Review: Girl Talk at the Pageant, Tuesday, January 18

By Chrissy Wilmes Wed., Jan. 19 2011 at 9:05 AM

Todd Owyoung

Gregg Gillis of Girl Talk

Alternate title: "What do you get when you put a couple thousand white people in a venue and play every pop song ever all at once?"

When Gregg Gillis (a.k.a. Girl Talk) made his 2009 stop in St. Louis, I went with a few of my closest friends, drank my weight in gin, danced a month's worth of cardio and most important, had a fantastic time. All in all, it felt like a really great dance party in some friend-of-a-friend's house with a few thousand strangers who were all pretty nice.

View a slideshow of photos from Girl Talk at the Pageant

Meanwhile, at the 2011 show, I was sober, seated and attending more as a voyeur than a participant. I'm not sure if it's the change in perspective or another two years passing, but man, was it weird. When the house lights came on and the 40 or so audience members who'd been chosen to dance onstage were awkwardly trying to figure out where to go, I felt less of those warm fuzzies and more like 30 years of pop music got wasted, trashed my house and puked on my shoes.

Todd Owyoung

Originally I thought that maybe I'd just changed more than I'd realized. Although, I'm not the only variable - perhaps Girl Talk's explosion of popularity had something to do with it, maybe it was a change in his demographic, and it might even just be the fact that he didn't use that Khia sample that I love so dearly.

Also, it's hard to not go into a show like this without some preconceptions. No matter what your opinion on him and his "illegal art," there's no arguing that Girl Talk is a polarizing figure: You either love him or hate him, respect what he does or scoff at it. And although I understand the frustration his critics find in the practice of profiting and building a career so dependent on the creativity of others, I've always defended mashup art in itself, and Gillis in particular. Not only does he do a great job of making incredibly fun, nostalgia-ridden dance tracks, but he really does perform when he has a gig - he'll use a lot of the same samples that are present on the album, but pit them against different tracks and play them at different speeds. And, of course, there's his ultra0energetic dance style (think "jump! Jump! Jump!") and penchant for shirtless, sweaty hyping.

Tags:

2011 review, all day, Girl talk, gregg gillis, khia, photos, setlist, st. louis, the pageant

We Recommend

Bky Katt

Totally intense show... stayed out of the mash of wacked out kids on the floor but was front and center on the next level and it was without a doubt one of the most energetic and entrancing shows that I have seen. Could not do this every week but I would love to see him again... I get the thoughts that the more popular he gets the less you might enjoy but I went just to be washed over in the show and totally was...

Milton Bradley

Girl Talk's live schtick is to give the "rave" experience to the mainstream, Glee-watching, BreadCo-eating set. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Daniel

Thank god I didn't go, if no one was dancing then what's the point?

mrs

Wow. I could have wrote this review, as I had been there in '09 (and The Gargoyle), and I was, for the first time, sitting. In the balcony. Sober. Honestly, I actually enjoyed it a bit more than the last time at The Pageant. But I'm not sure it was because of his "performance", or because of the crowd. In 25-odd years of concert-going, I really don't think I've ever seen a more eclectic group of people. It was like being at the airport. And the video wall was.... interesting.

True, he's popular now. That's definitely going to bring a different dynamic to the audience. But I didn't dislike all the old (and I do mean old, like 60's old), young (like 18, young), gay, straight, hipster, hipster-douche, douche, YUPs, people who were dressed like they were going to a Celine Dion show (me, as I had just come from work), WASPs, and mostly, kids who are HUGE fans of the 80's (as they weren't yet alive then).

Sitting in 2nd row, most of the time I was just looking at the pit, as I was expecting someone to be crushed to death at some point. Clearly, I probably would have "enjoyed" it more had I been young and wearing comfortable clothing. But, given the fairly bizarro environment (with great background music) it was entertaining. Which, ultimately is what you want out of a show.

Whenever I describe his shows to someone, I pretty much liken it to the best wedding reception I've never been to. He's a dj. I mean, it's not Springsteen.

Also, I'm pretty sure he played "My Neck, My Back" near the end of the show. And -- for those who were there and saw Penguin Prison, the opener -- what did you think? I really didn't know whether to enjoy their catchy hooks and rhythm lines or keep thinking of the 80's songs they were mimicking.

Meganmak

You are right, the experience is what you make it. Next time you want to write a real review you gotta JOIN the party not just watch it. I'm 27 and I had a blast among all the 20 year old craziness. Forever young at heart!

123

This.

This article sounds like it was written by a cranky ass 50 year old man who just ran some kids off his lawn. OMG he is getting so popular, I can't possibly like anyone mainstream. Get over yourself.

Kristina B.

awesome show!!!!!!!!!! Pageant workers are extremely rude though :(

pop music sux

ya, GT was definately more cooler and better when less people knew about him. his mashups were better then too. most musicians suck by the time their shows gain the popularity to be sold out. totally agree with this review.

All Night

Strange, I had the same reaction as Chrissy. I've seen Girl Talk 5 times, including the infamous Gargoyle performance, and it seems the more popular he gets, the less fun it is. The sets are more tightly orchestrated, the lighting and confetti/balloons are coordinated with the songs (so much for "live mixing"), and the number of people onstage is heavily regulated. In other words, it's boring and predictable. The general rule of thumb is by the time kids find out about a band, it's passe, and I was definitely in the minority as a member of the over-21 crowd.

Sure, the music was still ok, but it feels strange dancing next to cheerleaders and quarterbacks instead of tattooed and pierced freaks. Just a few years ago, it felt like going to a Girl Talk show was like being invited to the misfit house party, where all the rejects go to have a good time, safe from the judging eyes of the popular kids. Then the secret got out, and it's become just as glamorous as going to the cool frat party. I went to dance, but it didn't seem as though many people did. Lots of swaying and posing and humping, not much cutting loose. I'm glad Girl Talk made it big, it's just a shame that the crowd and experience had to change.

Tony Renner

it's the 21st century... all cheerleaders and quarterbacks are tattooed and pierced, along with every frat-boy and sorority-sister...

Nope

^^^ EXACTLY

Girl Talk? Meh...

So the only reason the 09 show didn't live up to the hype is because you weren't acting like a drunk girl and grinding on dudes? Gross. I don't know what to think of last night's show.

dantsypants

obvious sarcasm. pick up on it.

JoyGrenade

I'm pretty sure I was the only square in the crowd in '09. Not my scene at all. At least the iTunes visualizer doesn't leave me smelling like clove cigarettes and Axe.