Free Energy and friends burn up the Star Bar

Live Review: Free Energy, Jukebox the Ghost, & Miniature Tigers at the Star Bar in Atlanta, 6/3/10

As drummer Nick Shuminsky took the stage in his vintage Styx t-shirt, the room was transported to the 1970s with little chance of returning. Free Energy, the Philadelphia rock band (transplanted from Minnesota and transformed from the band Hockey Night), have enjoyed a rush of critical success since their March debut entitled Stuck on Nothing (DFA Records).

The first the fans heard out of the band was that cowbell. Then lead singer Paul Sprangers kicked in with the band’s namesake, “Free Energy” (“We're breakin out this time / Makin’ out with the wind / And I'm so disconnected / I'm never gonna check back in”). It’s an infectious song that got the small crowd going quick.

Lauded by Spin as an “excellent” band to watch for 2010" and a Rolling Stone "Best New band of 2010" (“It totally fu@%ing rules. Lighters up!”), and enjoying a slot on Letterman in March, Free Energy has definitely received the press.



Members of the band have based their reputations on the nostalgia of seventies music. On paper, this sounds like a ludicrous idea, especially given the fact that so much new music has become popular and “classic rock” has really not experienced any sort of resurgence. These songs have breathed new life into a genre of music once thought dead.

Wells is the typical rock singer, with his frequent “sweeeet” references and constant Mick-Jagger-finger-pointing. Other highlights included “Dream City,” “Hope Child,” and the latest single “Bang Pop.” The music was fresh, loud, and for the few people at the Star Bar that night, very danceable. The only negative was that is was not a packed house. Should have been.



Opening the show was the obviously caffeinated Miniature Tigers, who pretty much set the place ablaze (not a usual thing for a band opening for two other bands). Singer Charlie Brand reminded the crowd that he was doing ‘shrooms when writing most of these songs. Observing their stage antics, this was not hard to believe. Overall a very fun (and talented) group of musicians. They’ll set off on a headlining tour soon.



Stuck in the middle were Jukebox the Ghost. After seeing an “I Love Ben Folds” t-shirt in the crowd, the reason was evident. From the first notes from JTB, an obvious connection to Ben Folds was realized (they even opened for Folds in 2009). Folds made piano rock cool again (after the likes of Billy Joel and Elton John lost steam the past couple decades) and a connection to him is not necessarily a bad thing.

Oddly, the singer and pianist of JTB is also Ben (Thornewill), and has the chops to keep up with the best of them. “Under My Skin,” “Good Day,” and the catchy “Hold It In” were three selections played by the band.



This was a fantastic evening of three bands with refreshingly different sounds. As the night progressed, band members from all three groups jumped on and off the stage, singing along and playing various instruments (including a rain stick!), culminating with a musical-orgy-of-sorts when nearly every member of every band (plus a few fans) filled the tiny stage near the show’s end. It was fun and actually sounded good. Catch all three bands on the road this summer.