Bowery hosted three very distinctive groups last night. Showcasing incredible, intricate guitar arrangements, songs rooted in bass elements, and an array of sounds, each band, whether I enjoyed their individual musical styles or not, was certainly unique and a strong match in the overall lineup.
Making their New York debut, Gypsyblood drew in one of the largest crowds I’ve seen for an out-of-town opening act. Driven by the release of their first full-length Cold in the Guestway, the Chicago band took the stage with an excited demeanor that flowed through to their performance. Though a bit heavy-handed at times for my taste, the bass rhythms and deep vocals meshed well with the quick guitar picking.
Delicate Steve was perhaps the biggest surprise of the night. Relying on a variety of instrumentation to accomplish their sound, the band manically blended guitar, piano, percussion, and other, less-common sounds to create a soundscape that was as enjoyable to navigate as it was challenging to interpret. Though much of their music created the impression of chaos, they continuously revealed deeper melodies and cascading rhythms that grounded each song. I did, though, find myself craving more explosive peaks and more expressive lows. Without lyrical content to overtly convey anything, the music itself needed to be a stronger vessel for meaning.
Though I’ve seen Maps & Atlases before, I found the performance as impressive and fresh as my first experience. Surrounded by the distinctive, beautiful vocals of Dave Davison, each song moved seamlessly from strong melodic moments to those demonstrating the enormous instrumental talent of the performers. The Math Rock elements that this band incorporates are intricate without becoming overwhelming, which is perhaps the reason for the continuous growth and fervor of their fanbase. With avante garde percussive beats, complex guitar tapping, and the folk influence in Davison’s voice, Maps & Atlases is the personification of genre blending to create something more striking and outstanding.
