Rock n Roll’s odd couple, Best Coast, disappoint in Toronto

By: Colin Rabyniuk –

Bethany Cosentino and Bob Bruno of Best Coast // June 17 @ The Great Hall in Toronto (NXNE 2010) – Jackman Chiu

Bethany Cosentino and her band Best Coast performed an impressively disappointing show Saturday night at the Pheonix in Toronto.

They played just over an hour with the same rhythms, melodies and vocal patterns.

The biggest knock against the band is Cosentino’s simple lyrics. They are somewhat remarkable if only for the clarity of thought – never mind the shallow, vapid themes. It felt like every other song was about something she wanted to see or do or have. She seems to recognize this in her song “Bratty B,” when she promises not to be such a brat.

Throughout the night, and often at the behest of the audience, a sardonic Cosentino would thank and praise Best Coast’s other half, the shy and stocky guitarist, Bob Bruno. Indeed, it seems the two have forged the perfect deal, wherein he gets paid to noodle around on his guitars and she gets to be a rock star.

The whole show Cosentino reveled centre stage in warm, honey brown lights while Bruno and the rest of the band played almost hidden in darker blues and purples. Bruno spoke to the crowd twice in the night, both times in a low and grateful mumble.

There’s a sort of tension on stage, which combined with the pair’s polarized behaviour, contributes to the band’s charm and allure. It seems to drive them forward.

Best Coast are not a bad band per se, simply overrated. They have one good album and one real stinker. Their set Saturday was just live confirmation of the fact. With their new record, The Only Place, Best Coast have ditched the lo-fi, ethereal aesthetics for a more polished vibe. And the songs simply aren’t strong enough for this new approach.

Nashville band Those Darlin’s opened and stole the show. They’re best known for their song in a KIA commercial, but that tune, “Red Light Love,” was the weakest song in their set. The band played a Ramones inspired rock n roll, with just the right amount of southern Blues underneath.

Frontwoman Jessi Darlin wore a black and white sequin one piece, only a round, white tail away from a playboy outfit. She skulked around the stage, writhing with her guitar while staring down the crowd with her eyes bulging from their sockets. Her voice was corrosive and set the music apart from similar acts.