Skip to main content
Source Tags & Codes
Worlds Apart
So Divided
Worlds Apart
bold
Although I didn't really move during the Blood Brother's set, I was physically tired afterward. I think the combination of Morgan Henderson's impossibly low bass, and the general intensity of the Seattle five-piece actually vibrated my body and caused me to tense up, leaving me worn out after about an hour of music. I guess you could say the music "moved" me.
I honestly don't know how the long-bearded bass player gets that more-tangible-than-audible bass sound, but he does it really casually, peacefully strumming his four strings into chords you could probably feel out on West Burnside.
Drummer Mark Gajadhar (pictured left) can also be incredibly explosive when he wants to be, and he only wants to be at exactly the right times. The power of the BB rhythm section peaked on "Lift the Veil, Kiss the Tank." I laughed out loud at the end of it because Gajadhar and Henderson had eased into their intensity and built it up so smoothly that I hadn't notice how engrossed I was in the low tones and the hundreds-of-hits-per-minute toms until they let up.
Although I was little disappointed at vocalist Johnny Whitney's failure to hit certain high notes that I've come to love on the records (he simply distorted his voice instead)—like those on "Ambulance Vs. Ambulance"—I well enjoyed the dynamic of the Blood Brothers' two frontmen onstage. Whitney—who is purposefully and brilliantly off-key all the time—struts about the stage effeminately posing like some sort of peacock in heat (pictured here),
while Jordan Blilie—the lead screamer, if you will— is more reserved though often front and center and, probably for this reason, a crowd favorite. One member of the predominantly teenage crowd yelled, "Jordan, take off your pants!" To which he simply said "Nah," without looking up. It's highly entertaining to watch Blilie shrug off the attention that Whitney seems to crave and revel in.
The Crystal was only about half full, and as soon as the Blood Brothers finished there was a complete change of personnel in the audience. Those under 18 all bought matching Blood Brothers shirts and made haste out the door while the bar section trickled toward the front of the stage. As Trail of Dead started up, I didn't recognize one crowd-member from the Blood Brothers' set. I saw the Austin 5- or 9- or something-piece play a few indie rock-ish tunes with the guitar-playing singer guy, and then the drummer-singer guy led some more rocking tunes. Then there were some experimental-ish tunes, and although I was impressed by the breadth the set was covering, it certainly wasn't vibrating my knees, which were tired of standing, so I yawned and went home.
I honestly don't know how the long-bearded bass player gets that more-tangible-than-audible bass sound, but he does it really casually, peacefully strumming his four strings into chords you could probably feel out on West Burnside.
Drummer Mark Gajadhar (pictured left) can also be incredibly explosive when he wants to be, and he only wants to be at exactly the right times. The power of the BB rhythm section peaked on "Lift the Veil, Kiss the Tank." I laughed out loud at the end of it because Gajadhar and Henderson had eased into their intensity and built it up so smoothly that I hadn't notice how engrossed I was in the low tones and the hundreds-of-hits-per-minute toms until they let up.Although I was little disappointed at vocalist Johnny Whitney's failure to hit certain high notes that I've come to love on the records (he simply distorted his voice instead)—like those on "Ambulance Vs. Ambulance"—I well enjoyed the dynamic of the Blood Brothers' two frontmen onstage. Whitney—who is purposefully and brilliantly off-key all the time—struts about the stage effeminately posing like some sort of peacock in heat (pictured here),
while Jordan Blilie—the lead screamer, if you will— is more reserved though often front and center and, probably for this reason, a crowd favorite. One member of the predominantly teenage crowd yelled, "Jordan, take off your pants!" To which he simply said "Nah," without looking up. It's highly entertaining to watch Blilie shrug off the attention that Whitney seems to crave and revel in.The Crystal was only about half full, and as soon as the Blood Brothers finished there was a complete change of personnel in the audience. Those under 18 all bought matching Blood Brothers shirts and made haste out the door while the bar section trickled toward the front of the stage. As Trail of Dead started up, I didn't recognize one crowd-member from the Blood Brothers' set. I saw the Austin 5- or 9- or something-piece play a few indie rock-ish tunes with the guitar-playing singer guy, and then the drummer-singer guy led some more rocking tunes. Then there were some experimental-ish tunes, and although I was impressed by the breadth the set was covering, it certainly wasn't vibrating my knees, which were tired of standing, so I yawned and went home.
Midnight Vultures
good
WWeek 2015