13
Apr
2004
Opening acts for major concerts are hit-or-miss affairs - they're often just résumé-builders for the undercard bands, because most of the audience is still going through the security check - but here's a piece of advice: Do not miss The Mars Volta at Sunday's A Perfect Circle concert at The Mark.
(Consider this a second chance: The Mars Volta also opened last summer's Red Hot Chili Peppers/Queens of the Stone Age concert.)
The Mars Volta was formed from the shards of At the Drive-In, and it has all the trappings of progressive rock. To start, there's the high-pitched, careening singing of Cedric Zavala. Then there are the cryptic and poseur-intellectual song titles, enough to turn off anybody who doesn't worship at the altar of Yes and Rush; "Son et Lumiere," "Inertiatic ESP," and "Roulette Dares (The Haunt of)" kick off the band's debut album, De-loused in the Comatorium.
Oh, but there's more. It's a concept album. Four tracks top seven minutes. "Cicatriz ESP" is 12-plus and features something from just about every phase of King Crimson's career. The sometimes-heavy keyboards bring to mind the masturbatory cheese of Rick Wakeman.
What's astonishing is that De-loused in the Comatorium actually doesn't feel like prog rock. As with Tool's Ænima and Queens of the Stone Age's Songs for the Deaf, the album is clearly of a genre but towers above it. The Mars Volta's CD, like those two other records, quite simply opens the mind to the possibilities of rock music; it makes the best of its day seem timid, dull, and overly reliant on formula.
De-loused blends adventurous metal, jazzy motifs, and spacey explorations in compositions that are meticulous, dense, and clearly calculated but seem reckless and improvisational. "Inertiatic ESP" is grooving in the midst of its circular chorus when the whole things slips off the track into a quiet detour. A thunderous bass rumble invades "Roulette Dares (The Haunt of)," and these are but two examples of the sonic touches stuffed into every song. Each listen provides new joys.
They key to The Mars Volta's success is its passion. If King Crimson and, to a lesser degree, Tool, have taught us anything, it's that experimental and interesting rock music is often too precise and cerebral, and that formal and technical innovation and prowess frequently come at the expense of expressiveness and heart. The Mars Volta, on this album at least, never comes close to that trap, buoyed by Zavala's un-self-conscious voice. The singing, while not technically impressive, is so emotionally direct and clear that its shortcomings fall away.
The Mars Volta and A Perfect Circle perform Sunday, April 18, at The Mark. The show starts at 8 p.m., and tickets are $29.50.
Hollow at QC Live
The local foursome Hollow has been trying to make a name for itself in recent months, and on the strength of its album Mesh, which was released earlier this year, the group might be on to something. The music is pretty firmly in the emo metal camp, but within that formula it's pretty successful.
Singer Jose Urquiza has a hoarse intensity that carries the band through its less-inspired songs, but those moments aren't frequent enough to merit much complaint. Frequently, Hollow comes up with a good instrumental hook to anchor the songs - such as the drum, bass, and guitar interplay on "Empty," or the unexpected guitar flourish that punctuates "Everything."
And while the 10 tracks on Mesh are more competent than memorable, the band is easily as good as a lot of the similar bands getting airplay and big record deals.
Hollow will be headlining a show on Saturday, April 17, at QC Live, with 30 Seconds of Shame, SkinTight, and The Millions. Cover is $5. The band will also be participating in a Battle of the Bands on May 1 at 3rd Street Live in Cedar Rapids.
Mesh is available at local Co-op stores. Hollow's Web site is (http://www.hollowqc.com).
Mike & Amy Finders Band, Friday at Bent River
Iowa City's Mike & Amy Finders Band will be playing at 8 p.m. on Friday at Bent River Brewing Company in Moline, and along with the terrific new album Where You Are, the group is bringing with it some newfound respect. The CD's "Adeline," written by Mike Finders, was chosen as one of three finalists (from 188 entries) in the bluegrass category of the Chris Austin Songwriting Competition. There's more information on the band's Web site: (http://www.mikeandamyfinders.com).
