LOS CAMPESINOS AT THE BLACK Cat
BY EJ LOLLYAsk any local about the DC area’s most iconic venues, and you’ll get a relatively short, albeit consistent list. The Anthem feels as if it has begun to join other large capacity greats in the area, like 9:30 Club and (if you’re willing to make the drive) the Fillmore in Silver Spring. But as much as these venues are revered, there has to be credit given to the independent venues that have endured despite the competition from the juggernauts and new kids on the block.
The Black Cat opened its doors in 1993 in the heart of the U Street Corridor, a historically vibrant area of DC that has undergone significant transformations throughout the lifetime of the city. Dubbed “Black Broadway” in the 1920s, the area was a prominent hub of jazz and African American culture in the early 20th century. Suffering huge damage following the 1968 King riots, the area fell into urban neglect as the city faced rising crime rates and the crack epidemic. When the U Street Metro station opened in 1991, the corridor gained an unparalleled influx of financial development that has only continued into the 21st century. This is the history The Black Cat would step right into the middle of in 1993, carving out a space for itself and cementing a place for indie rock and alternative music in the District. With its checkerboard style floor, row of pinball machines in the far back corner, and simplistic lighting fixtures, The Black Cat has carved a niche for itself as providing a no frills location to hear some great live music.
The reason I’m bringing up this history is because I think the people who built the neighborhood, the clientele of this venue and fans of Los Campesinos! all have something incredible in common: knowing what it means to be an outsider.
Named after the Spanish word for farmer or peasant, Los Campesinos! got their start at Cardiff University in 2006, releasing their full-length debut album 2 years later. The early Los Campesinos! catalog feels defined by their unhinged sincerity, a kind of raw vulnerability and self-understanding where you’re not afraid to share your deepest secrets with the people around you. Because in the past decade and a half, as the band has gained record deals and a cult following, Los Campesinos! has never once been unsure of who they are. They run their own emails, organize their own press, and have no shroud of mystery over their shows or music. They are a band by the people, for the people, no matter who the people are, and misery certainly loves company.
The first thing I noticed about the opener, Short Fictions, was the half empty gallon of water the lead singer, Sam Treber, brought onstage. The DC area along with the majority of the US has been experiencing an intense heatwave over the past few weeks, with heat indexes pushing well past 100° Fahrenheit. The overwhelming sound of their guitars rattled the speaker stacks I was stationed next to, the vibrations reminding me of the way heat refracts the light above pavement. Short Fictions’ newest release is “Oblivion Will Own Me and Death Alone Will Love Me (Void Filler)” from 2023 and the furthest punk exploration the band has embarked on yet. The already scorching summer undeniably fueled the band's energy, making their music sound even more potent live. Towards the end of their set, Sam would ask if anyone had the score of the current game of the professional hockey finals. It’s definitely endearing to be privy to what musicians are interested outside of their work, and let’s hope he caught the rest of the game. (The Oilers would win game 5 against Dallas, but ultimately lose the Stanley Cup to the Florida Panthers.)
Fans marked by Sharpie X's held down the fort up front, flanked by some of their parents and flanked even further by those closer to my age. It’s entirely likely there were those present who might not have even been born yet when their first album came out, but that didn’t stop anyone from singing along. There was headbanging, jumping along, and hands nearly permanently in the air, but thankfully no mosh pit appeared. It felt safe, supportive, and precisely what I needed from my first Los Campesinos show in 5 years. Banners hanging from the keyboard and bass cabinets decree messages like “FREE PALESTINE” and “SAFETY, DIGNITY AND HEALTHCARE FOR ALL TRANS PEOPLE”. Though there was some back and forth with the audience about any lighthearted beef between nearby US states, lead singer Gareth Paisey concluded with, “Statehood for DC! These guys deserve the rights of a state.” Well said, and thank you.
Tracks from their upcoming album “All Hell” were peppered throughout the setlist, some released and some not. “When we say there’s a new record, obviously the implication is we want you to buy a fucking record,” Gareth remarked. “We’re not that desperate.” 0898 Heartache, the closer before the encore, starts and expects you to be patient. The band shared that this song was written during the latter half of 2020, at a time when a lot of us were forced to grapple with ourselves in intimate and unrelenting detail, every dark and dirty aspect of it. The rest of the album has even more songs about anything and everything you could think of, like the new Legend of Zelda game, adult acne, and the climate apocalypse. These days, it really does feel like all hell has broken loose upon the world. The album will be out in full on July 19th.
Los Campesinos! is unique for more than just being the UK's first and only emo band or their influences like Blur and Broken Social Scene; It's how their music draws everyone into a place where they belong and allows you to be unabashedly human. You know you’re doing something right when Pitchfork of all outlets labels you "the 21st century's most endearing cult band”.
They have two more shows coming up in the US in San Francisco and LA. And because everything is All Hell, the band will be embarking on their Mortal Joy tour in the UK in September. There will be a limited number of reduced price tickets offered for lower income fans, all venues are accessible and show end times are provided on their site here.
