THE AVATARS RECORD RELEASE SHOW
SATURDAY LOOKS GOOD TO ME
The Belmont, Hamtramck
February 28, 2004
by Christopher Chouinard & Jacquie Trost

Hot Ann Arbor band The Avatars have released a highly anticipated piece of vinyl, and they held a record release party to celebrate.  With Saturday Looks Good To Me also on the bill, this show was so hot that the MCR editors fought over who would get to cover it.  Even a street fight couldn't settle this one, so you get two perspectives!

TAKE ONE. CHRISTOPHER: Saturday nite was almost NO good for me. Having my ride bail on me at the 11th hour, trusty web journalist Jacquie came through in the pinch. Founding Father Ryan was soon dispatched, and you people have them to thank. Course... if you hate my shots and articles, you have them to blame.

Racing towards the Belmont in Hamtramck for the AVATARS single release party, we arrived in the 'nick of rock' to see the Avatars take stage -first. Goin on first at your own record release speaks volumes of this bands integrity - forget all notion of ass kissing. Sure one of my Magic Stick photographs was used on the back of the new single "WAIT", but I only found out well after it's pressing, early last week to be exact. So, the sheer fact I attended two prior shows, and have followed the band since then, tells you just how I feel about their work. Making it to the stage proved tougher than I thought. Having never been to the Belmont before, I didn't know the stage had been moved to the rear of the building, or the walls are lined with sheet metal - a hotbox indeed. The band was as hot physically, as they were musically. Despite toubled sound issues (they could not hear themselves they noted at several points), they soldiered on through several numbers, including the new single's B side - "There Was a Time" and the song "Honey Do ". Lead singer Mariah Cherem belted out the songs aplenty, while looking good doing it.  May I nominate her for a VH-1 fashion award now please? Spearheaded by drummer Claudia Leo's fine writing skills, and pounding backbeats, the songs are poppy, catchy, rock basic 101. Add two guitars by Theresa Kiefer and Chris "BOX" Taylor (also of the GREAT Scott Morgan led - Powertrane), you have one damn fine band. We cannot forget the other reason to party on this fine Saturday nite - Charlie Lorenzi. Charlie was not only playing in the band, but celebrating his Birthday with good friend Eric Stollsteimer (The Elevations). Ok, so Eric's birthday was a month ago - it was an excuse to party with good friends and smear cake on faces of Detroit's Rock contingent. Spotted in the crowd were esQuire, Ex Brats Ricky and Brian Oblivion, dance king Tony, Jasper Berg (Corvairs and graphic artist king), Jackie O. and George of Bisou Bisou, Melody Licious (The Sirens,Corvairs) and tattooed god Andy. If you didn't know anyone here...you don't get out much!

After the firey set by The Avatar's, Fred Thomas's ever rotating STAURDAY LOOKS GOOD TO ME was up next.  With the sound issues pretty much hammered out, Fred's main concern was not breaking his guitar strings. Trooper that he is, he honored us with an acapella tune while restringing. It only went to show his talent, and proved to me that he
can easily stand with any Ryan Adam or Pete Yorn in the storyteller arena. His quirky lyrics and feel for a good jam keeps the act fresh, and this was no different. Reminding me very much of The Flaming Lips, SATURDAY'S  line up rocked the BELMONT with ease. Backed up by a solid new line up - the crowd grooved into the wee hours of the morning. It was 'standing room only' from start to finish. The night was an overwhelming success. Next time you see the words AVATARS or SATURDAY LOOKS GOOD TO ME, cancel your plans and make new ones. Make sure you say you saw them BEFORE they were big, because they will be. Special Thanks to THE AVATARS and MCR staff for making my Saturday fine after all. --Christopher Chouinard

TAKE TWO.  JACQUIE: Since Christopher so expertly recounted the evening, I don’t have much to add.  OK, maybe I do…both bands ROCKED!

You know you’re in for a good show when the band goes up for a sound check, and everyone in the joint bum-rushes the stage – and that’s exactly what happened at the Belmont.  THE AVATARS had to tell everyone to sit back down and enjoy themselves - they would be going on shortly.  ‘Shortly’ came around 11:20, and everyone was quickly back on their feet.  The vocals were great (despite technical issues) and the sound was even better.  If you didn’t get in to the music, you must have been a corpse.  THE AVATARS have one of the most polished sounds of any D-town band today, and I know they will soon be turning the country into die-hard AVATARS fans.

Fred Thomas’ new SATURDAY LOOKS GOOD TO ME (SLGTM) line-up was next.  Now, I have to be honest, I was a bit skeptical about this ‘new’ band.  I’ve learned that when a group reforms with all new members (in this case, Fred is the only original), sometimes it’s better to have changed your name and started over.  But, I was pleasantly surprised when the band played their first song – every doubt I had harbored vanished.  What I saw (and heard) was a phenomenal performance. SLGTM rocked the joint, and left everyone wanting more.  They are a ‘must see’ next time they come to town.

Can you think of a better way to cap off the evening then with a big slice of birthday cake?  I didn’t think so.  After the show, a few of us joined Charlie and Eric in the basement for their annual celebration.  A couple people even had the pleasure of having icing licked off their faces.  Good times…good times indeed!  --Jacquie Trost