Showcase: The Girls & Jones St. Station @ The Viper Room (12/14/12)

 

 Alison Brie, Cyrina Fiallo, and Julianna Guill take us into the Holidays with Jones St. Station, Jared Lee, and some special guests…#afterthebreak!

The Girls (Who Sing Other People’s Songs), Jones St. Station, and Jared Lee performing live at The Viper Room

With Special Guests:
Pia Toscano
Danny Pudi

Hollywood, CA

12/14/12

Highlights:

Holidays are knee deep all around us.  Strangely, that means for the second year in a row we  are showcasing another buzzworthy act from Sunset’s iconic Viper Room.  A venue we haven’t stepped foot in for a few months.  Always surprises me because it is one of my favorites due to the sheer quaintness–  Two floors.  Two bars.  Top floor, parallel to West Sunset, holds the curtain covered stage.  Extremely dark.  Crowded.  Definition of what Sunset Blvd’s music scene is really about.  Especially on a near sold out rainy December night.

The main course for the evening was three act offering starting with soulful Jared Lee, followed by The Girls, finalized with a trip to Jones St. Station for some bluegrass Americana.  If it wasn’t raining probably would’ve made it for Alex Band (of former ‘The Calling’ fame).  Still love his old Music in High Places special and 2001’s ‘Camino Palmero’.

When Alison, Julianna, and Cyrina let out that initial serene harmonies…after Jared Lee’s quick set with American Idol’s Pia Toscano…all my preconceived expectations of what I thought the “The Girls” would sound like were erased and copied over with one word: “Country covers”.  For their unabbreviated name is ‘The Girls (Who Sing Other People’s Songs)’.  It’s what they love and do it well.  Most of you probably know Alison but both Julianna & Cyrina are both actresses in their own right.  Julianna just starred in the suspense film — The Apparition — and Cyrina has a mix of “Supernatural” & “Good Luck Charlie” cameos .  Will give you a second to wikipedia them.  I’ll wait.

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Mind just blown?  Oh.  You found all their sexy professional head shots?  Keep it in your pants.  (lol)  Ain’t nothing wrong with a little sexiness.

You too would be pleased with The Girls set list that featured Queen’s “I Want To Break Free”, Fun.’s “We Are Young”, and even my favorite White Stripes’ track — “I Think We Are Going To Be Friends” led beautifully by Cyrina.  One of my favorite songs and Jack White would applaud after hearing their version.  Sweet.  Simple.  Just right.  Couldn’t stop but be reminded of The Pistol Annies throughout the evening.  The Girls had that same kind of country swagger.  Minus the shotguns.  Maybe they were the sweeter nice girl version of the Annies.  That title also works as a pun too for a possible alternative band name for “the Girls”.  Annie.  Brie’s Community Character.  Ha.  Funny.  Overall, The Girls look to be having heaps of fun with each other…singing songs…dancing.

Looking forward to ‘official’ media from The Girls, like a EP of covers or a few youtube music videos.  Until then, you’ll have to hunt them down.  For ‘The Girls’ love to be chased.

If you saw the pictures and thought who were the guys behind The Girls.  They were backed by up & coming Americana artists — Jones St. Station — throughout their set who took the helm almost immediately after they finished.  Danny Erker, Jonathan Hull, Paul Apelgren, and Walt Wells make up the bluegrass quartet of Americana.  Brooklyn based band with members from all over the US.  They were real surprise of the evening.  Not sure why I was so blown away by the sheer intensity of their harmonicas, guitars, mandolin, piano and stomping feet.  Addicted to all the former.  All together they made a powerful combo.  Executed perfectly.  Unfortunate that a good 1/3 of the crowd left the second Alison left the stage.  Obviously they missed the part when they hinted that she, The Girls, and special guest Danny Pudi would hit the stage to close the night.

Random Fact:

Danny appeared in their black and white music video for “The Understanding“.  Check it out.

Two of their friends in the crowd besides me spoiled the Danny, The Girls, Jones St. Station collabo during their passive aggressive discussion.  Took a few minutes but we left Jones St. Station straight for Jackson like a bullet.  Johnny & June Cash’s “Jackson”.  This was a repeat of another encore Danny & Alison did at show almost a year ago.  Way better than watching it on youtube.  That ‘Childish’ Donald Glover needs to watch out.  Or add them to The Royalty tour.  For Alison can cut a freestyle.  Highlight of the night.

You can check out Jones St. Station’s year long song a day project “Perennial” over on their website.  Check out #11.  My fav from this writing session.  You can catch Julianna, Cyrina, Alison, and Danny on your television but make sure you catch their touring showcase.  For these Community actors are double threats.

Picture wise was really disappointed with the set.  Normally the Viper is all about the bright spotlights.  That wasn’t the case.  Lots of red.  The frame did enjoy all the various colors around Cyrina.  Should’ve recorded video.  Did pick up a few gems.

Praise to The Viper Room, The Girls (Julianna, Alison, and Cyrina), Jones St. Station, and Jared Lee.  Look forward to seeing what showcasing more of your respective material.  Sorry for typos.  The media are yours to share.

-Just

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