Last time Mendoza was in the area, I arrived late and missed her set. I made sure to get off the couch early on this evening. I have seen her multiple times through the years and her sound has evolved. Somewhere between Wendy Eisenberg and Marc Ribot, Mendoza’s jagged lines and effects pedals were in full force. Ava is an in demand session guitarist and I gushed with her regarding her Curriculum vitae during the set break. Studying with Fred Frith at Mills College, collaborated with tUnEyArDs on scores for Buster Keaton films, played with Sir Richard Bishop, Weasel Walter, William Parker, Nels Cline, Malcolm Mooney, and Nate Wooley. She has become more confident with singing and was able to augment her stellar fretwork with lyrics. Her hairstyle has also changed, a vintage Diana Ross pouf seemed incongruous to the music being made.
Quasi is the Portland OR based duo of Sam Coomes on organ and Janet Weiss on drums. Both are left coast music royalty with Coomes spending time with Elliot Smith and Built To Spill while Weiss played with Bright Eyes and Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks in addition to her main job as chief thumpstress for Sleater-Kinney. Coomes also has a storied career as producer. The music on this evening was loud and visceral. Coomes organ made quite the racket, he even had a small theremin-type noise box that he played with his foot. The organ was stenciled with the word WROCK, which I’m sure had some significance. Weiss was also a force of nature, her drumming was tribal, marchy, or speedy punk in nature. She was able to lend backing vocals while flailing on her kit. These two have been making music since the 90s and showcased some tunes from their recent release Breaking The Balls of History.
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