Live Music Review // Perennial / Cinema Stare @ Best Video Film & Cultural Center, Hamden CT, January 10th 2025
Do you remember what you did when you turned thirteen? I know that I don't, but I know that Quentin will remember forever what he did when he became a teenager and so will I. When I first saw this show listed on the Best Video website my first thought was that I needed to go to it. But then when I saw the date I realized that this was something which Quentin could also do, for his birthday, because what could possibly be more memorable.
By the time we had gotten to Best Video it was already pretty full and people kept showing up. This was, by and large, the most people I have ever seen inside of a video store. It was cold outside, but inviting inside and so everything felt lke you were part of something magical because everyone had the same idea on this Friday night in Winter in Connecticut. I will say that I knew people would show up for this one, I guess I just underestimated how many that would be exactly.
Cinema Stare played first and as soon as they started some guy near me mumbled something to the person next to him about Paramore. For me, comparing everything with Paramore is kind of a cheap way out of truly appreciating and examining music. But at the same time, I've complained about how throughout the grunge years, for example, it felt like for every Dolores O'Riordan there were a hundred Eddie Vedders. Maybe there just aren't enough artists out there for comparison.
But what Cinema Stare is doing is special, it's unique. It doesn't matter who became before them or who will come after them, as long as Cinema Stare keeps bringing this same energy to all of their songs. This was just a sound very specific to them, as you'll hear on such songs as "Bad", which can easily get stuck in your head. Everything that makes Cinema Stare so great is something which can only be attributed to them in the sense that they're truly forged their own path in music.
Speaking of forging their own paths, Perennial has done just that as well with their intense blend of punk and rock n roll. The last time we saw Perennial was their "Art History" release show and while that show felt like it was mostly songs from that new album, this set a bit of everything from their catalog including "Hippolyta!" and "Hour Of The Wolf". Though sometimes all it takes is a newer song, such as "Uptight", to get the crowd moving and singing along.
At one point during the set, Perennial did a sort of cover of "Baba O'Riley" and that just goes to show how much The Who has an influence on them, which doesn't seem to be something they're trying to hide. But at times I feel like Perennail really has that sound like if The Who came around today and really leaned into the punk sound while somehow staying true to rock n roll as well. I'm not sure how that makes sense, but Perennial does it and it works.
With the cheering on of the live crowd, Perennial also came out for one last song, an encore if you will. Whenever you see Perennial live it's an experience unlike any other experience you will have at a live performance of music. There is just simply no one else out there doing what Perennial does. At the same time, this show, on this night, at this video store in Hamden, felt like something special. It felt like the vibe in the room was just stronger, where everyone was just feeling it so immensely and that's what the best art does.
Cinema Stare can be found on Bandcamp and Spotify here and here :::
https://cinemastare.bandcamp.com/album/feel-like-luv-yr-mind
https://open.spotify.com/artist/14v9fqvtGdxFYVuvaJLuM0
Perennial can be found on Bandcamp and Spotify here and here :::
https://perennialtheband.bandcamp.com/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/7oLhWWqX188fvNQ6aqxLz3
Best Video can be found on the web here :::
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