Saint Etienne
Avalon, Hollywood
February 18, 2006

Saint Etienne finally made it back to this side of the pond for a mere four U.S. dates to support the long overdue domestic release of their latest album, Tales From Turnpike House. The Los Angeles show sadly took place at the supremely lame Avalon on Vine in Hollywood. The band started the show early on Saturday night to accommodate the throngs of clubbers that were already lined up outside for the “real” event, which was the appearance of superstar DJ Sasha that was to take place later that evening. That being said, the seven-piece band fronted by the luminous Sarah Cracknell made the most of what they had to work with.

The all-too-brief show included such hits as “Sylvie” and “Who Do You Think You Are?,” but the majority of the set included songs from Tales From Turnpike House (which was sold for the unbelievable price of $20 dollars at the merch booth), including the yearning and dance-friendly “Teenage Winter.” Cracknell shone in a sparkly sequined top, shimmying along to the march of her rhythm section and winning over the very enthusiastic crowd. However, due to the upcoming Sasha show, a deafening roar of applause from the crowd after a rousing encore version of “Nothing Can Stop Us” was met several minutes later with only the house lights and security guards pushing everyone out as quickly as possible. This, after a forcibly rushed set, sound problems in the first half of the show, overpriced merchandise, and the Avalon charging $30 to park, was unacceptable. The charm and tunes were certainly there, but when commerce so rudely interrupts the show and falls like acid rain, what then?

By Nick Hyman

www.saintetienne.com

2/2006