Review
The Stiletto Formal At Chain Reaction
- Author:
- Review Date:
- 11/27/2007
Chain Reaction-11.13.07-The Stiletto Formal is a band from Phoenix, Arizona. Who is this band? They are vocalist Kyle Howard, guitarist Jimi Lamp, cellist Sunny Davis, bassist Paul Neely, and drummer Patrick McCarthy. They formed back in 2004, and have toured with bands such as Jimmy Eat World, Dear and the Headlights, and Goodbye Tomorrow. Their music is different on so many levels; it’s almost hard to describe it. What I can say is that it is different than most music out right now. They have released two EPs: Masochism In The Place Of Romance (2005) and This Is My Boomstick (2006), and they have also recently been released on ITunes.
My friend Lauren and I headed down to chain reaction around 6pm. The doors opened at 7:30 pm, we were both pretty excited to see The Stiletto Formal. We got to Chain Reaction and went to get our tickets from Will Call; the manager had yet to give them the guest list, so we went into the store next door. We looked around at cds, vinyls, shirts and their café area, which served your basic home items: cereal, hot pockets, and other things for a very cheap price. We then proceeded outside to wait and I saw Sunny from The Stiletto Formal by the van so I went up to her asking for Stephen. She told me who he was, so I asked him about the interview and tickets and he said he would get the guest list in soon and asked me when I wanted to do the interview, I told him anytime was great (I was pretty nervous, since it was my first interview).
I did the interview with Kyle. He was very nice and sincere. If he didn’t live in Arizona I could see us possibly being friends. Lauren and I didn’t really care for the other bands playing, so we hung outside some more, and then decided to get cereal next door. The store proprietor was a pretty funny guy, and I wished one of us would have asked his name, but we decided to just call him cereal man.
By the time we finished our cereal, it was about time to go see The Stiletto Formal. We were walking in, and whom do we see: Cameron and Brandon from the local band Eye Alaska. Meeting Brandon and Cameron was cool (since I am reviewing their show on the first of December), and they were really nice. We went inside, and there were about thirty or so people; real small and intimate. The show started off with the new song “Fiesta, Fiesta, Fiesta, Fiesta”, which is off their upcoming album. It was a great opener. I looked to my right, and this guy was just rocking out. I love to see fans like that.
As the show continued, the band got so into their music! Bands that can play with their heart on their sleeve is great, it gets the crowd pumped, even if the crowd isn’t three thousand people. There were a few technical difficulties: Kyle’s mic came unplugged, and his keyboard was not loud enough, but they pulled off a great show nonetheless. They played one of their most well known songs: “The Fall of Ambrose Bierce”. The song starts off with a pretty catchy guitar riff, and then the drums, bass, and cell come in. It’s a good song and very well written Let me tell you, ,Sunny on the electric cello is amazing to watch, she is so into the music and she brings a lot to the band with the cello, and she is very good at it. The closing song for the set was “Murder at the stiletto formal”. It’s one that everyone should hear. The keys on song make you want to dance. They ended their set quite well--no, great. During the middle of the song, there is an instrumental breakdown so to say. They brought out friends to help them with drumming and had someone play the tambourine. It made you get into the music so much. Kyle even got down to the floor and just sang and played the maracas. It’s pretty cool when bands do that, it shows that they love their fans that are there to see them, and it’s more intimate in a way.
The Stiletto Formal knows how to put on a great show. They bring energy and the love for music into it, and it shows up on stage! They may be an unsigned band, but the way they are touring, and the way they keep growing as musicians, it’s a band to watch out for in the future.
Exclusive photos from the show
Photos by Lauren Hamlett
Set List :
1) Fiesta, fiesta, fiesta, fiesta
2) I’m gonna eat your brains and gain your knowledge
3) Nightcap at the Santa Fe
4) The Fall of Ambrose Bierce
5) Pickpocket
6) Murder at the stiletto formal
My friend Lauren and I headed down to chain reaction around 6pm. The doors opened at 7:30 pm, we were both pretty excited to see The Stiletto Formal. We got to Chain Reaction and went to get our tickets from Will Call; the manager had yet to give them the guest list, so we went into the store next door. We looked around at cds, vinyls, shirts and their café area, which served your basic home items: cereal, hot pockets, and other things for a very cheap price. We then proceeded outside to wait and I saw Sunny from The Stiletto Formal by the van so I went up to her asking for Stephen. She told me who he was, so I asked him about the interview and tickets and he said he would get the guest list in soon and asked me when I wanted to do the interview, I told him anytime was great (I was pretty nervous, since it was my first interview).
I did the interview with Kyle. He was very nice and sincere. If he didn’t live in Arizona I could see us possibly being friends. Lauren and I didn’t really care for the other bands playing, so we hung outside some more, and then decided to get cereal next door. The store proprietor was a pretty funny guy, and I wished one of us would have asked his name, but we decided to just call him cereal man.
By the time we finished our cereal, it was about time to go see The Stiletto Formal. We were walking in, and whom do we see: Cameron and Brandon from the local band Eye Alaska. Meeting Brandon and Cameron was cool (since I am reviewing their show on the first of December), and they were really nice. We went inside, and there were about thirty or so people; real small and intimate. The show started off with the new song “Fiesta, Fiesta, Fiesta, Fiesta”, which is off their upcoming album. It was a great opener. I looked to my right, and this guy was just rocking out. I love to see fans like that.
As the show continued, the band got so into their music! Bands that can play with their heart on their sleeve is great, it gets the crowd pumped, even if the crowd isn’t three thousand people. There were a few technical difficulties: Kyle’s mic came unplugged, and his keyboard was not loud enough, but they pulled off a great show nonetheless. They played one of their most well known songs: “The Fall of Ambrose Bierce”. The song starts off with a pretty catchy guitar riff, and then the drums, bass, and cell come in. It’s a good song and very well written Let me tell you, ,Sunny on the electric cello is amazing to watch, she is so into the music and she brings a lot to the band with the cello, and she is very good at it. The closing song for the set was “Murder at the stiletto formal”. It’s one that everyone should hear. The keys on song make you want to dance. They ended their set quite well--no, great. During the middle of the song, there is an instrumental breakdown so to say. They brought out friends to help them with drumming and had someone play the tambourine. It made you get into the music so much. Kyle even got down to the floor and just sang and played the maracas. It’s pretty cool when bands do that, it shows that they love their fans that are there to see them, and it’s more intimate in a way.
The Stiletto Formal knows how to put on a great show. They bring energy and the love for music into it, and it shows up on stage! They may be an unsigned band, but the way they are touring, and the way they keep growing as musicians, it’s a band to watch out for in the future.
Exclusive photos from the show
Photos by Lauren Hamlett
Set List :
1) Fiesta, fiesta, fiesta, fiesta
2) I’m gonna eat your brains and gain your knowledge
3) Nightcap at the Santa Fe
4) The Fall of Ambrose Bierce
5) Pickpocket
6) Murder at the stiletto formal