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This isn’t the first time that Thao Nguyen has sold out the Black Cat. It’s actually become an expectation, like death and taxes, that the young guitarist from Falls Church, VA and her awkwardly named band will bring the crowds and start a party. Party seems an unlikely description of a show by a band who specializes in rather harsh tunes about heartbreak and loss. But Thao’s feisty presence and quickness to invite others onstage elicited a celebratory homecoming atmosphere.
The Portland Cello Project gave an interesting prelude to the festivities. The collective of five cellists sat in a round and performed everything from original folk-laden compositions and classical numbers to renditions of songs by Pantera and Britney Spears. They even brought additional musicians onstage, like guitarist Justin Power (who also contributed to the Portland Cello Project album) and delved into audience participation. Adam Thompson of the Get Down Stay Down judged the audience on how well they sang along to PCP’s rendition of "Hey Ya!". Using the Pitchfork scoring system, Thompson decided that the audience got a 7.1, which probably eliminates D.C. from "Best New Audience" consideration.
But the level of audience enthusiasm rose steadily during Thao's set. Her lyrics have always been touched with vitriol, and songs like "Body" find her smoky voice sounding even more disillusioned and biting. Her guitar gave out a bit of a rootsy twang, but the songs never slowed down enough to wallow in that heartbreak. She stomped her cowboy boots and swung her head and guitar as she sang lines like, "Did he hurt you in a new way?" as if daring the men whom she sang of to dampen her fire.
For all the depressing lyrical content, Thao & the Get Down Stay Down threw what Thao referred to as "the best homecoming dance ever." They repeatedly brought out members of their opening act to participate in drumming and maraca shaking, most notably during their final number, a tribute to Thao's mother. Thao seemingly even held her own participation contest, saying that the winners would get to come onstage and make an acceptance speech. Only after the winners took the stage did the audience realize that the "contest" was a front for one of their friends to propose to his girlfriend.
For all the nuance and meaning in the songs of the Get Down Stay Down, the line to which their live show most closely ascribes is "We don't dive, we cannonball." If they continue to cannonball into D.C. the way they did Friday night, they will continue to sell out the Black Cat every time.
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