Woefully under-recorded local talent Kindred Queer warmed the crowd. Lead vocals and guitarist Xavier and collaborator Olive on cello and harmony vocals are now backed by youngsters on bass and drums. The quartet displayed solid songwriting with the vocal harmony and cello affording an almost gypsy feel. Supported by a cadre of local artists and family, their set gave off a house party vibe. I'm sure the two mainstays of this band have day jobs, but if they took a summer off to tour, they could really blow up regionally. Xavier claims new ep is forthcoming.
Berkeley School of Music grads Bent Knee had a full band. Drums,violin, female bassist, female organ and lead vocals, snarky guitarist, and laptop effects. Song structure was technically complex, to the point of confusion. Female vocalist had a shrill voice that sometimes went off the rails and irritated. Guitarist had a decent solo with a full dose of Mahavishnu on a raga-inflected solo. Bent Knee would do to dumb it down a bit for us, the masses.
Sunday, January 17, 2016
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
Cloakroom 1/6/16 Bar
Power trio Cloakroom said they were happy to "be back in the States, where paper towels are not an option". Guitar, drums and bass were loud and punky. Lanky guitarist had an almost Morrissey-esque vocal delivery. The drums and bass loudly backed the guitar to give a metal tinge to the sound. A packed house of head-bobbers enjoyed the set. The drummer was shaped like a fire hydrant and hit the skins with the ferocity of a fire hydrant.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)