Mr. Gnome preview

Mr. Gnome
Ronny’s, Chicago
Friday, July 21, 2007

What if the White Stripes decided to eschew their blues influences and concentrate solely on metal and hardcore material and switched the lineup around with Ms. Meg White taking lead vocals and saddling Jack with the drum kit? The result would sound a lot like Cleveland, Ohio duo Mr. Gnome, minus the peppermint shtick.

Lead vocalist/guitarist Nicole Barille and drummer Sam Meister create an odd dichotomy of sounds on their second self-titled EP. Since forming the band in 2004 while enrolled at Kent State, the two have successfully meshed the sludgy, reverberating monsoon of hardcore with the feminine. Courtesy of Barille’s vocals, the band sidesteps getting pigeonholed for their harder edge. “Truffle Shuffle” is characteristic of so many trainwrecks of solid noise and unintelligible lyrics, compounded by a nihilistic vocal throttle, yet in Barille’s hands, the song rises above the muck. By never sacrificing melody, Mr. Gnome can appeal to those terrified by metal in all its forms.

Evanescence made a career out of this leather-and-lace/opposites-attract gimmick and Mr. Gnome follows in Amy Lee’s gothic footsteps. Fortunately, the duo retain a sense of dignity by letting substance matter more than style. Don’t be surprised to find Mr. Gnome refusing to cater to the powers that be hoping for a crossover hit, a la emotional ballad or Barille writhing atop a grand piano in a bodice with tears in her eyes. Feminine or not, they’re still fighting for metal.

— Janine Schaults

Category: Stage Buzz, Weekly