Oxford Collapse: Brace Yourself . . . It’s a Sing A Long

by Hilary RAWK!
www.myspace.com/rawkmagazine
rawkmagazine@yahoo.com

Adam Rizer (Photo by HiLary RAWK)

I first saw Oxford Collapse last fall in a sweltering basement called Fontana’s in downtown NYC. It was an afternoon show, they were giving out free Sparks (which I am totally convinced is what would happen if the Devil ate and Oompa Loompa and threw up in a can), and the place was so packed it was impossible not to get touched/groped/sweated on by a few hundred boney, drunken hipsters.

So I was relieved when the Oxford Collapse (OC) came on and somehow managed to make me completely forget about the discomfort and the taste of rotten jolly ranchers left behingd by that evil drink.

The OC played with the hunger of a starving man. They played so hard the drums kept breaking. It was like being in the middle of a desert flash flood, complete with the burning, humid air, clapping thunder, and popping flashes. So when I heard they were stopping in Chicago along with Thunderbirds Are Now! I was not about to miss the opportunity to see them play again.

Brooklyn trio Oxford Collapse first came on the scene back in 2001 but didn’t start having critical success until after they joined the SXSW showcase in spring of 2005. They have since been wooed by the popular Sub Pop Records label, and they’ve had an opportunity to play with a diverse list of bands like We Are Scientists, The Roots, and local favorites Chin Up Chin Up.

I caught them at the Subterranean opening up for Thunderbirds Are Now! (TAN!), and they completely stole the show. It was only 20 degrees outside, but the members of the OC heated up the place so fast they were soon sweating, and I watched as people started taking off coats to dance and sing along.

My favorite moments included the guy to my right repeatedly screaming, “Oxford Collapse!” at the top of his lungs directly at the members of the band. You know, just in case they forgot.

It was also great when the lead singer of TAN! sat down on the stairs behind the band to first take pictures and to second heckle the OC and to third join them onstage for their final song.

Another highlight was the break in the middle when bassist Adam Rizer paused to tune his guitar., and lead singer Michael Pace decided to fill the silence with a story about a ‘gypsy nymph’ they saw hitchhiking on the side of the road who they ‘considered’ but did ‘not’ pick up. He apparently felt pretty badly about that, which was really cute. So, yeah, check out this band because they will make you want to throw down your coat, close your eyes, and sing along like you’re all alone in your apartment/loft/parent’s house/brothel/shower/whatever.

WEBSITE
http://www.oxfordcollapse.com/
http://www.myspace.com/theoxfordcollapse

MEMBERS
Dan Fetherston (drums)
Michael Pace (guitar, vocals)
Adam Rizer (bass, vocals)

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