We Are Scientists @ Troubadour

August 9, 2010 - Los Angeles, CA

By Liz Caruso

We Are Scientists @ Troubadour - Los Angeles, CA - August 6, 2010 - Photos by Liz Caruso

Last Friday night's sold out crowd at the Troubadour for We Are Scientists was electric with energy; from before the moment the first opener (the hilarious JP Incorporated) took the stage, fans were lined up around the stage, securing their spot and patiently waiting. As I waited with the rest, I managed to speak with a couple fans, one who told me she had been waiting over two years for the band to make a proper return to Los Angeles. But with some We Are Scientists loyalists, they will follow them to any nearby city they may be playing - which may be shocking, until you witness the power of their live performance.

When the boys emerged on stage, the audience packed in even tighter, making LA's usually roomy Troubadour seem too small to contain everyone. The band jumped right into the performance, with an infectious energy that had everyone smiling and screaming. Lead singer/guitarist Keith Murray jams on guitar as he belts the songs and exchanges gigantic smiles with bassist Chris Cain, who plays with a more reserved energy as Keith hops around from one side of the stage to the other.



The set consisted largely of songs off their newest, 2010 release, Barbara, but of course immensely pleased the audience by playing hits off their older albums - the most notable being a rendition of the ridiculously catchy "Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt" which had everyone singing along. Chris and Keith also manage to effortlessly weave humor into their performance by exchanging witty banter with each other between songs, dedicating songs to strange recipients ("This one is for Anheuser-Busch..." Chris mused after marveling about how beautiful his Budweiser looked), and interacting with crowd members gutsy enough to join in on the humorous conversations.

All in all, it was an absurdly satisfying set with all the elements that make for a good show - great music, great energy, great camaraderie, and great humor. Go see We Are Scientists if they're passing through your city, or if you're like many of their fans, travel a little (or a lot) to see them!

Click here for more photos from Friday night's show!