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There is nothing in the world of live music so tragic as
an eclectic rock band confined to a forty-five minute opening set.
Conversely, there is nothing more beautiful or enjoyable than the same
band in an environment free of the proverbial ticking clock. So it
is indeed a great pleasure to announce the arrival of "Evening Eclectic,"
a weekly residency for one of LA's most promising improvisational
troupes (some people call them Telepathy) in the Alterknit Lounge of the
Knitting Factory West.
For two sets every Thursday night in February (7, 14, 21, & 28), Telepathy
will bring their confusion fusion front and center while musically
experimenting on these nights with classical guitar players, sultry jazz
vocalists, a string quartet, and even former Zappa-guitarist, Mike Keneally
(on the 2/21!-not to be missed!), joining in the fray.
Judging by a preview of this musical experiment on the crisp winter night
that was January 24th at the Knit, this is something you have to come see.
Living up to the moniker of the evening, Telepathy split their performance
on this night between two distinct identities: slowly warming the room with
a set of almost acoustic numbers, then bringing the pain with a smoking
electric bombardment.
Highlights from the first set included a moody rendition of Radiohead's
"Exit Music (For A Film)" and a smooth blending of old-school fan favorite
"Authority" and "Campfire Girls" by Stone Temple Pilots. With singer/
guitarist Todd Lieberman strumming a rhythmic acoustic, multi-
instrumentalist Robert Branch took the lead on keys for most of the
sparse jamming of the set, which culminated in a wicked, high-energy
take on Dave Matthews' "#41."
After a break just long enough for a cigarette and a
visit to your friend's car, Telepathy returned to the stage, fully plugged-in.
Isaac Slape's slap-happy funk proceeded to hold down the groove of
Stevie Wonder's "Maybe Your Baby," with the sublime guest vocals of
band friends, Jeffrey Conner and Anita Vasan adding just the right touch of
soul. From there on in, the show was nothing but smoke.
The impeccable Mr. Branch, who had admitted to
being a little under the weather before showtime, never ceases to amaze
with his virtuosity on both keys and guitar. But on this night, he was utterly
shredding on every single solo, in particular during a fever-pitch take on
his "Robert's Blues," which was aided by the unique stylings of chromatic
harmonica player, Marcus Milius sitting in on this one.
Drummer Kevin Dooley provided a solid backbone for
the band's travels into the unknown, adding particularly fierce drum fills to
the end of "Rain," a brand-spanking new original that already feels right at
home in the band's repertoire. Not to be outdone, Mr. Lieberman did
some regulating of his own, tearing down the walls of tonality like a young
John Scofield on the aforementioned "Blues" and during a fierce trading of
licks with his fellow PRS-abuser, Mr. Branch, on "Beautiful Oblivion."
In contrast to the intensity of most of the electric set, its peak came during
a spacey jam on the tail end of jazz saxophonist, Kenny Garrett's, "Sing
A Song Of Song." With Slape and Branch layering hypnotic effects,
Lieberman eeked out the tune's melody with his octave shifter pushed
upwards, notes falling into the ears of the captivated audience like drops
of water from a leaky faucet in Heaven. Then, as if it were just to make
everyone's smile grow a little wider, he began to scat the same line over
his gentle picking. And just when you were beginning to think twice about
drinking the Kool Aid that weird lookin' guy all but poured down your throat
at set break, the hoppin' twang of bluegrass erupted from the stage, and
Woody Guthrie's "Dust Bowl Blues" brought a chorus of yee-hah's from
the exuberant crowd.
The set closed out with another epic jam on a Telepathy signature tune,
"Do Yourself A Favor," which in turn fell into a slow and sultry take on
the Beatles, "Come Together," which in turn melted into a coda
loop duel between Branch and Slape as the band left the stage.
If you like music, if you like good music, if you like
different music, do yourself a favor and GO SEE LIVE TELEPATHY!!! Each
night of "Evening Eclectic" in February will feature a different guest artist
or special treat. And it's only five bucks! This is the new scene, Los
Angeles. Love your local bands. Peace from the frontlines.
Peter Allen, a.k.a. MC Voltaire
JamBase | City of Lost Angels
Go See Live Music
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