The Lost Boys at 10 High
The Lost Boys at 10 High
By Mike Alton
The charming minstrels known as the Lost Boys were nowhere to be found on May 23. Instead, Atlanta's 10 High was stormed by a band of electric warriors bent on conquest - and conquer they did.
The Lost Boys put a modern spin on the 16th century. From left: Guitarist Angus Archibald Douglas, drummer Tom Smiter, percussionist Cornelius the Jester, and bassist Prince Aaron the Moor. Leader String is not shown. |
"AAAAARRRRRRT THOOOOOUUUU RRRRRREADYYYYY!!" the band cried as one, and from that point on there was no mercy for the unprepared as the Lost Boys plowed through a blistering 10-song set.
The self-styled "original band from the 16th century" staked their claim with "Blast from the Past," which was a blast indeed. All the Lost Boys' songs carry a medieval lyrical theme welded to hard-hitting, thoroughly modern rock and roll in a celebration of the life of the common man ... and woman … and the women all danced nonstop.
It wasn't just the instruments; the whole band was electric. All five members sang and bantered with the crowd; the only member who stayed in one place the whole time was drummer Tom Smiter, who looked like he wanted to go ping-ponging around the room but had to take it all out on his drum kit instead.
Percussionist Cornelius the Jester was a skinny blur behind his congas, perfectly accenting Smiter's drumming. His playing was so forceful that his congas nearly upended themselves several times throughout the set.
Band mastermind String is a dervish, and a tall one - each jump brought the top of his head dangerously close to being sheared off by the ceiling fan above him. He switched off between guitar and violin, playing both with equal, crazy skill.
Co-guitarist Angus Archibald Douglas is equal parts Pete Townshend and Angus Young (right down to the Gibson SG slung around his neck); he and String locked in perfectly, tearing up the room without tripping over each other sonically or physically.
The bassist is always the stoic of the bunch, and Prince Aaron the Moor is no
Hair, hair, long beautiful hair. The Lost Boys' leader String takes care of business. |
exception, well, compared to the rest of his bandmates. Still, he is more charismatic than most entire bands; even so, his basslines are rock-steady and his tone stays fat and low.
The Lost Boys' greatest weapon, though, is their sense of harmony. All five voices shine through, most notably on their cover of the Beach Boys' "California Girls" (this is the only modern song the band plays). Most bands are lucky to have two voices that get along, and three-part is a lovely rarity. Five-part harmony is Brian Wilson territory, and the Lost Boys carry it off beautifully.
The rest of their songs are mostly originals, but the Lost Boys do occasionally reach forward into the past to nick from the likes of the Fixx ("King Richard's Will"), the Knack ("Desdemona") and Lynyrd Skynyrd ("Ode to an Unfettered Fowl").
So, think for a second: How many bands are able to rock your face off while citing Shakespeare as an influence, and wrap it up in impeccable, almost-choral harmony?
Meet the Lost Boys.
Catch the Lost Boys through June 3 at Georgia's Renaissance Festival. For other gig information, merch and other highly entertaining reading, visit www.thelostboysonline.com
