As the clock struck 8:36 precisely, the quintet under the lead singer’s name of Anthony Worden came out and started the show off. At first, the crowd was timid and shy. It wasn’t until a couple of songs in that Worden encouraged a small crowd to gather around.

One of the first things I realized about this group was the prominent bass guitar. I love hearing cool bass riffs live, because you can feel the room vibrating, and it makes the experience a little bit more communal and exciting.

“Thanks for seeing us tonight and not Andrew Bird,” Anthony said. “Fuck the one-percenters at the Andrew Bird show!” He joked.

Their music was really easy to vibe to, which I think the crowd greatly appreciated. A lot of their songs drifted into a purely instrumental verse, where you could tell that all the members of the band were getting lost in the music, vibing out with everyone there. The Mission Creek website described these guys as “canonical rock ‘n’ roll and contemporary indie rock” which I would definitely say is accurate. I would say it leans more on the “psych rock” with the way that guitar riffs and intense heart-racing drums would detach you from reality.

Overall, I think it was a good listen from a good local band. It will definitely be worth your time to check them out.

Up next was Oakland, California’s very own Jay Som. When I read on the Mission Creek website that her genre is described as “woozy”, I was like…huh? What does that even mean??? But in all honesty, I think “woozy” kind of translate into chill rock. The guitars and drums are upbeat, yet not overpowering. I think that lead singer Melina’s voice is what makes this sound work so well for them — her voice is mellow and soothing, and paired with the instruments, woozy seems like an appropriate word to describe this genre.

I would say their first time playing in Iowa City was good and successful. More crowd members came to stand up next to the stage, clearly vibing with the band. The music crescendoed, with the drums, guitar, and bass all in unison, making for a really good listen.

To “Som” it up (#sorrynotsorry for that terrible pun), I would definitely say this was my favorite performance of the night and I will definitely be listening to this artist some more.

Last but certainly not least, Preoccupations took the stage. They started off with their song “Anxiety”, and before I knew it the area surrounding the stage was packed. Lead singer Matt Flegel had a very distinctive voice — if I’m being completely honest, it reminded me of when I was a kid and would speak into a fan, which gave off that vibrating robot sound. I personally liked it, because feeling the vibrations felt as if I myself was singing the song.

By the second song, they were getting into more the post-punk genre as they incorporated more yelling/screaming. One song sounded like they were a punk Mumford & Sons. I thought their sound was really cool — they are definitely the future of punk. With the help of a keyboard and some computerized synth-y sounds, they were able to turn ordinary head-banging punk into borderline psychedelic-futuristic punk, which is kind of refreshing to hear in the punk industry, as sometimes purely punk music can seem monotonous.

One cool thing that I thought was really cool was seeing the opening acts in the crowd jamming out to Preoccupations just like the rest of us. It reminded me that even our favorite artists, no matter how big or small, still look up to other artists.

Their sound definitely isn’t something that I would describe as “chill” — you would probably have difficulties studying or falling asleep to this. This music demands your attention, creeps up in your cerebellum and forces your body to move along to the beat. It was almost impossible to sit still during this set, and I think almost everybody in the room was at the very least nodding along.

As the night came to an end, the band went out with the longest outro of my concert-going life — it had to be at least 10 minutes of pure instrumentals. But once they hopped off stage and the house lights came up, I knew that I would be heading home and making Spotify playlists with some of their stuff in it. They were definitely worth checking out.

The post Mission Creek: Preoccupations, Jay Som, and Anthony Worden @ The Mill 4/4/17 appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Fire Sale is a band hailing from Davenport, Iowa. Featuring a wide range of sounds and styles, they’re the type of band you’d be forgiven for not knowing, but should definitely be on your radar. Their newest release Furry Noises will motivate you to keep your ear to the ground for any news of upcoming gigs. The band has played various Iowa City venues before, and have tromped throughout Iowa with their signature blend of reggae, funk, and rock.

The album begins with an upbeat track, and one of my personal favorites, “Don’t Ya”. The song is the perfect introduction to the band, and gives you an immediate sample of their sound. It begins with short, tight guitar riffing that breaks into the groove of the song, showcasing the various layers of instruments. The drums, bass, guitar, vocals, and horns all harmonize together perfectly, each with their own distinct riffs that meld seamlessly into the groove. Like The Commitments playing Coachella, the soulful horns trade solos with the guitars, much like a live jazz band. The focus of the music is definitely on the instrumentals, which is reflected in the song lengths. Most songs hover around the 5-6 minute mark, allowing plenty of time for the groove to breathe and grow as the songs go on.

The album then moves on to “Roads”, a slightly more relaxed and groovy beat. I was immediately reminded of the classic 70’s era blaxploitation film soundtracks by the wah-ing guitar tones. The band shows off their versatility with quick rap-like vocals that turn on a dime into slow and sexy breakdowns.

As the album progresses, different instruments take center stage on different songs. In “Keep in Touch”, Brady Stender’s saxes interplay perfectly, resulting in a complex and rich sound that never goes overboard or becomes distracting. In “Us or Them”, Max Lipnick and Colton Menke’s guitar work creates a Latin pop-esque feel with hints of Santana rock. “Stay” has an unmistakable reggae feel. The focused vocals give it the most traditionally pop sound on the album, making it the easiest to listen to. “Hot Damn Jam” follows it up in the exact opposite way with Joe Verstraete’s percussion work leading the instrumental jam.

While the lyrics are never the main focus of the music, there are definitely some songs with that have unique lyrical content. “Technology” features a more rigid, slow beat complemented by a bluesy vocal deliverance. This old school feel contrasts with the lyrics, which focus on modern technology. Lines like “no need for emotion, all I gotta do is hit send” and “She hopes there’s wi-fi in this afterlife” create an interesting dichotomy. Another favorite is “Edison Invented the Night Life”, which focuses on the life and work of Thomas Edison. Set to a more honkey tonk beat, the lines mention the famous inventor’s various accomplishments and tireless work ethic.

Overall, I really enjoyed this album. Fire Sale sound like real pros, and I feel like I’ve found my new favorite band from a summer festival. You can tell these guys are killer live performers. I certainly hope to catch them someday soon. The instrumental focus and long song length may not be for everyone’s personal listening taste, but Furry Noises is perfect for a chill dance party or a summertime BBQ.

“Furry Noises keep your body moving” indeed.

You can download Furry Noises for free, or a name-your-price donation, at their bandcamp page.

Check out the album below:

The post Album Review: “Furry Noises” by Fire Sale appeared first on KRUI Radio.