Secret Stars, Ida, Sarge, The Television Set

Middle East Cafe, Cambridge, MA

We got there too late and missed the TV Set's set, so we were warmed up with Sarge. Sarge was happy — they weren't too technical musically but they wrote good pop songs. They came to Boston from Illinois and they looked like a bunch of kids who were having fun. They represented all the bands who tour for fun and say "I've done that," and they were really into what they were doing. The guitarist's vocals were reminiscent of Velocity Girl, though the music was a bit harder and faster than V. Girl, and more easily comparable to Dahlia Seed.

Ida hopped on stage next and were up and playing before anyone knew it. The room quickly calmed down to silence as the sound of guitars could be heard, with the sound of the picks hitting each string as they strummed. Ida play folky music in more of an indie rock/punk vein. I use the term punk loosely: this is the music hardcore kids listen to when they're not listening to hardcore. Some of the songs even had accompanying violin to give the music added depth. The beauty of their music is indescribable with words, and I highly recommend seeing them live. All 5 members of the band put in so much effort to come off perfect; every note they played was precisely planned and placed. I was very impressed and now consider myself an Ida fan.

The Secret Stars were Jodi and Geoff that night. No drums. This was my first time seeing them live so maybe they never have drums, I don't know. Their basic repetitive strumming goes over well with a lot of people but I wasn't in the mood; I needed music either more technical or louder or both. Their voices worked well together though, especially Jodi's. During "Nightingale" she was accompanied by several girls to yell out the one word chorus with her. They were rad but it was the wrong time for me.

Uploaded February 1997