapped their feet and swayed to the medium tempo and lower key songs, often holding conversations with those around them in usual hipster fashion.
Every twenty-something in a flannel shirt and beanie seemed to be connected in some way through the music. The audience even mingled with the Sat. Nite Duets and the opening act, The Fatty Acids, during their time offstage, making the band appear very open and accessible to fans. The sense of camaraderie and friendliness added to the pleasant and laid-back vibe of the night.
The Fatty Acids, a Milwaukee music favorite, energetically opened the show. The band had a sound similar to that of Sat. Nite Duets, also throwing in a trumpet amidst their modern rock core. The Fatty Acids also brought a healthy dose of electric piano which brought out the audience’s mellow energy.
The Fatty Acids were most memorable for charming the crowd with their goofy and fun-loving stage presence. While crowds at concerts typically toss around a beach ball, the band threw out a giant shark balloon instead. The shark volleyed back and forth for a while until it finally latched onto a light in the ceiling. In between songs, lead singer/keyboardist Joshua Evert paused and pointed to the shark in the rafters. “Oh no. Uh, where’d the shark go?” Evert asked as the crowd snickered.
Even though their lyrics were hard to make out, Sat. Nite Duets were a fun act that continues to embody Milwaukee’s passion for local music and intimate concerts. We highly suggest you pick up “Summer of Punishment,” if you haven’t already, and get the full experience, lyrics and all.