Last Wednesday at The Republic Radio Rubber Room gave us The Dream Machine and Stomp Status, with a surprise set by a fledgling trio The Northerners. TDM's young new drummer Amani Williams has clearly found his niche in the band. He's solid and he never loses the beat.
Following TDM, The Northerners took the stage for their first live performance. They've got an interesting make-up, with a gorgeous female vocalist and two guitarists, one of which trades off on keyboard. Two siblings, Justin and Ally Khoury, comprise the core of the band. It wasn't clear if they were performing their own material, but they were nailing three-part harmonies with precision. There was a definite influence of "The Band" in their sound; it's that nostalgic severity that comes with a beautifully somber chord progression, like you hear in "The Weight", which they actually played later in the set. I was impressed that they could create such movement and rhythm without the presence of a drummer. I'll be keeping an eye out for The Northerners around the city.
Last was Stomp Status, a freaking-whailing jazz/funk fusion band out of northern Virginia (all members are George Mason alumni). This is one of the fundamentally tightest bands I've ever seen perform. They reminded me a lot of RVA's beloved Downbeat Switch. Stomp Status has great momentum; never a split-second of drag. The entire band is synchronized on nearly every level, like one master jazz funk brain controls each of the four. They change time signature, key, and even alter genre from one moment to the next. Stomp Status is an excellent live show, check them out online and get your ass to their next gig.
This week, Radio Rubber Room presents The Dream Machine and experimental hard rockers Lorem Ipsum. A little birdie told me that these guys get louder than hell; my Wednesday could sure use a little of that. As a party bonus, RVA Magazine will be celebrating the release of issue number nine, so come and get 'em while they're hot at The Republic, 10pm Wednesday.
