I'm taking responsibility for my happiness. I'm not going to stand around a fire and wait for it to get me warm... I'm finally growing out of that.
You cold? Life's funny.
Laughing forever,
Ryan Bambery
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
Sunday, March 8, 2009
It's Not A Fight, It's A Good Old War
The beauty of a free show is the low expectations and laid-back atmosphere. March 6 in a small UMass Lowell student lounge was no different and clearly every attendee and passer-by got their money’s worth. The night was a collective toast to creativity and playfully pushing the musical bar in any direction the 4 bands cared to nudge it.
Oh My, The Moon opened the night with their self-proclaimed transcendental experimental instrumentation, following a trail blazed most recently by bands like Explosions In The Sky. The hometown band was met with a warm reception from the rapidly filling crowd as they told stories with guitar parts and a strong rhythm section rather than vocals.
Feels Like July caught the whole room off guard as Dan Bristol, the maestro of the magnificence jump-started the set with a flawless a capella intro leading into a rifling riff commanding the attention of anybody with ears. Bristol; a true showman coming into his own, captivated the crowd as he gracefully dragged himself across the stage while delivering effortless highs and the most menacing lows. His words danced with the demons being summoned from Mat Delorusso’s Vox AC50 as Mat tore through mind altering leads. Feels Like July fused undeniable chaos with now you see it now you don’t blues with the help of an air-tight rhythm section and an energy that was nothing less than contagious.
To say the most in so little, Maps & Atlases was a brilliant mindfuck. Their set was full of funk and uncertainty. It was all so new, so beautiful, and it was alive. The Chicago natives had the crowd entranced and eager to experience each groove and lyric; some even danced in their underwear. Dave Davison led the celebration with a voice and a guitar that had kids standing on chairs just to catch a glimpse of the greatness before them. Maps & Atlases are far ahead of their time (a blatant understatement) with a live set that proved to be a priceless experience.
The night was capped off with the boys of Good Old War. The 3-piece took to the stage high in spirits and broke into a wildly engaging set. Their inviting and pretty harmonies inspired even the softest spoken to sing along with honest songs of love, sacrifice, and self-realization. Their light-hearted yet precise take on their music gave the crowd a chance to be a part of something truly beautiful. Hell, we were all in it together. A true treat of the night was during “Weak Man” as Dave Davison of Maps & Atlases was invited to take it home with a guitar solo which led to dueling solos between Dave and Dan Schwartz. Dave and Dan went back and forth counteracting their bluesy guitar tones with ear-to-ear smiles and wide eyes as the crowd cat-called and howled them along. Each song brought everybody back to why we go to shows in the first place... the innocent fun... the true spirit of the thing.
Oh My, The Moon opened the night with their self-proclaimed transcendental experimental instrumentation, following a trail blazed most recently by bands like Explosions In The Sky. The hometown band was met with a warm reception from the rapidly filling crowd as they told stories with guitar parts and a strong rhythm section rather than vocals.
Feels Like July caught the whole room off guard as Dan Bristol, the maestro of the magnificence jump-started the set with a flawless a capella intro leading into a rifling riff commanding the attention of anybody with ears. Bristol; a true showman coming into his own, captivated the crowd as he gracefully dragged himself across the stage while delivering effortless highs and the most menacing lows. His words danced with the demons being summoned from Mat Delorusso’s Vox AC50 as Mat tore through mind altering leads. Feels Like July fused undeniable chaos with now you see it now you don’t blues with the help of an air-tight rhythm section and an energy that was nothing less than contagious.
To say the most in so little, Maps & Atlases was a brilliant mindfuck. Their set was full of funk and uncertainty. It was all so new, so beautiful, and it was alive. The Chicago natives had the crowd entranced and eager to experience each groove and lyric; some even danced in their underwear. Dave Davison led the celebration with a voice and a guitar that had kids standing on chairs just to catch a glimpse of the greatness before them. Maps & Atlases are far ahead of their time (a blatant understatement) with a live set that proved to be a priceless experience.
The night was capped off with the boys of Good Old War. The 3-piece took to the stage high in spirits and broke into a wildly engaging set. Their inviting and pretty harmonies inspired even the softest spoken to sing along with honest songs of love, sacrifice, and self-realization. Their light-hearted yet precise take on their music gave the crowd a chance to be a part of something truly beautiful. Hell, we were all in it together. A true treat of the night was during “Weak Man” as Dave Davison of Maps & Atlases was invited to take it home with a guitar solo which led to dueling solos between Dave and Dan Schwartz. Dave and Dan went back and forth counteracting their bluesy guitar tones with ear-to-ear smiles and wide eyes as the crowd cat-called and howled them along. Each song brought everybody back to why we go to shows in the first place... the innocent fun... the true spirit of the thing.
Monday, March 2, 2009
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