What a difference a day made. February began mildly, just another day in this overall mild winter we've been having, but over the course of 24 hours that changed drastically. Perhaps the groundhog was right, and the sight of his shadow brought about a wicked storm as night fall came. Despite the sudden change in weather, the show at the Bluebird Theater still went on. This local showcase presented by Tone Dynamix brought out an eager crowd of people to see these four talented bands.
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| Safe Boating Is No Accident |
Safe Boating Is No Accident went on stage first. The trio of Leighton Peterson (vocals, guitar), Neil McCormick (bass, vocals), and Zay Rios (drums, vocals) opened the night with some of their new material. Being the first time I caught this band live, I was expecting to hear some avant-garde folk like what they had on their currently released EP, but this band has switched gears since that release. They shed the mellow, acoustic-driven experimental folk music for something a little warmer, brighter and more energetic - a good contrast to the cold darkness outside.
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| Safe Boating Is No Accident |
They performed an electric guitar driven, coastal/surf inspired style of indie rock that at first took me off guard, but quickly drew me in. Their new approach differed greatly in sound from what they had previously recorded, but I think their personalities and band identity still came through in their reboot. They still maintained a penchant for good songwriting, just draped around a more melodic and danceable sound that was welcoming and a little bit more accessible. Although I still enjoy their older material, I welcome the progression of this band.
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| The Marrow |
Up next was a band that I thought was very exciting the first time I saw them and was eager to see again, The Marrow. The Marrow has five talented members; Tania Katz (vocals/accordion/keyboard/percussion), April Anderson (drums/percussion/vocals/keyboard), Aaron Burris-DeBoskey (guitar/vocals/keyboard/trumpet), Kris Becker (guitar/vocals), and Rodrigo Valdes (drums/percussion). They create an amazing blend of experimental folk/jazz/rock that really has to be experienced to be fully understood.
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| The Marrow |
To really describe this band, I'll have to revisit and expand on the analogy I first used when I saw this band. I compared this band to a Bordeaux wine blend because the way they carefully mixed various styles into something that definitively stands on its own. This time, I had the benefit of comparing this night's performance to a very early performance (the one I saw last). Very much like a fine wine, they have definitely become better with age. Now their flavor profile, their identity, is even more richly defined, and although they may not be immediately accessible or readily suited to a wide range of tastes, those with a refined (experimental) palate can pick out the myriad of nuances in their sound, enjoying what they have not only through each individual component but what they have as a finished, creative product.
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| The Marrow |
They began their set by performing their first EP, Cave, in its entirety. Cave is more like a flowing suite than a collection of individual songs, and The Marrow performed it as such. They tweaked the order a bit, starting with "I Am", but then went on to smoothly blend "Cave", "Lady Lisbeth" and "The Devil" into one flowing piece, taking the audience on a musical journey that was sometimes melodic, sometimes chaotic, but with the band always in complete control. Whether they cooed the crowd with smooth vocals or built wonderment by creating intricately elaborate soundscapes, the first half of their performance was done perfectly - much riper and polished than when I saw them before. I knew they had the potential to be stunning after some time, and it appears it really didn't take long to reach that point.
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| The Marrow |
The latter half of The Marrow's set was also a treat, which included a couple new unreleased songs and a few selections from the newly released EP Crawlers. When The Marrow performs, they have quite the expansive stage setup, and yet they still manage to achieve a far greater range of sound than one would imagine. The new songs "Where Are" and "Your Side" were so amazing and so elaborate, all I can say is I feel sorry for anyone that missed them because it was epic. The songs from Crawlers were also incredible, and to be honest, I could go on and on about what made them that way, but instead, I will just state plainly that this band is cleverly eclectic, interesting, and do well to create a sound that explores new territories in music. For fans of experimental rock, this is a band that should not at all be missed.
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| Tommy & The Tangerines |
Tommy & The Tangerines took the stage next, transitioning the mood of the evening towards the lighter side. This Boulder based six piece band featured Mic Carroll (vocals, superstar dance moves), Matt Hendrick (guitar/vocals), Ian Hendrick (guitar), Laura Stratton (keyboards), Patrick Coleman (bass), and Ben Batchelor (drums). They created a playful brand of pop-rock that delivered energetic music with a lot of danceability. The combination of catchy vocals, a melody driven sound and bombastic stage presence marked a performance that attracted a party-ready crowd to the dance floor.
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| Tommy & The Tangerines |
From the very beginning of their set Tommy & The Tangerines created fun atmosphere of excitement. They opened their set basked in orange light, radiating the crowd with playful energy and a sunny tone. Although pop rock 'n' roll is the band's main footprint, I enjoyed their foray into soul with "Face", especially with the addition of a guest saxophonist. The crowd seemed to momentarily forget the snow and go into a summer-like party mode when they performed "Sam I Am". "Friends Today" was an endearing catchy tune with a hint of jazzy blues-rock. The country influenced song "Great Mistake" ended their set well, getting the crowd riled up like they were hearing their favorite tavern drinking song. Fans of pop-rock will find Tommy & The Tangerines very appealing.
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| Tantric Picasso |
Finally it was time for the headlining band, Tantric Picasso, who were celebrating the release of their new record Make Your Love Bigger. Tantric Picasso is a five piece band featuring Jackson Boone (vocals, guitar, harmonica), Marko Melnick (guitar, vocals), Pablo Cruz (bass), Matthew Tanner (drums) and Karl Rivers (keyboards, guitar). Hearing this band live is like taking a journey aback in time, at the height of the free love era steeped in classic rock 'n' roll. Their newest record is a modern embodiment of that vintage sound, complete with raw energy, face melting riffs, powerful drums, dazzling keys, and wicked guttural screams.
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| Tantric Picasso |
To kick off the night, the band launched a strategic attack on the Bluebird Theater crowd by unleashing "Going To War", a track laced with sexy, jazzy funk-rock juxtaposed with forceful, throaty lyrics that lit the venue on fire. "Kaoss" was true to its song title, but its driving, pulsing beat gave it a strange sense of order and appeal. "Strider" brought more vocal swagger that any '60s-'70s manly-man probably would have used to hype himself up had the song been available in that era. As they continued to play more selections off of their new album they were able to truly revive the feeling and intensity that prior generations probably sought out in vintage rock 'n' roll.
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| Tantric Picasso |
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| Tantric Picasso |
Tantric Picasso might as well be called rock revivalists, but they really are a modern embodiment of a combination of all the aspects that made vintage rock 'n' roll so great. However, they manage not to sound like a retread of any of those classic bands that have been played and replayed time after time again. Somehow they have honed in on the very essence of what makes that recognizable sound, expanding on it to make it their very own. As a result, their new record is fresh and exciting, and their stage presence made their performance seem absolutely authentic. If you love rock 'n' roll, fall in love with Tantric Picasso.
See more pictures from this show in the Facebook photo album. Like the Concerted Effort page to stay up to date.