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JEFF the Brotherhood & Diarrhea Planet played Death by Audio (which is closing way too soon) --- pics

photos by P Squared Photography; words by Bill Pearis

JEFF the Brotherhood / Diarrhea Planet @ DBA 10/12/2014
Jeff the Brotherhood
Diarrhea Planet
Jeff the Brotherhood

Death by Audio still has another five weeks open but signs that things are changing are already apparent. Construction scaffolding is already up outside the building, and inside they’ve knocked down part of the wall that divides the front and back rooms of the DIY venue so you can see the stage all the way back at the bar. While the former is kinda depressing, the wall being gone inside actually makes the place a little more comfortable, especially for bananapants shows like JEFF the Brotherhood and Diarrhea Planet on Sunday (10/12). A little more room to breath and be clear of the constant crowdsurfing (for those not into that). Apparently, a lot of big, potentially wild shows are in the works.

There are few bands, to me at least, that are as synonymous with DbA as JEFF. Some of the craziest things I’ve ever seen at the place were during JEFF shows (including personally getting hit with a bottle rocket [unharmed] which was crazy, maybe not cool, but I won’t forget it) and the band always make time to play there. Part of their tour with fellow Nashvillians Diarrhea Planet, this was the NYC debut of a new four-piece version of JEFF with a guitarist and bassist giving Jake and Jamin Orrall a little more oomph. I never had any problem with the duo version, mind you. Jake riffing away while Jamin, head down, laid down a motorik beat like a machine. But they sounded great. The crowd went the most nuts for We Are the Champions‘ “Mellow Out,” at least till “the Wizard” made an appearance for a set-ending cover of Rush’s “Working Man.”

One more note about their set: I’ve seen a handful of shows at DbA since they announced the end, and JEFF were  the first band not to sentimentalize on stage. Which I was personally thankful for, as it’s felt like the longest eulogy ever sometimes (though the sentiment is certainly commiserated). They came to rock not to mourn, though Jamin said before their set he felt a little overwhelmed.

The crowd for Diarrhea Planet was actually much wilder than JEFF’s, with near-constant crowd surfing, which seemed to fit their guitar-heavy, beer-rock anthems. There were a lot of guitars/guitarists on stage, all with Big Rock Moves, and the crowd was singing along to all the choruses, fists in air. I saw two amazing things during their set, both crowd-surfing related. Number 1: some kid, while atop the crowd, began taking selfies with a disposable camera. Whether intentional or not, he was immediately dropped. (I’d like to think it was on purpose). Number 2: One of the more frequent crowdsurfers was a girl whose birthday it was (apparently), and at one point she grabbed onto one of the fans in the drop-ceiling which immediately came down though was still hanging by the wires. Some guy raced from the back of the room, got hoisted up by the crowd and shoved the fan back into place. The band and the crowd went wild. This is the guy who put it back:

Diarrhea Planet

Before the headliners were Brooklyn’s Scully, most of whom used to be in The Splinters (who played early DbA shows with JEFF) and who played a fun set of garagey pop. I missed first group: Nashville dancehall act Punani Huntah that features Jake Orrall on the decks (or laptop in this case).

JEFF and DP also played Santos Party House on Monday (10/13) as well. Pictures from the whole DbA show continue below…

Punani Huntah

Punani Huntah

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Diarrhea Planet

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