Fang Island, Adebisi Shank, Sports Bar
Wednesday, August 29 at Strange Matter
On a whim and a strong recommendation from a friend, I made my way to Strange Matter last Wednesday. I knew my friends in Sports Bar were getting things started, and that small fact offered a compelling argument in favor of going out to a higher priced show. I was fascinated by the potential of the other two bands, whom I never bothered to listen to before the show. I needed something to surprise me, and perhaps even a palate cleanser after my mixed experience with Xiu Xiu the night prior. As it turned out, Fang Island and Adebisi Shank delivered, and were the antithesis to Xiu Xiu.
I have now seen Sports Bar in so many line-up arrangements that it’s hard to pick a favorite. When Cliff Boyd left the band, I was only partially concerned. His guitar playing was remarkable and full of bursting personality; yet I have known Kemper Blair and Stuart Holt in so many bands now. From Rabbits to Dead Goats to Cubscout and the Rhinoceros to Novios to Sports Bar, I stop and take notice of any project they work on. With this band, they may be at their personal best. The current line-up of Sports Bar featured Blair on bass, Holt moving back to drums after a single performance on guitar, and both Brent Delventhal of Warren Hixson and Mark Miller of Strike Anyhwere taking on guitar duties. This may have been the best I have seen them since the loss of Cliff Boyd. Delventhal’s personality on stage is a sight for sore eyes, and the foundation of two guitars helps to add punch to each hit. I also dug the way that the group acted in duos when sharing singing parts, making the maddeningly catchy songs even more addictive. Their closing with the solid “Bad Thing” proved to me that it would be a great thing if Sports Bar were able to play at such a frequency as familiar locals like The Milkstains, Black Girls, or Bermuda Triangles. I wish they played every week. It wouldn’t just be a good excuse to hang out with good friends--it’d be a good excuse to catch one of the best local bands around, one that keeps persevering and deserves all of the acclaim they have earned.
Ireland's Adebisi Shank was touring the states for the first time. A few friends of mine were singing their praises, and they were undoubtedly correct. This was my favorite set of the night. Their frantic instrumental math rock style was complimented by the way they utilized the space in their songs to focus on exchanging musical ideas. This musical style, combined with the energy the trio brought, made it easy for them to win over everyone in attendance. Despite the show being relatively well attended, I felt like it deserved to be ridiculously packed, considering the quality of Adebisi Shank's performance. The songs never really fell into darker territories--there was a light breezy sway to each riff, and the instrumental interplay was tremendously impressive. A good majority of the set showcased their second record, cleverly titled This is the Second Album of a band called Adebisi Shank. I can’t wait to get copies of everything they have released, and I hope they return to the states very soon.
At this point, I feel like I should clarify my sentiments from earlier, regarding seeing Xiu Xiu at Gallery 5 the night prior. It was a terribly uncomfortable experience for me. I felt like Jamie Stewart's solo set was intended not only to distract people from his musical gems, but that he wanted everyone to take on the weight of all the pain and tragedy he has ever endured. This is an approach that can be very appealing, and as a friend noted to me, Stewart comes from the world of noise, which is a confrontational art form at its core. I just felt that his performance detracted from the things I have come to enjoy about Xiu Xiu over the years. My reason for the comparison is that Fang Island's performance was about as far away from that impression as you could get. Fang Island write catchy pop that relies on their anthem-like qualities to really resonate with audiences everywhere. Their style has been compared to the idea of elementary school students writing rock songs and I don’t think that is so far off. There is a lot of positivity spewing from their approach, and it’s quite a relieving thing to encounter every once in a while. Their set was a really solid performance, with the crowd bouncing around to every tune. They were quite compatible with Adebisi Shank as far as touring goes, but the differences that existed helped to accentuate the unique personalities of each outfit. Fang Island were phenomenal and I was bummed that I couldn’t stick around for the whole set. What I did catch, though, was unbelievable.
If there were one downside to the whole evening, it would be that I hadn’t known about these bands before this. I am all the better for knowing that Adebisi Shank and Fang Island exist, and I'm stoked for my friends in Sports Bar that they got to play a show with them. This is an early contender for one of the best shows I have been able to attend all year. If you missed out, you should get your head examined. Then again, I did miss Lightning Bolt last week, so perhaps we’re even.