ROGUE REVIEW: The Anger Management Sessions
If you enjoy a show sprinkled with deft musicianship, comic flair and a dose of irreverence, you'll want to catch a performance by Suicide Lounge. The group, appearing Saturday in Veni Vidi Vici's back patio, possess that sassy "let's just all have a good time" attitude. They let audience members -- who they're not afraid to banter with -- pick songs off a menu.
Of course, these are songs with titles such as "Temporary Insanity" and "Loss of Control" (a pretty funny tune sung by keyboardist Robert Paul). Another delightful selection, "Addiction," also sung with panache by Robert, is his ode to a 37-step program to control his fixation on chocolate. The other members of the group this day were bassist Nate Butler and vocalist Joy Mohler.
The songs they perform are based in familiar tunes, such as "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered." I say based because they sometimes like to replace the original lyrics with funny phrases. The loose feel of the show is heightened by their appearance: Nate, for example, was like a funky, long-haired Mad Hatter dressed in black with an oversized top hat and dark glasses.
But don't let their relaxed posturing fool you: They can play, whether it's jazz riffs or rhythm and blues or whatever. And Joy's impressive vocals possess a clear, full tone that can power up when she needs to. They may call this "The Anger Management Sessions," but it's more like a melodic happy hour.
Playing: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and 8:45 p.m. Friday at Veni Vidi Vici, 1116 N. Fulton St.; 10 p.m. Wednesday at Dianna's Studio South, 726 N. Fulton St. Cost: $4. Rating: R
Comments:
This show is great. The trio is perfect with Joy seducing us all with her voice and beautiful self.
Gotta check em out!!!!
Posted by: Katie at March 6, 2008 1:21 PM
When I first looked at the Rogue 2008 Art Performance Program, I immediately identified Anger Management Sessions as I a show I wanted to see. Meanwhile, a college friend saw a Bulletin I had posted for Rogue and asked if she could tag along. As it turned out, she was also interested in going to the Anger Management Sessions, and so we made plans to catch the 7:30pm show @ Veni Vidi Vici’s.
I arrived to find the back patio almost completely packed but fortunately my friend had arrived early and had saved me a seat. While announcements were being made, I got a glance of a white board with a 2-columned list. I thought to myself, “Hmmm…it looks like they listed all the Rogue shows at Veni Vidi Vici’s tonight, I’ll have to check this out later.”
I didn’t have to wait though because after their introduction, The Suicide Lounge, explained that how this show worked is that they would ask the audience to pick a category from the board, and that they would perform a song from that category. Now before you start thinking Jeopardy, these category titles didn’t read like the ones you would find on America’s favorite game-show. Not with titles like: It’s Your Fault, Sociopathic Tendencies, Loss of Control, and Temporary Insanity!!!
So imagine my surprise when The Suicide Lounge began singing, My Funny Valentine after we picked the category, Abuse. Where was the connection I wondered? But listening to the lyrics and witty repartee among the performers, it became apparent that their categories were associated with song lyrics! We’ve all heard the songs in The Suicide Lounge’s repertoire a million times and may even know the complete lyrics to some but have we ever really paid attention to their words in a different context?!? It was hilarious!!!
After the show my friend and I went over to the Million Elephant Café, where we decided to go to The Suicide Lounge’s 10pm show @ Dianna’s South. Afterall, our 7:30pm Anger Manager Management Session only lasted an hour and we didn’t get to hear all the song categories.
The 10pm Anger Management Session was packed, wine flowing, and the audience yelled out for a particular song where the audience participates in singing the refrain. Which song is that you wonder? Well why should I tell you everything about the show?
I will tell you this...I never knew that Anger Management Sessions could be so much fun, feel so good, and that “group therapy” was so affordable!! For eight bucks, I received 2-one hour therapy sessions and a free glass of wine!
Yes, where else but the Rogue Festival can find such a great deal…
Posted by: Silvia at March 7, 2008 6:31 PM
When I first looked at the Rogue 2008 Art Performance Program, I immediately identified Anger Management Sessions as I a show I wanted to see. Meanwhile, a college friend saw a Bulletin I had posted for Rogue and asked if she could tag along. As it turned out, she was also interested in going to the Anger Management Sessions, and so we made plans to catch the 7:30pm show @ Veni Vidi Vici’s.
I arrived to find the back patio almost completely packed but fortunately my friend had arrived early and had saved me a seat. While announcements were being made, I got a glance of a white board with a 2-columned list. I thought to myself, “Hmmm…it looks like they listed all the Rogue shows at Veni Vidi Vici’s tonight, I’ll have to check this out later.”
I didn’t have to wait though because after their introduction, The Suicide Lounge, told us that how this show worked is that they would ask the audience to pick a category from the board, and that they would perform a song from that category. Now before you start thinking Jeopardy, these category titles didn’t read like the ones you would find on America’s favorite game-show. Not with titles like: It’s Your Fault, Sociopathic Tendencies, Loss of Control, and Temporary Insanity!!!
So imagine my surprise when The Suicide Lounge began singing, My Funny Valentine after we picked the category, Abuse. Where was the connection I wondered? But listening to the lyrics and witty repartee among the performers, it became apparent that their categories were associated with song lyrics! We’ve all heard the songs in The Suicide Lounge’s repertoire a million times and may even know the complete lyrics to some but have we ever really paid attention to their words in a different context?!? It was hilarious!!!
After the show my friend and I went over to the Million Elephant Café, where we decided to go to The Suicide Lounge’s 10pm show @ Dianna’s South. Afterall, our 7:30pm Anger Manager Management Session only lasted an hour and we didn’t get to hear all the song categories.
The 10pm Anger Management Session was packed, wine flowing, and the audience yelled out for a particular song where the audience participates in singing the refrain. Which song is that you wonder? Well why should I tell you everything about the show?
I will tell you this...I never knew that Anger Management Sessions could be so much fun, feel so good, and that “group therapy” was so affordable!! For eight bucks, I received 2-one hour therapy sessions and a free glass of wine!
Yes, where else but the Rogue Festival can you find such a great deal…
Posted by: silvia at March 7, 2008 7:05 PM
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