Juliette & the LicksLooking even worse in light of an impressive set by indie upstarts Scissors for Lefty, Juliette Lewis and pals need to come up with something fresher if they want to be seen as anything but a novelty. 2/5 stars |
“Greetings Eugeneans… you came!” exclaimed a delighted Juliette Lewis to a busy, but by no means full WOW Hall on Tuesday night. Her worries were understandable; the concert marked the band’s third appearance in Eugene in as many years.
Juliette & The Licks were formed nearly five years ago when Hollywood actress Lewis (“Cape Fear,” “From Dusk Till Dawn”) took leave from the big screen and launched a career in music. With the help of her backing band The Licks, the quartet has gone on to release an EP and two albums, most recently “Four on the Floor.”
With her tight white jeans, silver belt, heavy eye makeup and a feathered head piece, Lewis carried an unorthodox style to the venue, stuck somewhere between a tacky cowgirl and a native American. And Lewis’ flamboyancy didn’t end with her dress.
Known for her bold and controversial movie roles (“Natural Born Killers”), she brought some of her charisma from the screen onto the stage. Head banging from the first song, it wasn’t long before Lewis disappeared into the crowd, moshing away with the fans at the front while still managing to keep tune.
She even took the time to offer some background to the band: “I was made to do music. But stepping out from a world you’re so familiar with is really difficult. Music is my dream.” You have to wonder if playing to a half-full crowd in a small-town venue was really what Juliette had in mind when she embarked upon her music project.
Hit singles “Hot Kiss” and “Sticky Honey” blew through at the beginning of the night’s set, leaving the mid section to filler, before climaxing on some of the popular material from the first two records.
The band’s sound was one of traditional rock ‘n’ roll with a Southern twist. Foot-stamping melodies, screaming vocals, complex guitar solos and heavy reverb combined to create a raw, stripped-to-the-bones recipe.
Especially telling was the fact that the most animated members of the crowd were balding, scruffy older males. Some were clearly only there for the spectacle of seeing a Hollywood actress, screaming and cheering the moment she opened her mouth.
Even the backing band looked outdated. Leather-clad with long greasy hair, they looked straight from the pages of a 1980s music magazine. And there was a real sense of distance between The Licks and Lewis as they sat back and let her work her routine.
Lewis’ on-stage dramatics couldn’t even hide the band’s blandness. Instead, it highlighted how seriously the band takes itself and how recycled and uninspiring they sound.
After the bouncy, synth-filled pop of support band Scissors for Lefty, Lewis and her faithful band were left sounding a little worn down. One can only wonder how much longer Lewis’ appeal can continue to keep her band afloat.