To say that Boston's own Bang Camaro is one-of-a-kind is an understatement, but you wouldn't know that at first listen. If you're a "Guitar Hero II" enthusiast, you may only know the band set to headline Paradise Rock Club tomorrow night in the context of having one of the most frustratingly challenging songs in the video game. What you may be missing is that the band's massive sound is largely due to the fact that instead of one lead singer, the focal point of most metal bands, Bang Camaro has about 20.
Though it may seem like a gimmick at first, the "gang vocal" approach has some pretty cool implications. First, for those fans who have been turned off by the self-indulgence that seems to go hand in hand with metal, simple logic will tell you that these guys aren't in it for the money, since the genre is no longer profitable and they would simply have to split their dollars too many ways.
Next, the choir of singers succeeds perfectly in what has been the goal of high energy performers such as Andrew WK for years: breaking down the wall between the musician and the audience. Allowing the crowd to share nearly the same exact experience as the guys on stage, the band is the epitome of a crowd pleaser.
To sweeten the deal, Bang Camaro focuses entirely on the two aspects of metal that had attracted fans to the genre in the first place: anthemic, fist-in-the-air choruses and never-ending guitar solos.
It is surprisingly refreshing to see Bang Camaro's unconventional stage presence. The band's three guitarists and the bassist line up right in the front, dazzling the crowd with their free-wheeling, sprawling solos and boundless energy. The drummer is positioned right in the middle, with somewhere between 10 and 20 singers, two per mic, surrounding him.
It may appear cluttered at first, but its utility is quickly realized as a keyboard accidentally falls off of its stand or if the clutch on the drummer's cymbal comes loose, and five singers are there in an instant to fix it. The setup also allows for the guitarists to dive right into the drum set once or twice and not have the mishap end the show, which everyone should agree is for the best.
Tomorrow night marks Bang Camaro's largest scale concert to date, and it is sure to be a powerful performance. The band is celebrating the release of its debut, self-titled album, which came out on Tuesday. The standard 12 tracks represent both the band's sense of humor and its comprehensive exploration of every standard type of metal song.
The first single (the "Guitar Hero" one) is titled "(Push Push) Lady Lightning," and it would be hard to conceive of a title that screams "metal" any louder. The parentheses, in particular, are a must. The song itself is fun and engaging, beginning with a clap that gives it that softer edge, a universal pop appeal. Though no other song can touch "(Push Push)" in its appeal, songs like "Swallow the Razor" and "Out on the Streets" provide the same high energy. And, of course, no metal album would be complete without a ballad; to underscore the band's lighthearted approach, they decided to name it simply "The Ballad."
By now, some may be either confused as to the appeal of such a band or on their way to buy a ticket. Rest assured, no matter your previous impressions of metal music, a Bang Camaro show is fun for the whole family, provided your entire family is between the ages of 16 and 30. And likes to party.
After all, it's hard not to share the enthusiasm of a large group of guys who all get to do what they love, whether or not they have to keep their day jobs. Their album may not win many Grammys, but their overall approach and their live show will likely have an impact on future music because they have proven that it is possible to extract the elements of music that are fun and still rock out.
