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When we come into Great Scott, I hear Morex Optimo playing, and I think, "Ah. Garage band. Okay." I don't much like the singer's voice, but they're thumping along with good, basic rock energy. Then the next song starts, with the drumming playing a four-beat and the bassist playing these awesome, chunky triplets over it, and it's weirder and more interesting than any garage band fare. And it just keeps branching out and incorporating more elements as their set progresses. The singing still isn't exactly lovely, but when all three of them sing together the whole is definitely more than the sum of the parts. (The weird harmonies between the guitarist and bassist are especially compelling.) The drummer is incredible, with all kinds of strange and wonderful patterns in a variety of interesting time signatures. She's also perfectly steady, has great dynamic control, and sings high, sweet backups. They're a quirky, intriguing band.
Aaron Perrino does a solo set next, but his stuff is really not to my taste, and I kind of ignore him. Then The Stairs play, one of their last shows ever, we're told. They have quite an enthusiastic following here. They, too, do not have the very best singing voices, but I can hear that these songs have good bones. They're solid, melodic pop songs and I bet they sound great on CD. They sound pretty good live, with a high-energy rock treatment and a killer rhythm section. The Stairs are a five-piece, with two guitars and a keyboard player; I suspect the songs might work a little better in a less busy setting that would put more emphasis on the tunes. They're joined by a couple of backup singers on different songs, including Matt from Ho-Ag, who jumps onstage perhaps-unexpectedly.
Then it's time for Ho-Ag, and my suspicions are born out: it's the same drummer. I've seen Ho-Ag a bunch, and I was pretty damn sure I recognized their drummer, but it still didn't seem possible. That was one great set that he just played; he can't have a Ho-Ag set still in him! Turns out I just don't know what's possible for some people. It's a solid, raucous, typically wild Ho-Ag set. There are jerky rhythms and noisily melodic (melodically noisy?) songs and a whole lot of screaming. And dancing, up front. Their set seems short, but it might just be that I'm really into it and I'm not ready for it to be over.
