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Columbus, Ohio is not consistently a hotbed of live music, often
getting passed over by bands for gigs in Cincinnati and Cleveland.
However, there is a strong contingent of music lovers here, and we
were rewarded last week with a double-billing show featuring Particle
supported by the local act Guest. This was Particle's 1st venture
into the heartland of Ohio, and with Guest serving up some hot shows
as of late for the local set, I swung on down to Little Brothers for
what I hoped would prove to be a great weekday night of music.
I want to start by giving a nod of approval to the Columbus scene for
showing up in such great numbers on a Monday night during Spring Break
for most of the schools in the area, especially for Particle, who is
virtually unknown in these parts. The show started out with a 1hr 15
min set by Guest, who I will take a moment to comment on for those not
living in the Ohio area (which is most of you). Guest falls into a
category that I am finding many bands in these days,
where they are continuously improving and morphing, finding new ways to please
their audiences.
While it is the music that brings us together night after night, there are intangibles, such as the light show, that
can significantly add to a show's appeal. Guest has recently
incorporated an intelligent lighting system into their performances,
which I feel has added a great new dimension to their shows.
Guest seems to draw on a wide variety of influences, often lurking in
the mysterious and dark realms reminiscent of early Pink Floyd, yet
they find a way to meld this style with a good deal of tight and funky
grooves featuring great interplay between the members in the band. The
opening set featured 6 songs mostly originals and a
stretched out rendition of Peter Gabriel's "Digging in the Dirt".
Speaking of Peter Gabriel, if I were to lean towards another
potentially strong influence for Guest's style, I would refer you to
the music of early Genesis (featuring Gabriel).
Guest is comprised of a tight backbone in bassist Mark Montrella and
drummer John Garrett, who lay down consistently solid rhythms. Both
of these guys seem to come out ready to play and rock steady
throughout Guest's shows. However, in my opinion it is how the rest
of a group works its way around the foundation that makes or breaks a
band's vibe. Guitarists Drew Santer and J.R. Hecker work very well
together, layering their parts, while both also find time to throw out
searing guitar riffs along the way. The group is rounded out by
keyboard leader John Hruby, who provides many great flavors ranging
from tight and funky, to electronic spooky washes of sound that can
quickly beckon the dark side. Keep your eyes open for the band Guest,
as they continue to push their musical limits; they are beginning to
venture into new markets and can be seen at a number of music
festivals this summer. For more information, go to goguest.com.
Following Guest came Particle's first show in the Buckeye State, which was met with a warm welcome. Considering that most of the crowd was
still in the house at 2:30 am when the show ended (on Monday, mind
you), I would say that the "Space Porn" was certainly well received. While I
am not that acquainted with Particle's music, seeing them in Chicago
the weekend before this gig coupled with this Ohio show has given me a
sense of what they are trying to do onstage.
I enjoy a good crescendo jam as much as the next person, and let me
tell you that these guys definitely paid attention to their music
teachers on the day that they covered this musical style. I find the
newly-defined genre of "Space-Porn" to be most appropriately tagged
to the developmental phases of Particle's jams. The energy that
Particle builds as they progress through their segments brought to mind an
analogy inspired by the band's logo, which is that of an atom with
electrons in motion. Particle's jams pick up momentum in the manner
that electrons will accelerate around the nucleus of an atom as it is
heated. Imagine putting a "Marshmallow Peep" in the microwave on
high for 8 minutes. . . Serious meltdowns are imminent. I was really
impressed with how tight this band was considering their relatively
young tenure as a group. All four of the members played with a fury
that is not often seen on a consistent basis these days, and the way
that they push their improvs made for a long set of getting down.
While I know each person gravitates to different elements within the
live music scene, I am one who enjoys music with tension and
anticipation wrapped into the weave of the musical web. Both Guest
and Particle proved on this night to be capable of guiding the
emotional undertone of their sets across a wide spectrum. Guest and
Particle provided a great 1 - 2 punch on a night that seemed to mark
the beginning of a new "season" in the world of music-going. Bring on
Jazzfest, and then the summer music festival circuit!
Adam Davidoff
JamBase | Midwest Correspondent
Go See Live Music!
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