(Consider this a second chance: The Mars Volta also opened last summer's Red Hot Chili Peppers/Queens of the Stone Age concert.)
The Mars Volta was formed from the shards of At the Drive-In, and it has all the trappings of progressive rock. To start, there's the high-pitched, careening singing of Cedric Zavala. Then there are the cryptic and poseur-intellectual song titles, enough to turn off anybody who doesn't worship at the altar of Yes and Rush; "Son et Lumiere," "Inertiatic ESP," and "Roulette Dares (The Haunt of)" kick off the band's debut album, De-loused in the Comatorium.
Oh, but there's more. It's a concept album. Four tracks top seven minutes. "Cicatriz ESP" is 12-plus and features something from just about every phase of King Crimson's career. The sometimes-heavy keyboards bring to mind the masturbatory cheese of Rick Wakeman.
What's astonishing is that De-loused in the Comatorium actually doesn't feel like prog rock. As with Tool's Ænima and Queens of the Stone Age's Songs for the Deaf, the album is clearly of a genre but towers above it. The Mars Volta's CD, like those two other records, quite simply opens the mind to the possibilities of rock music; it makes the best of its day seem timid, dull, and overly reliant on formula.
De-loused blends adventurous metal, jazzy motifs, and spacey explorations in compositions that are meticulous, dense, and clearly calculated but seem reckless and improvisational. "Inertiatic ESP" is grooving in the midst of its circular chorus when the whole things slips off the track into a quiet detour. A thunderous bass rumble invades "Roulette Dares (The Haunt of)," and these are but two examples of the sonic touches stuffed into every song. Each listen provides new joys.
They key to The Mars Volta's success is its passion. If King Crimson and, to a lesser degree, Tool, have taught us anything, it's that experimental and interesting rock music is often too precise and cerebral, and that formal and technical innovation and prowess frequently come at the expense of expressiveness and heart. The Mars Volta, on this album at least, never comes close to that trap, buoyed by Zavala's un-self-conscious voice. The singing, while not technically impressive, is so emotionally direct and clear that its shortcomings fall away.
The Mars Volta and A Perfect Circle perform Sunday, April 18, at The Mark. The show starts at 8 p.m., and tickets are $29.50.
Hollow at QC Live
The local foursome Hollow has been trying to make a name for itself in recent months, and on the strength of its album Mesh, which was released earlier this year, the group might be on to something. The music is pretty firmly in the emo metal camp, but within that formula it's pretty successful.
Singer Jose Urquiza has a hoarse intensity that carries the band through its less-inspired songs, but those moments aren't frequent enough to merit much complaint. Frequently, Hollow comes up with a good instrumental hook to anchor the songs - such as the drum, bass, and guitar interplay on "Empty," or the unexpected guitar flourish that punctuates "Everything."
And while the 10 tracks on Mesh are more competent than memorable, the band is easily as good as a lot of the similar bands getting airplay and big record deals.
Hollow will be headlining a show on Saturday, April 17, at QC Live, with 30 Seconds of Shame, SkinTight, and The Millions. Cover is $5. The band will also be participating in a Battle of the Bands on May 1 at 3rd Street Live in Cedar Rapids.
Mesh is available at local Co-op stores. Hollow's Web site is (http://www.hollowqc.com).
Mike & Amy Finders Band, Friday at Bent River
Iowa City's Mike & Amy Finders Band will be playing at 8 p.m. on Friday at Bent River Brewing Company in Moline, and along with the terrific new album Where You Are, the group is bringing with it some newfound respect. The CD's "Adeline," written by Mike Finders, was chosen as one of three finalists (from 188 entries) in the bluegrass category of the Chris Austin Songwriting Competition. There's more information on the band's Web site: (http://www.mikeandamyfinders.com).
