The East Coast instrumental indie band Caspian is landing in Long Beach this week, capping off a two-week West Coast tour at Alex\u2019s Bar on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Only, they weren\u2019t supposed to play there.<\/p>\n
Originally, the post-rock outfit was scheduled to perform at the Art Theatre, Long Beach\u2019s last remaining independent movie theater which predominantly shows first-run and independent films, but also hosts live performances such as Midnight Insanity\u2019s “Rocky Horror Picture Show” which has been shadowcasting on the Art’s elevated stage since the late ’80s.<\/p>\n
Hours before the band knew of the venue change, they talked about how excited they were to play for the first time in Long Beach, recognizing the unconventionality of the space. Earlier this year, Caspian performed at Hollywood Forever\u2019s historic Masonic Lodge theater, just across the street from the famed graveyard that regularly hosts outdoor music events and movie screenings.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe’ve been on tour for a long time,\u201d said Philip Jamieson, Caspian’s guitarist\/keyboardist. \u201cSo anytime you get an opportunity to play something just like a little bit different, it just adds a nice spice to the mix.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ultimately, the change came down to audio capabilities; the Art Theatre sound system could not support the specificities Caspian requires to play live. Not an altogether shocking reality given the theater\u2019s orientation, but it was exactly that which appealed to the band\u2019s decision to book.<\/p>\n