Trashcan Sinatras @ The El Rey

May 13, 2005  Hollywood, CA.

Trashcan Sinatras – gotta love it.  It’s like Oscar the Grouch from Sesame Street started a band and they were called…Trashcan Sinatras.  Okay, not quite.  In fact, The Trashcan Sinatras aren’t from Sesame Street, they’re from Scotland.  The band is comprised of Francis Reader (vocals) John Douglas (rhythm guitar, vocals), Stephen Douglas (drums, vocals), Davy Hughes (bass), and Paul Livingston (lead guitar). 

The turnout at the show surprised me.  Not being too Trashcan savvy I thought, “Damn, have I been living under a rock for the past couple of years?”  The answer is, “Yes I have”.  A rock made out of school books to be exact.  Well, I may be a TS virgin but everyone else in the house was true TS aficionados.  The crowd was very diverse.  In attendance were old school rockers, the hard core punkers, goth chicks, hippies, preppies, middle aged couples, young couples, etc.  As different as they all were they had one thing in common –their love for this unique little band.

The show was hosted by KCRW, a station known for its eclectic play lists.  The opening group was a little dull.  Thankfully, the Trashcan Sinatras were lively and brought a little more energy to the stage.  This imaginative outfit features not one but three talented vocalists, and their clever lyrics and perfectly-wrought tunes have earned them a rabid fan base. 

Tonight the crowd was here to hear cuts off the band’s long awaited, self-financed album, Weightlifting.  Of course the group also treated their loyal fans to old favorites from days past.  The tunes themselves are a bit poppy with a twist.  However, the band mixed things up by throwing in a few melancholy pieces that bordered on hypnotic.  The Trashcan Sinatras have had their share of ordeals ranging from bankruptcy to bad luck, but they never let those issues spoil the mood.  If they’re bitter it wasn’t noticeable because everyone in the house was clearly digging their set.  These guys are veterans and they knew their fans would expect nothing less than perfection.  This may have been my first show, but it was quite obvious that the Trashcans Sinatras’ main drive is to play their music for their fans.   -NIN

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