Contributed by Christopher Gedos

Everest, Richard Swift and Red Cortez played at The Satellite (formerly Club Spaceland) on Monday, February 28th. It was the final Monday for Red Cortez’s residency. They played 4 free shows and gave away 4 free EPs (different each week) throughout the month. It was either the final Spaceland residency or the first Satellite residency, and I’m sure the crowd would’ve been at max capacity were it not for the unnecessary, corporate-driven name change.

Five piece Everest was Neil Young’s backing band on the legend’s most recent tour. I could see them slaying through hits like “Cinnamon Girl”, “Hey Hey (My My)” and “I’m The Ocean” with fury and confidence. But Everest’s Achilles’ heel is they lack a true frontman, effectively zapping them of their musical prowess. Neil has had good success launching affiliated acts: Danny Whitten sang a haunting lead on most of 1971’s eponymous Crazy Horse before he OD’ed on heroin, and Nils Lofgren has a respectable solo career along with having been part of The E Street Band since the Boss’ 1985 Born In The USA tour. Unfortunately, there’s a time and a place for everything, (not to use too many shallow platitudes in this review.) I think Everest may have been conceived 20 years too late.

Portland-based Richard Swift is a staple of Secretly Canadian records. Imagine Randy Newman singing a mix of Elliot Smith and slow Beatles jams. The emotional availability and unpretentiousness of Ben Folds mashed up with the original song structures of Andrew Bird. Both he and Everest are throwbacks; neither is indicative of the indie scene circa 2011 — more like renegade meteors passing tangential to the asteroid belt. Indie fans are very particular about their tastes. They want a particular sound, and if an artist doesn’t satisfy that need and niche, they’re very easily discarded. Such is the ease and accessibility of music today. Imagine Everest releasing a debut album in ’74 to coincide with Bad Company and Richard Swift releasing an album in ’79 to coincide with Christopher Cross.

I enjoy Swift’s temperament on stage – he doesn’t give two fucks about whether the jaded, LA crowd applauds his music. This is the mark of a true artist, an ability to separate the product from the profit. Everest’s bassist joins in on the last few songs, which prompted my friend to lean in and yell, “this guy’s got a degree in Paul McCartney!” Swift did an a cappella version of “Lady Luck” for an encore which showed off a nice Nilsson Schmilsson vibe.

I saw Red Cortez play on the 21st of February and wasn’t fully impressed. The lead singer had a manic quality bordering on histrionics. I thought the songs were decent but simply couldn’t justify his gimmickry. But he was much more subdued during the show on the 28th. Maybe his band mates sat him down and said, “Don’t resort to that, you’re better than that.” Whatever happened, his toned-down performance was infinitely more believable and truthful. There was also more interaction between the singer and the other band members the second time around.

All their songs are really pretty good, almost anthemic but not there yet. Like Mona, Red Cortez is hoping they take a long time before they discover their ceiling. Unlike Mona, I think Red Cortez’s singer could have a Bono-type stage presence if he tames himself and chooses more wisely his emotional freak-outs. There’s a lot of British post-punk here (Ocean Rain, anyone?) along with the indie Americana of Neutral Milk Hotel and Modest Mouse. Teaming up with Kings of Leon producer Ethan Johns for their upcoming debut LP will prove a wise move for Red Cortez, as I think Johns will nurture their sound much like he did on Youth and Young Manhood and Aha Shake Heartbrake.

Listening to the 2 EPs, I’m even more impressed than Monday’s show. Is Red Cortez’s talent schizophrenic? Which band were they in the recording studio? Which band will they be if they play the Wiltern, Metro or Hammerstein Ballroom? In the lead singer’s defense, he donned a megaphone for the encore, but that was one of the first times he didn’t take himself too seriously. I’d like to see more playfulness from them. You have to separate the art from the business.

Red Cortez: Official / Myspace
Richard Swift: Official / Myspace
Everest: Official / Myspace

RATING: 7.9999999