The Wily Filipino

Dengue Fever, The Independent, SF, 7/15/06.

Why I can't seem to successfully drag anyone with me to see the coolest band in America in concert I can't understand. Either people are about to pass out, or watching Pearl Jam instead, or, as J-Lu once said after seeing an excerpt of the "Sni Bong" video, "That made my ears bleed."

Anyhow, Dengue Fever was fantastic, with a set that began with --- er, one of the slower songs -- and ended with "I'm Sixteen" in the encore (complete with an extended sax solo from David Ralicke in the coda that was just perfect). In between, they played "Sni Bong," "Lost in Laos," "Flowers," "Tip My Canoe," "Hold My Hips" (this might have been when they pulled up audience members onto stage to dance), an awesome "One Thousand Tears of a Tarantula," "A Go Go," "Doo Wop" (both of which they should really record in the studio at some point), and what sounded like three other new songs (though they may have been covers, I don't know).

The band was in excellent form: one song had a show-stopping a cappella introduction by Chhom Nimol -- a reminder, as if it was necessary, of her classical training. Senon Williams and Zac Holtzman were totally goofing around all night -- jumping in unison, falling on the ground, messing with Ethan Holtzman's Farfisa solos. (I should also mention that Dengue Fever not only sound cool, they also look great on stage.)

Openers Elephone and Scrabbel were well worth seeing too -- lots of downloadable mp3s from the latter's website.

Posted by the wily filipino at July 16, 2006 12:50 PM