So, there's this synthpop band called Freezepop. Until last Wednesday night, I'd never heard of them. My friend is a huge fan and roped me into going. The trio is best known for contributing their music to video games such as Guitar Hero and Rock Band. It makes sense since Freezepop's music encompasses bleeps and beeps and centers on lyrics about school boy crushes and technology. At the venue, I was shocked to discover what a cult following this band truly has. The place was packed with a division of either 20 year-old ravers or video game geeked out guys. What followed was surely a memorable evening.
Download: Freezepop - "Brain Power"
Liz Enthusiasm (ne Jussi Gamache), Duke of Pannekoeken and Sean T. Drinkwater comprise Freezepop. For some reason the Duke couldn't make it so Creme Brulee, a.k.a The French Ghost, subs. Formed in Allston, MA in 1999, they released their debut, Freezepop Forever, in 2000 and had their latest, Future Future Future Perfect, come out last year.
Liz comes out wearing a sexy red dress to compliment the reddish streaks in her hair. They two guys wear sunglasses at night and play keytars. Yes, keytars! The first single they play is "Frontland" from the new record. The 20 year-olds in the audience start to throw their nubile fists in the air, dancing and shouting requests. Freezepop's music isn't exactly danceable, but does evoke some sort of motion. "Boys on Film" is next (perhaps a Duran Duran, New Romance genre reference?)as the crowd yells out the lyrics. Even though other synthpop groups such as New Order, Tom Tom Club and New Young Pony Club exude catchier melodies, Freezepop knows how to work the crowds becoming very interactive and MC-like catering to requests and making their show into a democracy. They perform "Ninja of Love" which entails karate chop synchronized motions from the audience. Liz sings "Parlez-Vous Freezepop" in French and follows it up with "Science Genius Girl." They do a good job of wavering between newer and older tracks. During several moments, Sean goes into the audience and lets the kids hit the keys on the keytar. They take requests and change their setlist around as a result. Sean encourages the kids to light up their cellphones. At one point, I notice ten guys lined up watching the band. They are probably there for the eye candy that is Liz and possibly to vicariously live out their video game fantasies. Or maybe they really dig the music. The group play "Brainpower" from their latest album and hold the mic into the audience so the kids can sing along. "Ready 2 Rokk" is the last song before their self aware encore. As they walk off stage, Sean mentions how they are going to walk off stage and how the audience is going to clap and how they're going to come back and play more.
After a brief respite, the band rejoins belting on those keytars and jumping into the crowd again allowing the kids to be rock stars. Get it? The bass is richocheting so much the walls of the venue are shaking to the degree an empty beer bottle falls of the ledge. "Less Talk More Rokk" is the first encore song followed by a surprising but great cover of Europe's "The Final Countdown" (which always conjures "Arrested Development"). Their final song of the night is yet another cover, this time "Don't Stop Believing." The crowd eats it up, sings along, and jump around like manic ravers. Most of these kids weren't even born when this song initially became popular. It's decided Freezepop would make a pretty good wedding cover band. But alas, video game music and entertaining the subcultured masses is Freezepop's calling. Never underestimate the power of the keytar, though.
Comments