Photo of Xan McCurdy and John McCrea of CAKE by Laura Tucker
Taking the Factory stage fashionably late on Tuesday night, CAKE waited for the more than 3300 attendees to fill every inch of the Chesterfield venue before starting the show. The crowd was understandably excited. This was one of those instances where you just knew the fans would know every word to every song. And they did. After all, this band has a very unique sound and laid-back style. The kind of qualities that attract loyal fans.
Something they may not have known is that there would be a strict no-phone policy for the show. I have to admit, it made for an enjoyable experience. No phones in the air, blocking the view of the stage. Tonight was only to be captured with our eyes. [And Laura’s camera! For the first few songs, anyway.—Ed.]
Consisting of singer John McCrea, trumpeter Vince DiFiore, guitarist Xan McCurdy, bassist Daniel McCallum, and drummer Todd Roper, CAKE delivered exactly what was expected. The talk/singing style of McCrea and the sprinkling of DiFiore’s trumpet create CAKE’S scrumptious sound.
The stage was also a treat. A disco ball hung above the band and was illuminated from various angles, causing a scatter of twinkling lights that mimicked a starry night against a painted mountainous backdrop scene. The bubble machine added another layer of festiveness.
Splitting the show into two sets, it was simply an evening with CAKE. McCrea told the audience that if they showed up late to avoid the opener, the joke was on them. The 18-song set ran through familiar favorites like “Rock and Roll Lifestyle” and “Never There,” closing out the night with “The Distance.”
Much to my surprise, I did not see one short skirt or long jacket the whole night.
The show on Tuesday was the first night of a two-night run at the Factory, allowing even more fans to gobble up this special performance. | Laura Tucker
