GREAT GOOD FINE OK - PARTY AT THE WESTWAY

Great Good Fine Ok played their first headlining show at The Westway with support from Dreamshow and In The Valley Below.

Dreamshow got the party started with a quick set of indie-rock sometimes reminiscent of early Strokes, full of attitude and angst that had the nearly full room nodding their heads in approval.

Next up was the art-rock band; In The Valley Below and they surely didn’t disappoint with hooky choruses, gentle grooves and beautiful harmony between Jeffrey Jacob and Angela Gail. Each song pulled me in, made me feel something, which is the sign of a great band. The sound In The Valley Below creates is atmospheric and dreamy, that is until the guitar wails through with a vicious solo that makes you think that they can write any type of song they wish and make into their own sound. At one point, Angela Gail made good use of a thick band of chains to create a dramatic effect that added heavier type feel to a brooding tune that had everyone mesmerized until the end of their great set.

For a band headlining their first show, you’d think it would be half full of friends and family but that wasn’t the case. I met fans of GGFO from near and far who were more than excited to see the synth-pop masters in action. Having met the guys a few weeks ago over some whiskey and getting to know them, I had an idea of how they manage to make some of the greatest pop this great city has to offer. What I didn’t know was that these guys are absolute stars, to their wardrobe, the way they dance on stage, and of course the music.

The band relies heavily on a deep synth groove with multiple keyboards that add such an amazing full sound to go along with Jon Sandler’s intelligent and beautiful lyrics. Growing up in a household where mom was a dance teacher I was bombarded with weekend record listening sessions that mainly focused on R+B and Pop. Michael Jackson was the undisputed king of these sessions as the whole family really dug it. The reason I mention the “King of Pop” is because that is what this band and particularly Sandler’s voice reminds me most of. Blasphemy you say? Not if you listen closely to the tempo, and Sandler’s impossible high notes, sometimes almost in the falsetto range. Not to be outdone, Luke Moellman, the other key figure in GGFO is a master at multi-tasking. At one point he was playing the keys, hammering on the xylophone all while effortlessly harmonizing with the rest of the band. A guitarist, drummer and another synth rounded out the group and added even more sonic texture.

After the glowsticks and balloons dropped from the ceiling and the fans had danced & sung their hearts out during the hour long set, I exited the former strip club and wondered how long it will be before GGFO are selling out Terminal 5. Great Good Fine Ok, is touring in October, if your even close you must go, and bring your dancin’ shoes.

Article by: Shayne Hanley