A penny saved
An undersold aspect of electronic music for aspiring musicians is the thrifty nature with which one can travel, especially versus a dozen sarcophagi. This, and other thoughts, as Korallreven, A Storm Of Light, Yellow Ostrich, Here Come The Mummies, and Lee DeWyze come to town.
The Swedish duo Korallreven still spring for two plane tickets pretty much everywhere they go — bundling as much of their five-date North American tour together as they can — but Marcus Joons and Daniel Tjader can invest all they need into some loaded laptops and tax the load-in personnel at clubs with menial tasks. Much has been made — with Dave Grohl’s acceptance speech and all — about the effort needed to produce electronic music, but Korallreven’s self-titled outing on Acephale puts on a very human face, reacting with equal parts psychedelia and passion, and showing that whatever strength not wasted on lifting a tube amp gets spent emotionally. (Tuesday@Schubas with Young Magic.)
The shorthand on A Storm Of Light‘s new album, The Valley (Profound Lore), is former “post metallers” make shorter songs, call in Kim Thayil and members of Swans. None of that description is remotely helpful. The Valley lurches and sways like a skyscraper in a windstorm, a beautiful, but incredibly terrifying prospect. Basslines that tread like a bulldozer through loose asphalt have been mixed so that they flatten the guitars as well, and while they’re busy the vocals soar past with anthemic release. They’ve found a midpoint between Pepper Keenan’s COC and Mastodon. (Tuesday@Double Door with Corrosion Of Conformity, Torche, and Valient Thorr.)
Much cleaner after a raucous debut, Yellow Ostrich still manage to recall a sunnier Strokes with Josh Caterer singing. Alex Schaaf has a band now, after going the first round solo and wanting something a little fuller. Strange Land gets it, pushing guitars, guitars, guitars in a way that directly compete with Schaaf’s idiosyncratic pipes. (Wednesday@Empty Bottle with 1,2,3 and Tin Tin Can.)
What bowed this year in the Super Bowl “village” has quickly become a 22-city tour for Here Come The Mummies. The 10-piece, costumed spectacle spin an unlikely brew of an R&B and funk revue, toppling over with a thick brass and vocal section. Those who missed Kool & The Gang open for Van Halen would do well to witness “It’s On Tonight” from last year’s Bed, Bath & Behind, just don’t waste time trying to determine the members’ (allegedly a crew of Nashville’s session musicians — identities. They’re kept strictly “under wraps.” (Thursday@Mojoes with Tom Fuller Band.)
Silent Ts are the key to reading Mount Prospect backward (we’ll wait for you to finish), and looking back is something its inhabitants have done a lot of lately. WuLi Records continues to flesh out the backstory of native son/”American Idol” winner Lee DeWyze. The label has collected various singles it has released in the past year as What Once Was (Songs From 2006-2010); they’ll be on display as part of Viper Alley’s first-anniversary celebration. (Saturday@Viper Alley.)
— Steve Forstneger
Category: Stage Buzz, Weekly
