Glad to have caught a bit from opener Geologist. He is the beatmeister for the freak jam outfit Animal Collective. Legend has it the name came from a misrepresentation of his college major or possibly the headlamp he uses while trying to navigate his console on a darkened stage. This show was held in the intimate front room, so personal lighting was not an issue. Geologist had a table with effects and sequencers and a hurdy gurdy. The hurdy gurdy is an unusual instrument for the beats scene. A crank, some strings, some keys, dampening mechanisms and a boat shaped hollow body that he had strapped to his waist. He looked like a cotton candy seller at the ballpark. The sound leaned middle eastern, with the addition of a backbeat made for a trancey exotic set. After the show, I chatted with Geologist wondering if the instrument was homemade, a soap-box-derby-hurdy-gurdy if you will. He said that some guy in France was responsible.
Steve Gunn is one of the best musicians you’ve never heard of. A guitarist from Philly now based in Brooklyn, Steve has been making varied and excellent music for years. Originally drone and instrumental, he has recently strayed into singer songwriter territory. 2019’s The Unseen In Between is a great starting place for the uninitiated. He hit the stage armed with a couple of acoustics, some effects pedals, and a small fender amp. A compact setup that makes travel and stage management easy, there was no lack of sound coming from the stage. Steve had one effect pedal that could only be described as a Day In The Life box that sounded like an 80 piece orchestra tripping upstairs when pressed. The songs and lyrics seem simple but reveal complexity when viewed live. Steve seems to be on the spectrum, and I mean that in the most complimentary way, he seemed to autistically waltz while playing, bending toward the fender to stretch and enhance notes. The setlist had some gems, Way Out Weather from the 2014 release and some cuts from the recent Other You. He played one unreleased number about a chance meeting with a musician friend on the early morning streets of Auckland. Fantastic cover of the Velvets I’ll Be Your Mirror. While Steve might not have much in common with Nico, the original vocalist, his fractured croon has similar qualities to the original. While I’m happy to go on having Steve be my quasi-personal troubadour, it would make sense for y’all to get your head out of the sand and support him when he comes your way. Better yet, keep your head in the sand, find Steve on your YouTube channel and prepare to be mesmerized by this truly original musician.
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