Missed the opening set from local indie chamber pop heroes Kindred Queer. I did however chat with singer/guitarist Xavier to learn they performed new material and that he was pleased with the outcome. Along with cellist Olive and rhythm section, Kindred Queer play concise pop with excellent harmony vocals with flourishes of cello.
The Morningsiders are an Americana outfit from Brooklyn. Bass, guitar/vocals, keys/trumpet, and drums put forth a big sound. Decent songwriting and the addition of the trumpet reminded me of the hipness of Calexico.
Pigpen Theater Co. was a seven piece outfit from the mid-west. Bass, banjo, lead guitar/lap steel, lead vocal/guitar/violin, mandolin, drums, and keys/accordion. Beautiful harmony vocals where everyone sang. Excellent cover of Signed, Sealed, Delivered. This band had a lot of energy and reminded me of early Railroad Earth. A true theater company, they played a tune from their forthcoming play set to open in Chicago.
Thursday, August 25, 2016
Thursday, August 18, 2016
Bent Knee w/ Hnry Flwr 8/17/16 Bar
Opener Hnry Flwr was a quartet from NYC with some obtuse ties to the New Haven area. Drums, bass, lead guitar, and charismatic front man on rhythm guitar and vocals. Before the band started, the singer drew asterisks with black "war paint" over each eye to give a trippy effect. 70s rock song structure was helmed by strong vocals that were sometimes processed to make him sound like a melodica. Set highlight was a phenomenal take on Lou Reed's Perfect Day.
Bent Knee has been reviewed in this blog before. A sextet from Boston (Berklee grads or alums I assume) give off some prog vibes with quirky female vocals. Drums, violin, Korg (organ) playing female vocalist, female bassist, spazzy-haired lead guitar, and some dude on laptop (though it seemed like he might have just been checking his email on stage). Bent Knee have a new recording on the fabulous Cuneiform record label and are poised for bigger stages. Singer said they just returned from a European tour.
Bent Knee has been reviewed in this blog before. A sextet from Boston (Berklee grads or alums I assume) give off some prog vibes with quirky female vocals. Drums, violin, Korg (organ) playing female vocalist, female bassist, spazzy-haired lead guitar, and some dude on laptop (though it seemed like he might have just been checking his email on stage). Bent Knee have a new recording on the fabulous Cuneiform record label and are poised for bigger stages. Singer said they just returned from a European tour.
Monday, August 15, 2016
Noah Preminger w/ Dave Douglas 8/8/16 Bushnell Park
Intriguing installment of the Hartford Monday Jazz in the park series. Sweltering evening and decent crowd out to see local Jazz hero and Hall High School grad Preminger's quartet. Preminger on sax and a special treat Dave Douglas on trumpet with bass and drums. The evening's focus was straight ahead blowing on traditional blues numbers. Songs by Mississippi John Hurt and Skip James were put through the modern jazz blender to full effect. Preminger and Douglas are music students playing any and all genres (check Douglas' Buster Keaton tribute). The crowd was receptive and I must say Douglas is a big name for this series.
Monday, August 8, 2016
Boris w/ Earth 8/7/16 Spaceland Ballroom
This show was originally scheduled for The College Street Music Hall, but moved to Spaceland probably due to low advance ticket sales, which made for a crowded, hot affair at the Ballroom. The crowd was hungry for this sludge metal double bill.
First up was Earth. The brainchild of guitarist Dylan Carlson, Earth was a trio of two guitars and a female drummer. Slow churning vocal-less fuzz metal sounded as if the Spaceland was poised to be run over by a train. Carlson had long hair and beard which he swung in an almost metronomic fashion. With a cross tattooed to his upper cheek, he looked like the house band for Game of Thrones. Earth started in the early 90s but was interrupted by Carlson's stint with heroin. It must be interesting to play this kind of music before and after sobriety.
Headliner Boris is a shape shifting metal trio from Japan. Female guitarist Wata had serious command of fuzz feedback and drone. Takeishi played a double neck guitar and sang. Gender fluid Atsuo on drums and gong, looked like a boy, dressed like a girl, thinking he was a boy. They recreated their mid 2000 record Pink. In metal style, they were able to envelope the crowd with fog machine and drone with a hazy multi-directional noise that was comforting to the throng of head-bobbers. The show closed with a maniacal gong solo and Atsuo waving a pedal in arena lighter style. He hit the button which cut the sound mid-screech, what power! With my requisite foam earplugs, this show made me feel as if I was in a coozy of swirling metallic noise.
First up was Earth. The brainchild of guitarist Dylan Carlson, Earth was a trio of two guitars and a female drummer. Slow churning vocal-less fuzz metal sounded as if the Spaceland was poised to be run over by a train. Carlson had long hair and beard which he swung in an almost metronomic fashion. With a cross tattooed to his upper cheek, he looked like the house band for Game of Thrones. Earth started in the early 90s but was interrupted by Carlson's stint with heroin. It must be interesting to play this kind of music before and after sobriety.
Headliner Boris is a shape shifting metal trio from Japan. Female guitarist Wata had serious command of fuzz feedback and drone. Takeishi played a double neck guitar and sang. Gender fluid Atsuo on drums and gong, looked like a boy, dressed like a girl, thinking he was a boy. They recreated their mid 2000 record Pink. In metal style, they were able to envelope the crowd with fog machine and drone with a hazy multi-directional noise that was comforting to the throng of head-bobbers. The show closed with a maniacal gong solo and Atsuo waving a pedal in arena lighter style. He hit the button which cut the sound mid-screech, what power! With my requisite foam earplugs, this show made me feel as if I was in a coozy of swirling metallic noise.
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