The Venetia Fair Juggles Themes

On June 12, 2009, Boston punk… pop… rock… cabaret… well, Boston band The Venetia Fair released their debut full-length album, The Circus. Generally accepted as part of the “punk scene” (whatever that is these days,) The Venetia Fair runs the risk of being overlooked as just another model from the familiar mold. This is most certainly not the case.

While The Circus does have the pop-sensibility and crisp production of familiar, inoffensive radio rock, a close listen reveals what sets this band apart---the ability to mesh a broad range of influences and themes---resulting in an album both entertaining and original. The first track, "A Man Like Me," is an adequate demonstration of The Venetia Fair’s range, subtly adding piano and synth to the up-tempo rhythm and unique (yet extremely catchy) guitar solos.

The first four songs on The Circus almost feel like an introduction, allowing the listener to get an idea of where the band is coming from. Flexing jazz, alt-rock and electronic muscles, the Fair gets the listener acquainted with their seamless transitions between tempos and their impressively coherent blending of genres. These four tracks also let listeners get acquainted with the vocal and lyrical style of vocalist Benny Santoro.

With a somewhat manic delivery, Santoro compliments the dynamic musicianship of his band mates. The singer’s style is a combination of singing, speaking and a curiously listenable screaming, all of which are delivered with an urgency surprisingly warranted by the music. During the first four tracks, the lyrics explore the all too familiar theme of heartbreak. But this isn’t your typical “I miss my girlfriend, I want her back” kind of heartbreak. Santoro’s lyrics are as spastic as his vocals; the voice he takes on in these songs is that of someone who is confused, bitter and probably a misogynist. "And then she fucked me and she told me that she loved me," begins one chorus, "and so I told her to shut her stupid mouth."

…All this, with the pop-sensibility of Panic At The Disco.

Once the listener is familiar with their style, The Venetia Fair dive into the concept portion of the album, a thirty-some minute trip to The Circus. Kicking off this portion with "The Ringleader," Benny Santoro takes on the roll of the master of ceremonies---“Two tickets’ll get you a tour of the fair. We’ve got a lot of ground to cover, keep up or get lost. It’s safe to say that you’ve got no idea what you’re in for. In time you’ll see what we’ve done here.” From this point on, The Venetia Fair utilize their range to keep listeners engaged with spontaneous, drastic changes in songs and a wealth of overdramatics.

The result is somewhat overwhelming. This is a record that can be as confusing as it is engaging. Even after several listens, it can still be difficult to figure out what The Venetia Fair is trying to do, or even whether or not you like it. One thing’s for certain, though: Nobody’s ever done it quite like this before.



Check out The Venetia Fair http://www.myspace.com/thevenetiafair
Download the album for $7.99 http://www.amazon.com/The-Circus/dp/B002E0D7P4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=dmusic&qid=1265841139&sr=8-2