MP3: Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s – Skeleton Key

Before Margot’s show, I had a stomach ache and a bit of acid reflux. After Margot’s show, I had to bike home in the pouring rain. But between those two, I had had an experience that more than made up for any unpleasantries I had been through that day.

As seems to be a running theme with some of the best shows I’ve seen this year, I almost didn’t go see Margot & the Nuclear So and So’s. I hadn’t really given too much of an ear to their album The Dust of Retreat–even though I’d been sent two different copies. Now that I’ve seen them, I’m in love and I’ve got it blaring from my speakers at 3AM.

Seeing Margot for the first time was like a lot of different things. You can’t tell from the photo, but they had eight members on stage, whose duties ranged from the traditional (guitar, bass, drums) to the extraordinary (cello, extra percussion, trumpet); sort of an Arcade Fire of folk-pop.

Performance-wise, they were far less Canadian than American. Margot’s lead singer, Richard Edwards, reminded me of an older Michael Nau from Page France (which is ironic, because I think they’re the same age). All he needed was the one-foot stomp, and they would have been brothers. Other than that, I kept being reminded of Bright Eyes. A less drunk Bright Eyes. As one of my friends remaked, they were like a “non-emo Bright Eyes.” I guess that works.

I know I have a bit of a penchant for hyperbole, but please hear me out on this one. After having witnessed a rendition of “Skeleton Key” that blew away the album version (one of my favorite ’06 songs), and falling in love with “Paper Kitten Nightmare,” I was convinced that that would wind up being one of the best shows I’d seen all year. It’s a lofty thing to say, halfway through the year (especially when they’re up against Radiohead, Man Man, Of Montreal, and others), but it’s how I felt at the time. Right now, I’m not sure where they’ll rank. But frankly, I don’t care. I had a blast, and the best part is that I’ll be seeing them again in just a few hours.

Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s are playing at the Desdemona Festival in Cincinnati today, Friday, June 23rd