Flakey behavior
There’s a new entry on my list of favorite Cape bands.
I saw the Flakes, a quintet of mid-20s guys, perform recently at the Lost Dog in Orleans. I first caught the group when they performed two songs (covers of Christmas songs by the Ramones and Ronnie Spector) at a holiday fundraiser for the homeless last December and I was greatly impressed. When I finally had a chance to see them do a full show, they met my expectations (which were high).
The band’s sound is three parts Americana roots rock and one part New Wave. It’s a really cool mix that works perfectly on a bunch of well-chosen covers. The Flakes play songs by the legends, but for the most part they pick lesser-known songs, or at least songs that haven’t been played to death by other cover bands: “Lip Service” by Elvis Costello, “Hang Fire” by the Rolling Stones and “The Kids Are Alright” by the Who.
Most of the band’s songs date back to the ‘60s and ‘70s, which means the songs are older than the performers. I think Wilco’s “Outtasite (Outta Mind)” from 1996 is the most recent song I heard. The band pulls out some real gems: “Temptation Eyes” by the Grass Roots, “Fisherman’s Blues” by the Waterboys and “When I Write the Book” by Rockpile, among others. I’m guessing someone in the band has access to a really fine, vintage vinyl collection.
Part of what’s impressive about the Flakes is that they sound great, but their sound is hard to describe. They sound a little like early R.E.M. but faster. They sound like the Byrds but less twangy. They sound like early Elvis Costello but with a Cape Cod accent. They sound a little like Vampire Weekend but with the Afro-pop vibe subtracted.
It’s a mix that works well, even when the songs are a little more familiar (“Satisfaction” by the Stones, “Wild World” by Cat Stevens and “Shop Around” by the Miracles).
The Flakes will be back at the Lost Dog in Orleans on June 25, July 23 and Aug. 6 and 20. They also have some gigs coming up at Joe’s Bar & Grille in Orleans on July 9 and Aug. 13, and the Flying Fish Cafe in Wellfleet on July 16.