I saw them Sunday night at the Mercurary lounge, the show of that didn't sell out of the 2. Of course it was awesome. I had seen them previously at knitting factory, but that time the violinist was missing, and so were the two painters that usually accompany the performance. however, this time everyone was there! Overall i'd have to say they are solidly my favorite band even though I don't like all their songs, and i think their live show could be amped up a bit. It was still a very awesome show but it doesn't blwo me away liek some other bands i've seen. ( I feel like i'm writing like a sixth grade. I guess i'm just sharing very basic ideas and reactions. Anyway...)
I very rarely share their music with my friends because the music is almost sacred to me ina way. It's i can't just play one single and go, "Check out the sick beats" (they are sick btw) I'm afraid by even posting this video and MP3 is like short-changing you and the band. Despite the fact these 2 songs show 2 different sides of Cloud Cult's work, it doesn't begin to cover what they are capable of sonically and emotvely. I would need to drive around with one friend in the middle of a breezy, silent summer night and play Happy Hippopotamus all the way through with no distractions to truly convey the totality of this band.
Maybe that's why the blurb accompanying the show time listing in L Magazine read some thing to the effect of, "Although Cloud Cult continues to sell out dates all over the place we have yet to meet a single person who likes them." Besides The L being one of the most pretentious publications that covers music, I think such an effect is a result of their non-sinlge-sounding-ness. Almost none of their songs, no matter how catchy or transcendent they might be, would make a good single to my knowledge. So their popularity doesn't spread as fast or as high as some other band. They almost require a deeper experience.
That being said anyone i know that has heard them has fallen in love instantaneously. Word of mouth vs MTV. DIY vs Wal*Mart.
One's got love.
