I was talking about writing this post with a friend of mine at the bar between sets last night - he's an artistic sort of guy, very full of metaphors - and he suggested I open it with a quote from 'Turn the page'. The part where he's talking about the amplifiers echoing in his head? Because that's what I dealt with all night last night.
First and foremost, what you must understand about Camp Normal is that they're loud. Very loud. That kind of overcompensating for bar chatter loud, except when they start to play - the chatter is usually a raucous sing along, starring old favorites and songs made famous by... well, raucous drunken singing in a bar.
Chad
Camp Normal is an eclectic/progressive/alternative rock four-piece from Dunlap, TN. Randy and Daniel share duties as lead singers, guitarists (and stand-up comedians, being as they're the only two with microphones), Tyrell rocks bass (and a pretty sweet black and pink mohawk), and Chad blasts beats on drums. Their setlists consist of anything from original songs, southern rock covers, metal, and soul (and I'm pretty sure I've heard a Temptations cover AT LEAST once). Last night was no different.
Being that they were on home turf, the foursome took the stage unceremoniously - surrounded mainly by friends and acquaintances - there really was no need for fanfare. Daniel began the set by taunting the crowd - challenging their drunkenness and asking for requests. A friend in the corner yelled, "Play something you know!" - and they began with a southern-bar-crowd-favorite: Tuesday's Gone by Lynard Skynard.
Tyrell
Despite the fact that the crowd was familiar - and barring the comfort their fans have for dives and half-assed performances from other grassroots hometown bands - the songs were spot on. Chad's drum style is wide and heady, giving a Shanon Larkin like impression. So full of sound, it seems to drive the energy of the band. Coupled with Tyrell's very rhythmic and funky bass - it provides a solid backbone for Randy and Daniel to - for lack of better words - rock the fuck out. And they do, indeed. Even within the same song, they can switch vocal and lead responsibilities seamlessly - even though they possess very different styles. Randy's licks shriek and shred, filling the crowd with a sort of anticipation - while Daniel's are a bit more laxed, a bit more soulful, and simply seem to moan.
Daniel
Among the covers were some Camp Normal originals. The two I heard were "Moonshine and Cheap Wine" - an party ode to all of those "in the know". I believe this is the time to use the phrase "it's a southern thing". And the second, which is pretty much considered the unofficial Dunlap, TN anthem - "Whiskey Road" - sang at every gathering, every party - and on the new album, features friends and loved ones singing along in the background. The crowd sang, screamed (or in the very inebriated individual's cases)mumbled along in high spirits. Needless to say, a very high energy show.
And indeed, when I hit the pillow last night - very prophetically, amplifiers echoed in my head. Good show.
Randy
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