Index of Shows | Homepage | Upcoming Shows | Write to me
Capital Radio are really not what I came here for. Knowing Medications and Shark & Bear on this bill, I came here for subtlety and complexity and beauty. I'm getting a lot of shouting and posturing. It's very simple punk songs, without a lot of melody, and the lead singer is clearly very into Putting On A Show. The sound is not great here; there's two guitars and a bass, and I can barely hear them. I just mostly hear the drums (fast, simple, effective) and the singer (decent voice, mildly annoying). The best part of the show is watching the Medications fans come in, one after another, and display an identical "Huh?" reaction as they take in what's going on onstage.
Medications get crystal clear and perfectly balanced sound on the same stage. (It probably helps that there're only three of them.) Good thing, too, because there is A LOT going on in this music. Lots of really interesting rhythms, mostly various (and rapidly varying) twelves but with one song in fives and tens, and the drummer is outstandingly subtle and solid. I often don't even notice bass lines unless they're extremely good or extremely bad, but these are outrageously good, melodic and complicated. The guitar is beautiful, with a succession of lovely riffs and rich, metallic tones. Vocals range from urgent shouting to weirdly beautiful harmony between the guitarist and bassist. And they even have catchy tunes. It's really the complete package.
Distinguished Members have a tough act to follow. Their music is more straight-up, slightly heavy rock songs. (Although they do mix it up a bit with one really mellow, folky number with pretty, delicate finger-picking. That kinda comes out of nowhere, but it makes a nice change of pace in mid-set.) They're a decent band, but two things really stand out for me: the guitarist and bassist both sing on most of their songs, and they have some really good, engaging harmonies. And the drummer is excellent, playing very complicated patterns smoothly and very fast. (And, perhaps most impressive, pulling it back to play softly and minimally on the folk-rock song!)
Shark & Bear are the most ambitious band on the bill. But that's usually the case. Their songs are so ridiculously jumpy and complicated that it took me a while to get into them, even with my love of the jumpy and complicated. Tonight, they're pretty solid, although it takes a while to get a decent mix. Even then, the bass is way out in front. Fortunately, I love their bassist, and the way his beautiful, intricate lines ground these songs and give them a sense of "songness." The balance between the two guitars is excellent, so I can hear the way they add up, and the singing covers a broad range from delicate sweetness to impassioned screaming. And all the while dancing expertly among crazily diverse time signatures. Just listening to these songs is a workout, but I enjoy the challenge.
