Review Text
When Saudi Arabia takes the stage, the audience thinks, 'What the hell is this?' Is the bass player out of high school yet? Is the drummer under 60? Does the blonde have Tourette's? Is the band named after the darkly handsome guitar player, Vinnie? When they start playing, 'Wait a second!' But why are they singing about eating brains and plucking daisies? Mother Teresa had ... baggage? And are they actually barking at Dr. Dog?' In no time, the crowd is dancing, laughing and stomping away to songs with strong melody, dynamics, time changes, tempo changes and a big back beat -- music for brains and feet.. And not a lot of angst. Says Josh Pannepacker, co-writer with Vinnie Barrucco, 'We're not pissed at our Dads.' Bass player Fletcher Van Vliet describes the set: 'Indie math dance pop.' The geezer drummer, Bob Bauers, refuses to comment. Formerly Known as Shorty Boy-boy, Saudi Arabia is a diverse quartet out of West Philadelphia. The band has been playing shows in the Northeast since forming in 2006. ----- Philadelphia Weekly say: 'We're gonna eat your brains tonight," sing West Philly four-piece Saudi Arabia on the first song of their new $200,000 EP. That says it all about this bizarre band, who make the most of their mood swings and aren't afraid to throw in a line from "Jimmy Crack Corn." The aforementioned "Brains" sounds like four or five different songs stitched together in a darkened alley, while the cryptic "A Message to Dr. Dog" is drowned in noise. The closing "Christian Retreat" is just as cheeky but way more melodic. Dwelling somewhere between early Pavement and latter-day Butthole Surfers, Saudi Arabia draw us closer by never revealing their whole hand. (Doug Wallen)
