Monday, April 28, 2008

Cross-N-Eyed not serious, but seriously entertaining

By Katie Libecco

YOUNGSTOWN – “What are they?,” my friend Matt asks.

“I don’t know. I have no explanations for what’s happening. But, aren’t they fun?,” I say.

Throughout Barleys, confused stares watched Cross-N-Eyed Saturday night.

The comedy/industrial duo took the stage as opening act 5000 FED. The Howland-based Cross-N-Eyed (Composed of Jeffrey Eyed and J.T. Cross) rap over industrial-style beats while performing choreographed dances. It all takes place behind their microphone/bottled water/beer/plastic baseball bat holders.

At another performance, my first, I sat quietly in the back. “Are they serious?,” I remember repeatedly asking.

The second performance I’ve seen, I’m still not sure.

Goofy onstage antics in torn lab coats push Jeffrey and J.T. over the top. Vocal quality isn’t the best, as they growl through lyrics about being aliens or having split personalities.

But, a couple behind me at the show clutched each other from Cross-N-Eyed’s start to finish.

Maybe that’s the point.

A half-an-hour into the set, the pair hasn’t sung a word that makes sense. To quote one of their own songs, “Our lyrics are crazy insane.”

After their set, I ask them personally if they’re serious.

“Serious as it gets, but not seriously,” J.T. tells me, laughing.

Cross-N-Eyed’s normal conversation is a lot like their onstage banter, finishing each other’s sentences and talking over each other to add points.

They say they started when they were 16 (they’re now almost 26), but didn’t get serious with performing until the last few years. They laugh frequently, alternating between silly characters and more genuine comments.

They say their style is “techno-comedy-rap.” They explain that J.T. is into rap and Jeffrey’s into metal, so they figured it would clash when they got together.

“We’ve been told our minds are warped,” they say.

They admit they’re running with a gimmick, but figured they needed a gimmick anyway.

“We do it for the fun, to make people laugh,” they say, a little more serious.

Cross-N-Eyed will play Shevies Saturday and hope to book more Youngstown performances.