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It's pretty rare that I go to a
show and am surprised. It's even rarer that I'm surprised AND very impressed.
Awhile back I'd received a demo packet for Anatomy of a Ghost, and The Zero
Complex. What I heard wasn't hot. It was good, better than the usual demo
stuff I listen to, but not excellent. I chalked this up to them being demos,
and unpolished product. That being said I was still looking forward to their
recent live show at players, but not expecting much. Players is a sports bar
here in Bend, with a tiny stage, and a tinier floor. Usually a pool table is
butting right up against the floor, surrounded by assorted barfly's trying to
play around the people watching the show. Not the place I'd expect to see a
couple of hardcore bands on a Friday night.
The
Zero Complex was up first, and they were great. Much better than I was
expecting. This four piece plays melodic hardcore with some screaming vocals,
and occasional piano bits. They played a really long set for an opening band,
an I wasn't disappointed in that at all. Perhaps they've improved since the
recording I heard, perhaps the recording was just of bad quality, whatever it
is I'll be attending their next show. Bend band 42 was up next, and they were
well received by the crowd. Their sound could probably be best described as
harder rock/metal with some funk influences. They seemed like a strange middle
band to be sandwiched between two hardcore bands, but diversity is good. While
they sound pretty good 42 just isn't my cup of tea. The crowd seemed to really
like them though. They're what I expect to see in a setting like Players.
Anatomy
of a Ghost was next. Anatomy of a Ghost was insane. Anatomy of a Ghost put
on the best performance I've ever seen in a bar. They started out fairly calm,
and I wondered if they'd be a let down. Soon though they got up to speed, and
did not slow down until their chaotic climax. AOAG plays post hardcore stuff,
or whatever they're calling that genre these days, and they play it really
well, with an energy that just has to be seen. They made full use of the tiny
space allotted for them to play in, bouncing all over the stage, the drum set,
the people standing in front, and the assorted equipment on the sides. Mic
stands rarely lasted an entire song before being thrown to the rear of the
stage in a jumble of metal and cords. Monitors were knocked over. The singer
flailed around the room swinging the mic over his head while one of the
guitarists leaned back limbo style to play his instrument. The lead would push
through the crowd, and then switch sides to do it again, only to find a table
in his way. Instead of stopping he jumped on top of it and continued the
performance. Superb stuff that had me grinning the entire time. The final song
saw him throw his mic down, jump on a table, run across two more, bounce off
the pool table and continue out the front door of the bar. Meanwhile his band mates
finished their set in a frenzy of instrument playing and drum set smashing,
colliding into things, and winding down with members laying on the floor
exhausted and in agony. Agony because one of the guitarists had fallen into
the tuning pegs on the drums and punctured his back. Last I heard he was
getting a couple of stitches for it (Update!!! He had to get 6 stiches.
Damn!). Overall an excellent show, and I
HIGHLY recommend that any of you in the Bend area come down to the Community
Center to check out Anatomy and the Zero Complex on the 29th of January when
they return to Bend for AOAG's cd release show.
