Ghost Mice… At The Park

Ghost Mice with special guest Heathers hit the mean streets of Cleveland on June 24^th, and of course I had to be in on this folk punk action. I was rolling three deep; my unofficial couchsurfer, two and a half week roommate Shu and my 15 year old cousin Taylor were in tow.

The very nice looking duplex that was purportedly the venue of the evening was touting a sign that redirected us to Lakewood Park…wherever that was. Luckily a nice woman with some Basset hounds directed us, and before long our ears were being caressed by the soothing strum of an acoustic guitar.

Except…well. I started out with Ska and Street Punk. Those concerts, no matter their arguable flaws, had lots of energy not only in the band but in the crowd as well. So why the hell were all these people sitting in the grass!? You can’t dance sitting in the grass! Hadn’t they gotten the memo?

Two Hand Fools was playing, presumably the first opener. He was pretty good from what I heard, though my arrival was a bit into his set. Soulful crooning to acoustic guitar.

When he concluded, everyone moved up to the floor of the outdoor amphitheater, and I was excited that people may stand for the next set. I was wrong. While the next band, Heathers, broke out their fabulous voices, most of the audience was sitting down, leaning against something, looking bored. Apathetic little teenage assholes. Don’t get me started…

Heathers was seriously awesome. Their Irish accents were audible while they were singing, and their voices worked together beautifully. Harmonious beyond reason. While they occasionally forgot a lyric, or how that next part of the song went, I found these little mistakes endearing. I like it when musicians are believable. It was just the two of them and an acoustic guitar, singing what I will dub as Irish infused alt-folk. No amps, mics, nothing. I was enthralled. the apathites (I thusly dub “apathite” the official term for those who go to shows determined to look bored) just sat.

Immediately placed on the top of my to-do list was buy a Heathers CD. It was the first thing I’ve crossed off my to-do list in weeks.

Heathers played their last song with Ghost Mice’s help, and Ghost Mice played their first song with the accompaniment of Heathers.

Ghost Mice’s musical tradition is one of almost painful optimism…at least if you’re a relentless pessimist and cynic like me. With songs like “Hang on Kids” aimed at high-school kids, “Please Quit Smoking Mom“, and “Up the Punks“, sometimes they’re so doggedly positive I almost feel they’re being sarcastic.

Pairing their songs about riding bikes and climbing trees with an acoustic guitar, a violin, and a Playskool xylophone, in an outside amphitheater on the shore of lake Erie…it was obvious they weren’t being sarcastic.

Their style is that of Folk-Punk, and with lead singer “Chris Clavin” being a co-founder of Folk Punk record label/collective Plan-it-X Records, it seems logical that they stay incredibly true to their ideologies. They play strictly heartfelt acoustic music, eschewing amps and mics for all but one festival where without the electrical intervention only a few would have been able to hear. Their music is vocal and lyric heavy, as most folk punk is. What they’re trying to say is the most important aspect – the music just helps underline it.

They make me think of camp. That we should have been sitting on logs around a fire, quickly on our way to becoming really good friends. Well, if not for those apathites, anyway.

After making all the apathites stand up, they quickly broke into “The Moon Will Rise“. I love that song. It’s their only angry song, and it’s mostly about turning off your TV, enjoying your life, and standing up for yourself. And half way through the song, right after they sing the line “and the moon will rise”, there’s a little howl. I’ve been wanting to howl to that song live since the first time I heard it. My dream came true. Ahooooo!

Unfortunately Ghost Mice’s set was rather short. Without amps and microphones, I assume they’d have to hit harder and sing louder than the average musician. Or maybe they just don’t dig long sets. Either way they broke out some classics, and left me walking away happy.

What you’ll take away…

A freakishly optimistic mood and the desire to quit your job in favor of climbing trees and building forts.

What should you expect?

Hippies, these days known as folk punkers. Cut off shorts. Genuinity.

What drink to pair it with?

Water, from your Eco friendly non-leaching Klean-Kanteen. Beware packing a bottle of Aquafina to this show.