Propaganda, now under the auspices of Cecil Lundsford of Black Weather Shaman and his partner Justin, hasn't changed that much at all. In fact, the first time I saw the State Of -- a band I've heaped praise on for the last year -- was at Propaganda, when it was Steve Rullman's joint, who, beardless, also happened to be hanging out Thursday. And although the Facebook page claimed Sapphic Thursday as the first lesbian night at the venue, the previous "ladies' night" on Wednesdays wasn't some sexist meat market as is usually the case with ladies' nights, but a noteworthy celebration of X chromosomes loving X chromosomes.
Either way, The State Of, which has enjoyed a buzz-worthy status in South Florida for a while, was the perfect band to round out the night. Their potent pop, drum-n-bass stylings, and dark sensibility produce these melancholy arrangements that, despite a moody milieu, remain palatable for happy people. Drummer Nabedi shares the vocal spotlight with pianist Steph Taylor much more now, and their material and performance is as tight as ever.
However, I must voice one complaint, though in the context of the night, isn't really a complaint. The State Of doesn't need a lot of filler. And when they do covers, they are always notably interpreted by the duo. But last night they played two Madonna covers, Ace of Base, the Cure, and Uncle Luke, and I'm pretty sure there were more, I just lost count. These were fun, and considering it wasn't necessarily a State Of concert but a club night with a live band, probably appropriate. However, I wanted to hear more original material.
Sidenote: Though it was Sapphic Thursday, a noteworthy number of men were there, and were easily the most enthusiastic fans in the audience. One guy who towered over the rest of the crowd with sunglasses, a backwards hat, and fleeced vest was center/front the entire time, arms up, dancing, and hollering for "one more song." Another young lanky kid didn't stop dancing. Women grooved, sort of, but it really seemed like Sapphic Thursday created a welcoming environment for men, or at least these men, to finally find a place to be themselves.
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