Glass Candy Shatters Expectations
Concert review
By Dean Ramos
Published: June 30th, 2003 | 7:41pm
The stylish Ida No and Johnny Jewel of Glass Candy and the Shattered Theatre mix fashion and music into a worship-worthy spectacle.
CHICAGO (Fireside Bowl/June 20, 2003) -- Although musical crossbreeds are as common as jean jackets at Strokes shows, few bands do them with the style and raw magnetism of Glass Candy and the Shattered Theatre. To say that the duo exemplifies the most exquisite example of rocknroll aesthetics this side of the '70s would be putting it mildly, as was evidenced by the whispered fawns of audience members over the Bowie-era androgyny of guitarist Johnny Jewel and the Blondie-inspired glam of singer Ida No.
Attired in a dark, nearly skin-tight pinstripe suit covering what appeared to be a pink woman's blouse, it may be safe to say that Jewel has finally laid rest to claims that he is simply a No hanger-on. A full-fledged star in his own right, his art-punk guitar seared though songs like "Hurt" and the Rolling Stones cover "The Last Time," inducing dance floor seizures as much as any drummer could with the band's self-described brand of "Death Disco." However, the show still belonged to the model-thin No, who, adorned in nothing more than two or three strips of shimmering sequins that were supposed to make up a dress, possessed an unnatural calm about her as she danced and clapped along with the music. Every so often, though, she would strut her way to the head of the stage and let out her stunningly hypnotic banshee's wail, enthralling everyone within earshot. This was especially evident during the title track of their latest release "Love Love Love" and the set closer "Empty V" (or "MTV" as was read from their set list).
And despite the fact that Jewel and No now employ a drum machine rather than an actual drummer, it really didn't seem to take away from the performance. It's been said that while working as a trio in the past (be it with Ginger Peach or any other of Glass Candy's past drummers), it almost seemed like all three members were playing from different set lists, never really gelling into a cohesive whole. As a duo, though, Jewel and No seemed eerily in tune with one another, barely even having to acknowledge the other on-stage, yet musically melding into one another perfectly, which will no doubt spark even further speculation about a possible romantic involvement between the two.
Ironically, early on in their set, the barefoot No found herself threatened by barely visible shards of shattered glass scattered across the Fireside stage. When she received no response from the sound engineer after inquiring about something to spread across its surface, audience members answered by pitching their own shirts, hoodies, and jackets up on-stage to help shield the delicate soles of the lead singer's ivory white bare feet, as if there could be no greater honor than getting a few droplets of No's blood on their clothes -- no doubt, much more meaningful and significant than any mere button or sticker could ever be.
Issue #35
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