We Are Scientists Review

The chilly nights have started rolling into Southern California, but thankfully, We Are Scientists brought the heat to the Constellation Room in Santa Ana, CA. It’s been over a year since the Brooklyn trio hit the streets of Orange County with their visit to The Parish in Anaheim in support of their record Huffy. A year’s departure meant some surprising change for the band and their sound. While “surprising” could be scary for some fans, the change is always welcome amongst the WAS fandom. Huffy and other albums like With Love & Squalor and TV en Francais had followed a similar “guitar-rock” focused formula until Lobes entered the chat in January 2023. The new album traded punchy guitar riffs for addicting synth hooks, launching WAS’s classic dance-rock sound into another stratosphere. 

Crowds anxiously gathered around the scenic venue, hoping to snag good spots to see lead vocalist and guitarist Keith Murray, bassist Chris Cain, and drummer Keith Carne. Someone could ask, “What would bring a crowd of that size to queue up that early on a cold Sunday night?” Easy. A lengthy career of 24 years has given fans the expectation of a dynamic blend of indie rock charm and hilarious banter. You will not leave a We Are Scientists set without a memory of some sort. Between Murray thrashing about the stage with his teal Fender strat and Cain and Carne embracing each other lovingly over Carne’s kit, you will always walk away incredibly entertained.

The clock struck 7 PM, and the crowd eagerly poured into the cozy Constellation Room. A small bar to the right of the stage framed with warm lighting cast a chill ambiance over the crowd until Milwaukee native Brett Newski, known by his stage name NEWSKI, hit the stage. Equipped with just a guitar over his chest and a small tambourine on his right boot, Newski burst into song that filled the room to the brim. It was hard not to be entranced by his stage presence. Singing original songs like “Nevermind, Not Nirvana” and “Chemicals” sprinkled with a cover of Weezer’s “Say It Ain’t So”, a nod to Matt Sharp’s past with WAS. By the end of the set, he had the crowd chanting the chorus of his song “D.I.Y.” They exclaimed, “I’M DIY! I’M PUNK AS F*CK! DON’T NEED YOUR MONEY! I DON’T WANT YOUR LOVE!” certainly earning him an entire room of new fans. 

As quickly as he came, Newski exited stage left. Time was inching closer and closer to the night’s headliners, making the room feel bright with excitement. Soon, the lights went down, and three familiar faces appeared in front of a packed room of screaming fans. The set began with “Lucky Just To Be Here,” Murray’s way of easing the crowd into the night. He crooned under a soft blue light, “Come this way, and maybe hurry. Don’t make me wait. It’s taken long enough,” before erupting into a loud chorus. The guys then transitioned into a With Love & Squalor favorite, “Lousy Reputation,” ramping up the crowd’s energy even more. 

The band effortlessly danced through their extensive discography as the night went on. From Barbara’s “Rules Don’t Stop” to “Settled Accounts” from their latest album, Lobes, each song was a love letter to the fans that have been there from the beginning and the fans that just joined the WASCU (We Are Scientists Cinematic Universe). There wasn’t a second where silence fell on the room. You were either singing along to songs like Helter Seltzer’s anthemic “Buckle” or cackling over something silly Murray and Cain said. It all comes naturally to these guys because their authentic friendship is on full display every night. And what makes a WAS set so special is that the guys let you in on the jokes with them. You’re just as much a part of the show as they are. 

A personal highlight of the night was during Huffy’s “I Cut My Own Hair,” where Murray stopped the song because Cain and Carne began to hold each other over Carne’s drumkit. Murray playfully hurled insults at them while they high-fived. They kept the bit going by scratching and tapping the symbols on Carne’s kit to drown out Murray’s rant, which ended with him exclaiming, “The two of you are quite a pair. I’d trade the both of you for a bean burrito! If I could find one!” The crowd roared with laughter as the band bickered until Murray finally closed out the bit with “I guess you guys stay” before kicking into the rest of the song.

As the evening approached the end, the band played crowd favorites like “Callbacks”,  “Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt”, and “After Hours,” which struck a chord in the hearts of diehard fans. The line, “One final, final round cause, time means nothing. Say that you’ll stay!” swirled around the room like the smell of warm and inviting incense. After the song came to a close and the lights dimmed away, the band walked offstage and left the crowd yearning for more. Cheers erupted from the room! They couldn’t leave on such a sentimental note. So they didn’t!

The band returned for an encore of Huffy’s “You’ve Lost Your Shit” and With Love & Squalor’s “This Scene Is Dead” which made the room come alive once again. I am convinced the crowd would have stayed the entire night to see these incredible musicians play if the venue had let them. As the night finally came to a close, the band ensured the crowd would leave satisfied with “Less From You” from Lobes. 

Over nearly two decades, We Are Scientists continue to deliver a unique style of performance: fantastic musicianship laced with hilarity, quick wit, and genuine friendship. You can see their love for the craft in every fiber of their work, whether it be a single, full album, small radio set, or full world tour. Grab a ticket if they’re in your city. You won’t regret it.