Noise: SFBG Music Blog - Fast Computers send us into hyperdrive

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By Jen Snyder

What’s the deal with the West Coast and the vast dichotomy that divides the north and south? I think that the Bay Area has become increasingly unaware of it because we rest so literally in the middle of it all - nestled in, far away from Los Angeles and Seattle. It’s like we get the best of both worlds. Down south, the arts are a real industry: movies, photography, and music are more synonymous with Hollywood, Cobrasnake, and MTV, while the cities to the north of California are considerably quieter about their feats. And while LA often pumps out artists and movies that only stay hot for as long as SF’s summer, I find you get more for your buck when you actually get to see a band from our boreal brothers. That said, the Fast Computers, hailing from Portland, Ore., really knocked me out Sunday, June 29, at Kimo’s Penthouse Lounge.

Every other Sunday Kimo’s presents Club Unsolved Melody, which, every time I've attended, has been really excellent and not nearly as populated as it should be. I’ve seen book readings there, comedy nights, acoustic shows, and even a gypsy klezmer band, and every time I went home happy. This night was no different.

The Fast Computers, who I’ve seen in SF at Hemlock Tavern, played to an intimate and enchanted group of viewers who seemed more like friends of the other bands or promoters than showgoers. However, even though the FC name was unfamiliar and the end of Pride weekend was heavy on the crowds’ shoulders, more than one person got up to dance.

I found out that the theme of Fast Computers' tour - and outfits - was “a weekend in the Hamptons,” which explained the light blue polyester and white shoes. Somehow the music fit the concept as well - in terms of the decade it sent me to. Think cheesy 1970s fraternity vacation to the Hamptons, but in a good way. Imagine a game-show host taking his college pals for a week of good old-fashioned romping around and martini-drinking.

Later I found out that back in Oregon, these guys host a game-show night at a bar, too. Frontman Peter Dean sings while sitting at his keyboard, giving off a pop, story-telling vibe and crooning about things like “magic in the air” and unabashed love. Now an all-boy threepiece in contrast to a fourpiece with two girls and two boys, FC nonetheless reassured me the girls would be back in the band. This was a temporary arrangement. In any case the boys did not disappoint, coming off as a happy crew of guys doing what you wish your dad was doing back in the '70s.

Anyway, if you could explain what the very first laptop mixed with a corduroy blazer sounded like, you’d have the Fast Computers. Pop drums and bass perfectly counterpoint jingle-bell strings of catchy keyboard melodies. The band played all the favorites from their album, Heart Geometry - a wise buy I made at the last show - and threw in at least one new number.