The Ottobar was a horrible venue for these folks! Poor Clare & The Reasons was sandwiched between two acts that should have never been put on the same bill. All the Vic Chesnutt fans were talking so loudly during the Clare set that at some points you couldn't even hear the music. How ridiculous is that?! Usually when you're at a show, it's the band that overpowers the chatter. Twice, Clare called out the audience on their poor behavior and the unfortunate "wall of sound" their music had to get past. Her criticism of the audience seemed to set off some of the oafish, dirty, six-foot-ten 16 year olds that had set up camp right up front. They kept laughing and shoving each other like prepubescent monkey people. I'm used to people acting like that at shows, but when it's not the band you specifically came to see up on stage, stand back and wait! Don't heckle and make asses of yourself. Whatever.
Anywho, what good music! All the band members were technically proficient and sounded great live! I learned some stuff, too, like the song 'Our Team Is Grand' is about bees, which kinda makes sense but I'm pretty slow. I would love to see them again, but maybe next time in a sit-down venue like a coffee house or something.
Clare & The Reasons - Our Team Is Grand
Clare & The Reasons - Murder, They Want Murder
