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Monday night’s show at the Queen Anne venue was a hit, even

Published 7:00 am Monday, September 24, 2012

Waiting for Rooney outside the bar.
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Waiting for Rooney outside the bar.
Waiting for Rooney outside the bar.
These may or may not have been the parents of Rooney drummer and Bellevue native Ned Brower aE” I didn't a chance to ask them before they hurried out. But if it was them, I thought it was awesome that his mom (or whoever the woman is) knew all of the words.
A fan raises up her camera to snap a picture of the band. We like to keep our fans happy, said Carmine. We definitely toured in Europe more than America on this record cycle.
Carmine is also working on a side project called SOLOBOB. I don't see it as my solo music, just another type I don't get to do with my band, he said. It's really dance-y, that music that's everywhere right now; I wanted to be able to say 'I can do this.'
This may have been one of the only girls not completely infatuated with the Rooney guys.
Locke riffs during Rooney's set. We never really had a hit in America, but in some ways I kind of think that's a good thing, said Carmine. Who knows if we'll have a hit song. Who knows. But I don't think it'll stop us from playing shows.
Luckily, Rooney's performance was laid back enough that it could be enjoyed from a front row seat at the bar.
Locke stares at the crowd in between singing. I don't think he was staring at me, but I can't be sure...
Fans were out in force for the weeknight show. I like the crowds here, said Carmine. People here know music, and I think they know our music.
Taylor Locke, RooneyaE™s guitarist and harmony vocalist, looks relaxed as always playing during MondayaE™s show at Chop Suey.
Robert Carmine emerges onto the dimly lit stage aE” but not for the first time. It was back in 2006, kind of a no-mans-land time for us in between albums, and we made a run up the West Coast, he said. Chop Suey was one of our stops.
Locksley, a group of four Wisconsin-to-Brooklyn transplants, can really put on one hell of a show. We were looking for bands to take out on tour with us, and we recognized Locksley from a fan's MySpace, said Carmine.
Waiting for Rooney inside the bar.
So of course, my friend Jackie (center) had to play groupie and get a photo with the band. Certainly not their first or last.
Jesse Laz signs some autographs in the surprisingly chill side room, where band members mingled alongside fans.
Kai had his share of crowd-pleasing skill, including one of the coolest hammer-on riffs I've ever seen.
Jesse Laz plays guitar from behind the back of Kai Kennedy aE” I wasn't kidding when I said these guys had a good time on stage.
It was damn loud in there! These two kids weren't having much luck communicating, but they seemed to manage getting the message across.
Kai Kennedy pumps his fist along with the crowd during a sing-along in Locksley's set.
Jesse Laz (right) and Kai Kennedy (left) harmonize during LocksleyaE™s set on Monday night. We like to take bands out who care about the music, and I think they do, said Carmine.
The crowd ate up Locksley's show, which reminded me a ton of The Hives aE” in a good way.

Monday night’s show at the Queen Anne venue was a hit, even if the crowd (outside of the bar) was dominated by teenage girls. Photos and interview with Rooney frontman Robert Carmine by Nick Feldman.Published on July 15, 2008

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