The Ramones and The Libertines had a child. His name is Art Brut.
That’s the sound that wailed at Club Congress on Tuesday night. British heritage aside, Art Brut embodied the Art Wave scene that eerily recreates the sounds of yesteryear punk, from the brash noises of Franz Ferdinand to the bittersweet notes of Bloc Party.
Yet Art Brut brings an energy to their performances that most bands throw aside when on tour. Front man Eddie Argos swung his microphone and jumped around in a manner that only a drunken punk buffoon would. However, Art Brut is more than a throwback; they are a tribute to those who paved the way before them.
“”My voice, I know it’s just talking, but it’s still rock and roll,”” Argos shouted into the microphone stand as he waved his hands to the audience. He even took the time out to mingle with the crowd while confessing his desire to steal DC Comics in a singsong fashion. That connection created the small yet concentrated vibe that ran rampant through Congress.
The edgy band commonly referred to themselves as performs in a band. Pretentious feelings aside, they pulled it off. Art Brut relied on their gut, not set-lists, when it came to their show. Argos screamed out the song he felt was fit to play next. “”Ready Art Brut?””, he would say as he cued them up like a conductor of a symphony might.
And if Art Brut wasn’t edgy enough, add female bassist Frederica “”Freddy”” Feedback — who seems right out of a Hot Topic fashion show — into the mix. Even drummer Mikey Breyer makes a point of standing throughout the entirety of the show.
Art Brut envisions the raucous days of CBGB, yet one of Argos’ onstage remarks — “”All right, let’s take it slower so I don’t kill myself”” — recalled the original punk scene’s limitations. With an updated look and a fresh sound, Art Brut turned Congress into an underground musical experience where the underage were made to feel foolish because they didn’t have the means to find fake IDs, and bands left the stage to intermingle with their loyal fans.
Yet, they keep a childish naivety about them. Art Brut is stuck in a young state of mind when singing about high school girlfriends and reading DC Comics while drinking chocolate milkshakes. “”Some things will always be great,”” Argos screamed.
They even went as far as to emulate their idols, recreating lines from songs by David Bowie and The Ramones. Overall, Art Brut made sure that the Tucson audience, young or old could relate to their musical influences.
After their encore (a common concert device Art Brut says they rarely use), they gracefully exited the stage.
But not before Argos, like a gentleman, bid his audience farewell: “”Goodnight Tucson, sweet dreams.””
