I’m hard pressed to think of a band that’s put on a more underappreciated show than Fol Chen’s show at the Force Field/Terrorbird party. It’s not that they were particularly life-changing or anything over the top, it’s just that I don’t think that many people at the show were that familiar with them. They clearly put a lot of effort into coming up with a unique show — completed by extending out rocking sections in their songs, matching patterns on their clothes and the Michael Stipe-ish stripe that each of them had over their eyes. They looked like a group of kindhearted bank robbers with a good fashion sense.

MP3: Fol Chen – Cable TV

But like I said, the crowd just wasn’t really on their wavelength. With most people in attendance waiting around for the Pains of Being Pure at Heart or Vivian Girls, it’d be like buying tickets to see Jerry Seinfeld and winding up at a Mitch Hedberg show — it might be the best show of his life, but it’s not why you’re there. Actually, I take that back. There was one fan that sticks out in my mind as being very into what they were doing. During one song, a young girl grabbed a maraca from the stage and shook it with the worst rhythm I’ve ever seen. It was so horrible that it was kind of cute. And the magic marker X on her hand that said “I’m completely sober while doing this” made it even better.

And if their preparations for the show weren’t enough, Fol Chen topped off their underappreciated cake with a real treat: a cover of Mariah Carey’s “Emotion” done with Prince-stylized vocals to rival the original. When a band only has a half hour to earn my love and they chose to whip out a great cover choice, that’s always sure to win me over. Fol Chen, it was much appreciated.