[live review + samcam video] Camden @ Great Scott

A humid Sunday night didn't keep the Allston basement kids from coming out to see their buddies CAMDEN, DIRTY VIRGINS, and HORSE THIEF at Great Scott last night, playing a venue selling drinks that cost more than at the liquor store, but with a sound that no Allston basement will ever match. Surfy drone rock band MOUNTAIN DOOM were scheduled as well, but they got kicked out before the show even started for drinking 40s in front of the venue. Folks were disappointed, but life goes on.

Acoustic duo Horse Thief embodied Neil Young’s quieter and more contemplative finger-picked folk tunes. The gentle flow of the songs put you on the back of a pickup truck and took you around the mind of a Bostonian with a Holden Caulfield kinda attitude.

Dirty Virgins stepped onstage to a roar of applause from the small crowd. The lo-fi garage rock quartet was in full swing and full force for their first non-basement show. The band had an interesting dichotomy of style, sporting collared shirts, drinking PBR out of glass snifters, and playing down-and-out filthy bar-rock anthems. People yelled and danced and the Dirty Virgins moved like manic hip-shakin’ demons.

Camden closed the night (instead of Mountain Doom) bringing a L.A. hi-fi pop-rock dance party to the floor. People grabbed their lovers and held them close to the sounds of Camden’s ultra-tight grooves.

On a quiet night in Allston, everyone got along, everything was beautiful (and nothing hurt), and everyone had a good time... even if we ended up being one band short.