I Just Read About That…

[ATTENDED: April 15, 2019] Priests

Priests is one of a number of bands that I know a little bit and feel like I should know more.  Most of these bands have one word plural names (Priests, Savages, Daughters–who sound nothing alike but who I have a hard time keeping straight).

Priests were supposed to play at Union Transfer, but their show got moved to Boot and Saddle.  Someone asked them why online and they responded, “Union Transfer is for bands that people actually like” or something like that.

And yes, Boot & Saddle is a considerably smaller venue.  But on the plus side, I wasn’t going to go see them at UT, but I was happy (excited even) to see them at B&S.

I knew a few songs by them, and I liked that their new album was called The Seduction of Kansas (from the book of the same name).  I knew that they were now a three piece (although there were four of them on stage), although I don’t know anything about why the fourth person left.  I also didn’t really know what lead singer Katie Alice Greer looked like.  So I was quite surprised to see a woman with a shock of blonde curls on her head dressed in a leather bodysuit (she must have been so hot!).

First on stage was guitarist G.L. Jaguar.  He got his gear set up and sat on the floor talking to the people at the front of the stage while everyone else got ready.  He seemed really nice.

When everyone else was set up they started with “Texas Instruments” from the new album.  I like the new album a lot and hoped they’d play a lot from it, which they did (8 of 12 songs).

I was instantly taken with the ringing guitar sound and Greer’s voice.  They have a lot of stage presence, with Greer making eye contact with everyone and Jaguar stomping all over the stage and at one point practically put his guitar in the audience.

Priests’s earlier record is a bit more punky, but this albums uses punk elements to create a different overall sound–more 80s and 90s alt-rock..  But you could tell from the noises that Jaguar was making that he was not afraid to rock out.

“The Seduction of Kansas” is the first song I’d heard by them and I instantly fell in love with the descending bass line and siren-like guitar.  I was thrilled that they captured the sound perfectly live. The way Greer’s voice soars over the whole thing is just awesome.

I prefer their faster songs, but when they slowed things down for “Not Perceived” it was amazing to see Greer standing there in her leather body suit–all eyes on her–as she sang the lyrics.   The song has a great bass line reminiscent of Joy Division.  Touring (and maybe permanent?) bassist Janel Lepin was great throughout the show, keeping the melody while Jaguar made squealing feedback.

They moved to their previous album for four songs, beginning with the roaring “Nothing Feels Natural.”   It’s got a great riff and noisy feedbacking wailing guitars,.

I was really impressed with the whole band.  Daniele Daniele on drums was really powerful.  She sang/spoke lead vocals from behind the kit on the awesomely raging “No Big Bang.”  Everyone was excited to shout the chorus of “No. Big. Bang!”   Meanwhile Jaguar’s guitars were just ringing out noise.  It was intense.

Up next was the rocking “Pink White House.”   I love the screamed vocals and amazing guitar work.    They lyrics were pretty great too

A puppet show in which you’re made to feel like you participate
Sign a letter, throw your shoe, vote for numbers 1 or 2

When I was listening to older songs before the show I fell immediately for “JJ” with that great guitar riff and the terrific vocals. I was psyched they played it before they moved back to the new album.

Later, Daniele Daniele came out from behind the kit to sing lead vocals on “I’m Clean.”  It’s a slower moodier song. and Daniele’s singing style is quite different.  It really makes for a dynamic change up in the set.  Greer went behind the kit for the song and afterwards explained that she was very tired from using the maracas the whole time–she said she has no upper body strength.

On the other hand, I loved feeling Daniele pound the hell out of the drums on “You Tube Sartre”

They ended the set with three more songs from the new album.  First up was “68 Screen” with a great bass line and dual vocals from Daniele and Greer.

Then came “Control Freak” and I loved watching Greer show how much of a bad ass she was as she sang.  And I loved even more the shards of noise that Jaguar was wrenching from his guitar.

They ended the night with the leadoff track from the new album, the absolutely ripping “Jesus Son.”  It sounded amazing.

This was the first night of their tour and I thought it was fantastic.  If the band was disappointed to have been downgraded, they didn’t show it.

I see they have modified the setlist a bit, replacing “No Big Bang” with the new “Good Time Charlie.”  This surprises me since I thought “No Big Bang ” was a huge success at our show.

But whatever the case, I’m glad to have seen them so close in such an intimate venue.

 

SETLIST

1. Texas Instruments
2. The Seduction of Kansas
3. Youtube Sartre
4. Not Perceived
5. Nothing Feels Natural
6. No Big Bang
7. Pink White House
8. JJ
9. I’m Clean
10. 68 Screen
11. Control Freak
12. Jesus Son

bold songs from Nothing Feels Natural (2017).
The Seduction of Kansas (2019)

Priestsisoneofanumberofbandsthat