Tortoise ~ June 18, 2007

For those who might be uninitiated regarding Tortoise, I lifted this description from their Wikipedia page: Tortoise's almost entirely instrumental music defies easy categorization, and the group gained significant attention from their early career. The members have roots in Chicago's fertile music scene, playing in various indie rock and punk groups. Tortoise was among the first American indie rock bands to incorporate styles closer to Krautrock, dub, minimalism, electronica, and various jazz styles, rather than the standard rock and roll and punk that had dominated indie rock for years.

Some have cited Tortoise as being one of the prime forces behind the development and popularity of the so-called "post-rock" movement. Others, however, have criticized Tortoise's music as being derivative of progressive rock.

Arriving a half hour before the doors opened it appeared that the crowed might be rather thin as there was no line at all out front of The Bluebird at all. I decided to take advantage of the nice evening and cheap micro brew prices across the street and headed to the Goosetown Tavern's patio until the doors opened. At 8:30 a few of us filed in and waited for Lichens to start (see my review below). I snagged a prime second tier rail spot right in the middle of the floor. Thoughts of poor audience turnout soon were put aside as a really nice size crowd began to showup right before Tortoise's set.

Tortoise came out about 10:20 and proceeded to wow us with an incredibly tight set of tunes. One thing really interesting about these guys is they are all multi-instrumentalists and they tradeoff on almost every song. They actually have two drum kits setup up face to face and on several of the songs have duel drumming. Three of them handled the kits. All the members played their two sets of xylophones eventually and all of them played some sort of keyboard during the course of the show as well. Three of them traded off on guitars and basses too. One could tell they really enjoined playing together as there was tons of grins at each other and they totally fed of the crowd's exciting reactions. We coaxed them out for two encores...they were extremely deserving! Throughout the show they had projected images which were mostly moving abstract, contemporary painting type of visuals...very fitting and not too distracting.

This was my first time seeing them live in person and it will not be my last. It's amazing how their live music grooves, because on CD a lot of the tunes don't really come off that way, but live they seem to improve the studio versions somehow that makes things even better...highly recommended if one wants to see a very tight band who's music isn't so ordinary, highly creative, but at the same time somewhat accessible.

I have a photo slideshow with music recorded that night on my YouTube Station (here).

Also, I have the complete set of photos on my Photosite (here).

Lichens ~ June 18, 2007

I had no idea what to expect from this opening act for Tortoise, but the buzz on the street was that it would be good. Turns out is was. Lichens is one guy, Robert Lowe, who totally managed to transfix the audience. Mr. Lowe came out and sat down on his stool. Near him was a mic, guitar and some effects pedals. He proceeded to pick-up the mic, put it up to his mouth and these lovely bird whistles started emitting from the PA. He did a variety of these all the while looping the different ones until it sound just like we were in an enchanted forest or something. While the bird songs were looping he picked up the guitar and did some improvised swatches, some of which were atmospheric some were sort of bluesy. This went on for a few minutes until he set the guitar down and picked up the mic again and began doing these deep toned whistles that sounded like wooden flutes. He started harmonizing with the previous tones he looped. All the while the bird songs where still playing. Next, he started singing wordless tones, starting in the lower registers and then he started harmonizing with those loops in higher and higher resisters. This entire piece went on for almost 25 minutes and was amazingly beautiful. A girl behind me at one point said in astonishment,
'this is crazy!" It was. Fans of droning, relaxing, atmospheric music might just check Lichens out. He has two CD's out (here).

COURT - from Italy

I first became aware of Court when they contacted us via Pindral's MySpace page saying they would be playing in Aurora on June 17, please join them. I had never heard of the venue they booked themselves into, but how often does one get to see an Italian prog band in Colorado? Gotta go check them out even though it was on a Sunday night.

Larry and I pulled up to Wyatt's Torch which was in a nondescript strip mall off S. Parker Rd. Much to our surprise there were only 5 cars in the parking lot outside. The place is pretty much a hole-in-the-wall club where they seem to really push the sex, drugs and rock and roll lifestyle. A sign in the place proudly proclaimed they were the loudest club in Aurora. Oh, boy. Upon entering we were pleasantly surprised to see a friendly face, Mr. Ron Perron, bass player for Stencil Forest and Colorado Art Rock Society friend, who was the only person there besides a few of the bar staff and the three piece band from Laramie, Wyoming who were the opening act. This was after 9:00 and the opening act was supposed to have been playing already, but they got delayed on their trip down. They got set-up and did a short opening set. Thankfully, the sound guy cut them off at 10:00 so Court could set-up. The Laramie guys weren't that bad really, but at 10:00 on a Sunday night with an early work day looming...let's get to the main act! In the meantime, Ron, who had already had the chance talk with the Court members, introduced us to some of them and we got to chat briefly. We explained we play in a prog band here in town and next time they come through let us know and maybe we could do a show together at The Oriental Theater. They seemed like really nice folks indeed and receptive to the idea. Keeping fingers crossed.

Court consists of a lead vocalist, drummer, two guitarists and a bass player. A couple of them also play a wind instruments, such as recorders, flutes and oboe. Very nice sounds. After setting up their gear, they stepped outside the back door to change into their stage clothes, much to our surprise, because there was only three real paying customers at this gig...professional to say the least!

I had not really heard any of Court's music besides a few samples from their MySpace page, so I wasn't really sure what we were in for. The band started into their set with some great instrumental passages. Wow, what a great sound! Lead singer Paolo soon joined. Such a nice voice and stage presence he brings to the table. His energetic and theatrical stage antics really added to the set. The band ripped through an hours worth of songs from their latest CD Frost of Watermelon and some older material as well. The music was a blend of all out powerful prog rock passages with some great folky ones as well. Very good blend of instrumental and vocal passages. Excellent musicianship too. Actually we didn't want them to stop even though it was well after midnight...they were that good.

After the show we got to talk to all of them and thank them for coming. We exchanged CD's and purchased one also. Talking to Francesco he said they are financing the tour themselves and looked at this tour as a nice US vacation. He told us he has lived in the States previously, spending some time in Carmel, CA and I think Ohio (?). The rest of the guys had never been here so they were wide-eyed with all the sights. Amazingly, they had just come from De Moines, Iowa the night before. They drove all night and arrived in Denver at 11:00 am and got to sleep before the show. Their next shows are in California and they have three days to drive out there. Hope some nice crowds show-up for them because they really deserve to be heard! Marco mentioned they were sometimes surprised where they end up playing because they really had to book the venues blindly...I think this was one of the surprises.

Upon heading to our vehicle after saying goodbyes the club manager stopped us and thanked us for coming. I had video taped the show and he asked me if I was going to post any of the footage on the web, because he said he was blown away by these guys. Just as we didn't know what to expect from them, I don't think he really had a clue what he was in for booking Court, but nice to see them gain some more fans, myself and Larry included.

I have a video of their performance on my YouTube station (here).

Also, I have a complete set of photos on my Photosite.