Last Wednesday at The Republic, Radio Rubber Room gave us two bands, the likes of which I was beginning to worry did not exist anymore in this fair city; Lightfields and Basmati, each uniquely raucous and gritty, but most importantly they sounded natural – as though they weren’t forcing something inorganic.
Last Wednesday at The Republic, Radio Rubber Room gave us two bands, the likes of which I was beginning to worry did not exist anymore in this fair city; Lightfields and Basmati, each uniquely raucous and gritty, but most importantly they sounded natural – as though they weren’t forcing something inorganic.
Lightfields began sound checking with full chunk distortion, bass included – this drew a reflexive grin on my face. Then I took notice of the sax-man on the side, with tambourine slung on his arm, and I uttered a reflexive “hells yeah.”
These guys have a knack for the simple structure of a song, made dynamic by a drawn-out melody sequence; the long-phrase melody that clings to your brain. It’s a melody that could almost be considered a progression, but it hovers independently from the rest of the song. This style of song writing, paired with front man Coldon Martin’s reverby vocals, the strumming patterns, had The Replacements on my brain the entire time.
And while the guys in Lightfields may not realize, or care to realize it, they definitely have a bit of a Psychedelic Furs reminiscence as well. I tend to like all the strange and wonderful forms that post-punk can take, and I wish that it were a compliment to say that something “really grinded my gears”, because that’s what Lightfields did to my gears, but in a good way.
I got a serious kick out of Basmati. If there’s one thing I absolutely cherish about a band’s live performance, it’s when I get the impression that they really do not give one shit about what the audience thinks. They’re just up there doing their thing, which in this case happened to be pretty awesome. Front man Brandon Graig has an uncanny resemblance to Milo Aukerman of the Descendents, and his voice has the natural guttural growl to match. Whether true or not, he plays guitar like he’s been rattling off those rolling up-rolling down Beatles riffs since his youth. To boot, he borders on inventive with his use of effects, never making them the star of the show, but using them as a cohesive agent between melody and structural movement.
In a trio, the bassist’s role transforms completely. If the melody of the bass doesn’t work hand in hand with all other elements, most of the vocals are lost and wandering. Suffice it to say, Basmati has their shit worked out. I’m always more compelled by a band when I can’t pin them down. Basmati aren’t easy to pigeonhole–they’re just good. I’m pretty sure I’ll have to root around to find out where they play next, but root around I shall.
This Wednesday at The Republic, Radio Rubber Room offers up One Night Standard, a 90s-ish prog-rock outfit with a goofy sense of style (but don’t get me wrong, they thrash pretty good); and The Banduras, which Sounds of RVA defines as “the cure for the common classic rock.” Well, thank God; I knew there was a cure out there somewhere, and it happens to be at The Republic! 10pm.
https://www.facebook.com/events/643061952387031/
Words by Dan Mulrooney
Images by Tyler M. Conta
