The Lounge itself is relatively small. But what it lacks in size, the club more than makes up for it in charm. Yes, there’s a bar and a pool table, a television and plenty of places to sit. There’s even an awesome jukebox that carries everything from rap to alternative to classic rock. But what I like the most about the Lounge is the closeness you feel with the performers on the stage. The only thing that’s miked to the PA is vocals (which are mixed behind the bar) and the stage itself couldn’t be more than a foot off the ground—giving any performance an at “at home” feel.
Druggist
Plugged in and alive with sound, Druggist set the evening off to an incredible start. Led by singer/guitarist and overall nice guy, Blake Cormier, the band was able to effortlessly transcend any concrete musical definition or style. Of course, indie rock would probably be as good a label as any, but there was so much more to their sound. Listening to them go from strength to strength, I heard elements of (good ol’) rock and roll, alternative, and even a hint of country. My favorite song of the set, “I’ve Been Going Crazy” shows that they’re also fans of a good pop song as well. Lead guitarist Zach Dunlap was also a lot fun to watch as he effortlessly weaved his leads and counterpoint rhythms throughout each song.
k.o.confetti
k.o.confetti was next and I was simply blown away. A train wreck (as in “Love Rhymes With…”) of visual and musical styles, the band played a chaotic mix of punk, indie rock, and threw in the proverbial kitchen sink (I even thought I heard manic drummer Roberto Scamado play a rumba beat for a couple of seconds). And as if that weren’t enough, the band kept the casual listener on their toes by switching rhythms, tempos, and styles mid-song and between choruses, making things hard to describe and sometimes a little hard to follow. But singer Skokibot knew the way and perfectly rode the wave of chaos beneath her (I like her best on that song where she ranted for a verse or two) and traded vocals with bassist Evil Ed, who was dressed in true Psychobilly fashion.
Big Soy
It was finally time for the band of the hour, Big Soy, to take the stage. Smartly dressed, the duo was obviously thrilled at the support of their fans and friends alike that came to cheer them on. Wasting little time throughout the evening with needless bantering, singer/guitarist John Edds (a rock and roll antihero if ever there was one) and drummer Adam White played a majority of songs off the new CD. They don’t have a bass player. But with Edds’s open, droning chords played through a semi-hollow (completely hollow?) bodied electric guitar, he seemed to fill up the musical spectrum nicely enough on his own. White was more than imaginative behind the kid as he kept the beat steady only to toss in at will some tasty fills in sync with the guitar, making for a very infectious sound.
The big finish...
There were several highlights throughout the evening. My favorite song, “Papasan” had an infectious mix of droning guitar and rock beats, coupled with Edds’s singing his own private revelations about the world. I would go so far as to say this song clearly defines the unique sound of Big Soy (let’s agree to disagree). A song that really seemed to strike a chord with the audience (among others) was “The Noise You Make,” where a small but very dedicated number of audience members sang along with the middle verse with much enthusiasm and glee. I missed the title of the final song (I don’t think it’s on the CD), but it underlined Big Soy's flair for subtle dramatics. The song, starting off as a lofty dreamscape punctuated with the bells of White’s cymbals, quickly segued into a monolith of distorted guitar and feedback. With White flailing about the drums but keeping time, Edds stepped onto his (small) amp and let the tensions build before he leaped back onto the stage. He then haphazardly dropped (and broke) his guitar, signaling the end of the song and the show.
Show dates:
Druggist: November 1 at the The Sanctuary, November 15 at Carousel Lounge in Austin
k.o.confetti: Evil Ed told me they're playing this Friday at the Lounge and another gig on Halloween, but you best write them to make sure where and when.
Big Soy: November 1 at The Sanctuary, November 5 at Atomix, November 15 at Carousel Lounge in Austin, December 8 at Atomix