PHOTO by LINDSEY NICKS

@ ALEX’S BAR
SUN | JULY 29

I feel so torn about the Husbands’ live show at Alex’s last Sunday. What I would love to say is: The Husbands rocked. They sounded like Joan Jett and the Stooges. Everyone was ecstatic. One question that nagged at me all night though: You can take a band out of Olympia, but can you really take Olympia out of a band? That is, too many guitars and not enough bass, matching outfits, overly-committed aesthetic relating to a specific period in semi-obscure music history, etc. I wanted to like it! Sarah Reed, Sadie Shaw and Casey Ward seemed so cool, swigging their 24-ounce Tecates, wearing black high heels and garage rock attire, nodding their heads to the opening bands. And they all shred so deeply onstage. (I’ve heard they do a Cramps’ cover that completely blows the roof off.)

I could imagine their live show being really amazing . . . maybe if I were at a crowded, drunken house party and everyone knew the words. (Come to think of it, what band wouldn’t be amazing in that scenario?) But the show wasn’t at a rippin’ party. It was at a bar on a sparsely attended Sunday night, with a fairly tepid crowd of tired fans. Not to say there weren’t moments. “Take It or Leave It” was beautiful and raw, Shangri-las-esque. And the duel guitar jam on the final song was long, fleshy and spontaneous. Like every live experience, however, context was everything. Next time I know: This garage band is meant to be seen at a party, well . . . in a garage.