The way Tuesday night's show at the Ogden Theater was covered was definitely a first for this blog. It's not typical do selective coverage on a show, but I really only went to check out a particular band who happened to not be the opener this time around. Of course, that meant I had limited press credentials, so if your wondering why the headliner is absent from this review, it is because I wasn't able to cover them. So although I wasn't able to cover The Dirty Heads, I was still able to cover the first two bands and that two-thirds of the show went very well.

Apex Vibe

I went into the show expecting to cover two bands and I still left the show covering two bands; one just happened to be unexpected. As a last minute addition, local reggae rock band Apex Vibe was called in to open up the show. Apex Vibe is Tim Sanchez on lead vocals/guitar, Derek Barnard on lead guitar, Sam Caudill on keyboards/vocals, Tim Davis on bass/vocals and Dubs on Drums. With the steady foundation of reggae and dub, Apex Vibe fused elements of rock and funk into a laid back yet lively sound that could easily come from the west coast.

Apex Vibe

Apex Vibe exhibited their songwriting craft with songs off their album Elevate like "Rockaway" and "In The Moment" - songs that crafted smooth 311-like vocals with crisp instrumentation reminiscent of Sublime. They quickly got the crowd into a groove, setting the mood right for what was to come later. Being a last minute addition, they were mostly unknown to the crowd, so they cleverly performed some cover songs to endear them to the audience. Their spot-on covers of Pepper's "Stone Love" and The Expendables' "Bowl For Two" got the crowd engaged and singing along. They had good presence and energy and transitioned smooth from song to song. If you are a fan of reggae rock, Apex Vibe definitely represents that sound.

Wallpaper.

Next up was the band I was waiting to see, Wallpaper. Wallpaper. performed as a four-piece band; frontman Ricky Reed handled the vocals and occasional guitar, with backup singer Novena and not one, but two live drummers. Together they performed a satirical form of party pop music, complete with loud and heavy beats, catchy hooks and plenty of swagger but paired with tongue-in-cheek lyricism. It was one of the most multi-leveled performances I've ever witnessed, as the whole crowd was enjoying the show, but for conflicting yet unified reasons.

Wallpaper.

I'll admit, if I didn't know about Wallpaper. beforehand, I'm not sure if I would have been able to catch all that they were about right away. That's because the lyrics to Wallpaper.'s songs are so key, but especially in the live setting, lyrics aren't usually what I immediately focus on. Instead I usually try to evaluate the overall sound, with much focus on the instrumentation. I found pop to be a good vessel for Wallpaper's message. The simple song structures and catchy choruses helped bring the lyrics to the forefront. Although I knew to listen for the words, those who normally would miss them would have a hard time not catching them based just on the way Wallpaper.'s songs are structured.

Wallpaper.

With that in mind, Wallpaper. began their set with the song "Shotgun", a pool party song with a catchy auto-tune melody and club beat with an open-ended message about drinking about alcohol. It can be interpreted different ways, but I look at it as poking fun at day-party culture. That continued to be the theme - multi-leveled hilarious songs with deep meanings wrapped around production that would be instantly pleasing to the habitual top 40 listener. That meant the crowd was having fun because they enjoyed the deeper meanings, the way the music sounded, or both.

Wallpaper.

Not only was it enjoyable to hear Wallpaper.'s well-written parodical songs, the band was an absolute joy to watch as well. The two drummers served a purpose greater than just adding the layered drum sound heard in a lot of modern pop music, they added an extra visual dynamic. When they weren't pounding kicks and snares in perfect sequence they flailing their sticks in the are or jumping around with enthusiasm with contagious wide smiles. Ricky Reed and Novena would do synchronized dance routines with a playful whimsical quality to them - well executed but not the serious over-choreographed fare that seems to be all the rage.

Wallpaper.

Wallpaper. did a good job of performing mostly in character, as in they portrayed their satirized image and absurd song content very well live. But they did it in such a way you could almost imagine their tongues protruding out the sides of their faces because in reality that isn't what they are about. Still, there is a careful balance that Wallpaper. has, as they realize that despite the absurdity of their message, there is indeed a thick layer of truth behind their songs of excess, so despite the deep levels they are trying to expose, I would think they are happy if people enjoy their music on any level. In fact, Ricky Reed of wallpaper pretty much said that in the interview I conducted before the show.

Wallpaper.

I think on any level, Wallpaper. is an amazing live experience. If you are a fan of pop music, Wallpaper.'s cunning production skill is magnetizing. Whether or not you will see or appreciate any of the deeper levels of Wallpaper.'s music, the overall sound itself is very palatable. If you are not a fan of pop music, you just may enjoy Wallpaper. because it is anti-pop in disguise. Watching some of the irony go down at the Wallpaper. show was some of the most fun my cynical side has had in a while. Give some Wallpaper. songs a good listen, because I'm sure one way or the other, it'll put a smile on your face.

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