“It’s not a proper tour until grown men get drunk and pass out in front of each other,” Gareth Campesino, the lively front man, said as he invited openers Cymbals Eat Guitars to come out of their shell and party with them more backstage. After a hectic week’s delay — thanks to that pesky volcano — Los Campesinos! finally made it state side to start its spring tour. As it turns out, this would be the first gig of this revised outing, and it was very obvious that they were chomping at the bit to get loud and rowdy in D.C.

Los Campesinos! have a dedicated fan base that greatly helps to explain the exclamation at the end of its name. This is the third time the Welsh band has played D.C., but as their first headlining gig at the 9:30 Club, it seemed pre-mature. While the balconies in the club were sparsely filled, the floor was packed and ecstatic like the venue was sold out. Once into the set it was realized that this is a band that can’t be contained in a small bar or dance floor. No, this import needs as much room as possible to be themselves and do what they do best.

As an eight-piece live, the sound was massive with punk rock energy. (The group’s English wit only helped to keep things charming.) Gareth bounced around on-stage, kicking and dramatically playing his glockenspiel while acting to the bitter verses of a young man reeling in love’s angsty backlash. Only he did so with the biggest smile and endless thanks, saying “cheers” after every song. Genuine is the best way to describe it, just a real moment of music that felt human.

Although they’re back with a new effort, this year’s fantastic Romance is Boring, the octet played a smattering from their three record catalogue. It was a collection of their best, with a few key oldies trickled in to get the crowd fist-pumping and screaming along. Their loyal fan base knew all the cues, and chimed in with their own passionate sing-a-longs. New track “These Are Listed Buildings” was just as electrifying as the band’s classic “Death to Los Campesinos!” It was as if the set was building up to something big, and in the end it did. “You! Me! Dancing!” was the beginning of an exhilarating run to the finish of their most beloved songs. The buzzing build up, with all forces at full steam, lead right into the opening chords for the anthemic track from their first record.

The night was a marathon to keep up with, and it’s evident that Gareth has more energy than he knows what to do with. By the unofficial last song “Sweet Dreams Sweet Cheeks” he’d jumped right into the crowd running straight back, singing to their adopted sound guy. Once in the middle, the audience swelled around him as he danced before running on stage for the all-hands-on-percussion big finish. For the end of the evening, “Broken Heartbeats Sound Like Break Beats”, four others would follow him from the band to play from the middle of the sweating mass on the floor. It was the best way to close a show like this, to just let the last of the energy explode one more time and send everyone home with stories for their friends.

Los Campesinos! is through and through an over the top band. The band’s over-the-top live show carries a presence that is sorely needed, giving their fans those thankful-to-be alive feelings that don’t seem to be felt much in music anymore. While still very new, shows like last night’s become the priceless moments when fans get to say they heard all their favorites. Though could you get any less from a band hell bent on delivering nothing short of absolute, uninhibited fun? I think not. Maybe one day soon they’ll return and get the full house they deserve, but whether or not they go on to take over the world doesn’t seem to matter. They already own a corner of it, and for them at least, there’s no better place to be.

Photo’s courtesy of Priscilla Raba.
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