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The Lizard Lounge's free, early Soul Low series is normally way too early for me to even think about leaving work in time to catch it. Tonight, however, it's way too good not to. Holly and Mat are 40% of Humanwine, whom I absolutely love; tonight it's just the two of them, doing Humanwine songs stripped down to voice and acoustic guitars. It's magical. These songs are dramatic and compelling and rich in subtleties, and without all the loud rock activity wrapped around them (which is awesome, don't get me wrong) they are free to really explore those subtleties and experiment with much quieter, gentler readings of the songs. And Holly has one of the most beautiful voices I've ever heard. It's a treat to hear it front and center like this.
Sparkola kick off the regular evening's entertainment. They are a four-piece power-pop combo, raucous and tuneful in that classic Boston band way. The lead singer's voice is gruffly melodic, while the harmony vocals are sweeter. Guitar solos are restrained and in service of the songs, which are lightweight and catchy. I quite like the lead singer's self-deprecating stage presence. (Kind of a "big dumb mook" act, but a little too self-aware to not be an act, it seems to me.) They close with a solid Beatles cover on which the backup singer gets to sing lead.
Auto Interiors are next. They are also a four-piece power-pop combo. For some reason, I can't get into this band. There is absolutely nothing wrong with them. The playing is certainly first-rate, and he's a strong singer with a lovely, expressive voice. The tunes are fine, and yet my attention sort of slides off of them. I don't know why.
Count Zero are one of my absolute favorites. Elizabeth, their regular keyboard player (besides the two other members of the band who occasionally play keyboards) is absent tonight, so there's a lot of swapping seats and reconfiguring, and Joel Simches, their ace sound man and erstwhile brief band member, sits in on a couple of songs. (Including the huge, bizarre rocker "Bachelor #3," a particular favorite of mine.) Count Zero songs are always weird and dramatic. One interesting thing about tonight's set is that, with all the new configurations and compensations, they play a bit more with how all the songs sound, and the result is that the differences I'd formerly heard between the songs from their latest album (a bit poppier and more straightforward) and their previous efforts are kind of smoothed out a bit. Also very satisfying to me, as a long-term rabid fan, is the fact that no fewer than four different people independently approach me during or immediately after their set to say, "These guys are AMAZING!" To which I can only grin a bit smugly and say, "Yes. Yes, they are."
