Last spring, electronic rock band Cherub played an absolute free show in Ybor. The event was sponsored by Red Bull and they toured new cities with no admission price. They came by Tampa on a Monday night and a few hundred people showed up. You can read the full review of that experience here.
Over the past 9 months, the Nashville duo has released another album and there fan base has probably quadrupled. So much in fact that they had no trouble selling out the Baltimore Soundstage at a capacity of 1,000. The timing worked out perfectly as I was in DC for the weekend for Dr Dog at the 9:30. So a quick train ride over and we were in Baltimore.
After an awesome time bar hopping in the Fells Point district (definitely the coolest area if you're traveling to Baltimore) we made it over to the soundstage. Cherub didn't hit the stage til 11pm, following two DJ sets. The duo is comprised of Jordan Kelley and Jason Huber. Most of the music is pre-recorded, as Keley provides the vocals. Huber also sings and adds in some nice guitar overplay.
The energy at the show was spectacular as the crowd was jamming from the start. Cherub opened with fan favorite "Disco Shit," right into "XOXO." The crowd jumped, danced, grinded and sang along. It definitely felt more like a club or even a rave than a standard concert. After seeing Shovels and Rope just two nights earlier, this was like night and day.
Cherub has three albums out now and they played material from all, but a bit heavier from their newest album - Year of the Caprese. I believe the strongest song of the night was from their debut -MoM and Dad, with "Monogomy," which was played in the early part of the show. Following that single, the guys didn't waste any time. They flowed one song into the next, never letting the music die down. They fit 18 songs into their set, staying high energy the entire time.
They took a very brief break following their set closer before coming back on stage for their most popular tune - "Doses and Mimosas." This single has actually been so successful that they re-released it on their third album. The opening notes sent the crowd into a huge frenzy.
Overall impressions - it's been cool seeing this band grow over the past year. They should continue to get bigger but I don't imagine the venues they play getting larger. They're a band that benefits the most from playing small clubs, as it creates a more intimate setting. The main take away is that crowds for Cherub shows are nuts! Get ready for a dancing experience. I guarantee nobody you're standing around will be a stranger by the end of the night.
Concert Rating: 3 Stars
SETLIST:
1. Disco Shit
2. XOXO
3. Heartbreaker
4. Monogamy
5. Freaky Me, Freaky You
6. Minez Yourz
7. Do I (Where We Are)
8. Work the Middle
9. This Song Is For You
10. Where We Should Be
11. Lifesaver
12. Tonight
13. Jazzercise 95'
14. Chocolate Strawberries
15. Best Friend's T-Shirt
16. Strip To This
17. <3
Encore:
18. Doses and Mimosas
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