Campaign For Real Time: Middle East, Cambridge MA 2.2.07

Following an intense performance by Read Yellow, Campaign For Real Time dove head-first into an interactive set that proved why the group is quickly growing to be known as the biggest band to come out of Boston since the Dresden Dolls.  Armed with duel-synthesizers, catchy, could-be pop hits, and wild stage antics, the hometown sextet operates under the guise of being a band from the year 2219, who traveled back in time to play covers of artists that don’t yet exist.

“Rachel Says,” off their newest album, Let It Rise, got things going early as one of the group’s two Moog-Masters, Falconer Model 7, invited a member of the crowd onstage for some salsa dancing. The energy level went from one to ten in a heartbeat as they kept their unique brand of synthed-out future-rock moving forward.

The stage setup was nothing fancy, but as they continued to romp, what stood out was each member’s ability to vary it up, and make greater use of the stage. While the members of C4RT continued to swap instruments and guzzle beer, it became abundantly clear that if these guys managed to book an arena, they’d utilize every inch of it.

The hard-hitting version of “Turn the Gun on Me” began with one of the most abstract jams to deafen a crowd since Sonic Youth’s Daydream Nation, and they kept it full throttle with the newly penned “Marathon Mondays.”  That was until they blew an amp.  After playing two full songs with a tech guy and the Campaign’s bassist trying to fix the problem, they accepted their loss, and decided to wing it with a bass-free tune.  “Song for New Amsterdam” meshed the trademark techno-dance vibe affiliated with the likes of DJ Sasha, and the aggressive spoken word rhythms of British rapper The Streets. 

    Short on time and minus one amp, the band left the stage shortly before 1:30am, and calls for an encore fell on silent ears. Tech issues aside, their performance was sure to be the most memorable of the half dozen acts on the night’s bill. Between the unique-yet-accessible songs the band performed and their dynamic stage show, Campaign For Real Time proved to everyone in attendance why so many folks “in the know” have begun calling C4RT the best kept secret the Boston rock scene has to share.

Photo by Scott Flieshman

For more info see: http://www.c4rt.com/

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