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Hairy Apes BMX | 2.09.04 | The Top Hat | Missoula, MT
The Hairy Apes Butt Moving Experience (AKA Hairy Apes BMX) played their second show in a two-night run on Monday in Missoula, Montana at The Top Hat. Although Sunday night's turnout was not record topping, it was Missoula's talent for light speed word-of-mouth that made Hairy Apes BMX's show on Monday a rocking night.
Mike Dillon by Jeremy Scott |
The atmosphere was one of a haunted luau where salsa and meringue were fused together with the hard beat of electric strumming and striking. At some points during the night, listening to the Hairy Apes was like walking into a full-scale drum circle where everyone is grooving, only to be shaken out of the melodic tempo with some pounding bass lines and ear-piercing synth. But nonetheless, The Top Hat vibrated with the deep and at times dysfunctional sound of the band members taking their instruments to the furthest points possible. The Hairy Apes' jungle fever-infused rhythm spoke to every part of the body, moving and isolating each region with mesmerizing beats that flowed from soft and simple to intense, chest-pounding pulses. After several songs the audience was finally enticed onto the dance floor through the band's hypnotic urging. Like a snake charmer in an Indian flea market, the band teased and taunted their audience with beats that lured them out of their typical expectations of what out of town guests usually bring.
JJ Richards by Jeremy Scott |
The uniqueness of the band is due to their ability to effortlessly flow from one genre to another, melding old styles with new, creating out-of-this-world riffs. The Hairy Apes cannot be placed in one sole genre; rather they are a fusion of many types, from Latinesque rhythm to African funk to homegrown rock. With Mike Dillon (Frog Brigade, Critters Buggin) on vibes, percussion, and vocals, E. Clarke on keyboard and electronics, John Speice on drums and percussion, and JJ Richards on bass and vocals, the band found a way to push the boundaries of music-making. The Hairy Apes were definitely danceable, keeping the voodoo lounge theme alive with their infusion of Caribbean soul and hard bass lines. The blending of solid rock motifs with funky bass set against the screaming synth and keyboard made for a hair-raising experience.
Throughout the show people swayed to the sultry voice of bass player JJ Richards as he belted out both English and Spanish vocals that made even the toughest guys shake their booties. At times, when he sang falsetto, the strident playing of Clarke's keyboards and the manic gusto of Dillon's percussion tended to drown out his words. During these instances Richards was hard to hear through the rest of the music. Yet, when singing in a lower pitch, especially in the Latin inspired "Situboquita Fuera," he hit it right on, reminiscent of a sexy Spanish Marvin Gaye.
By Jeremy Scott |
Just when the band's melodic percussion seemed to be heading towards trance, the bass player and keyboardist jumped in, creating a barrage of noise that was held together by Speice's uncanny ability to hear his own beat and maintain direction through it all. Keyboardist Clarke's forte was one of ear-piercing grooves joined with infectious melodies that smacked up against the hard pounding percussion of Mike Dillon. When Dillon belted out his lyrics, heads bounced in time as he pelted the audience with his hip-hop-inspired vocals. Throughout several songs the percussionist's rap-infused style had many elements of Les Claypool's twangy sound, fused with the head bumping rhythm of the Beastie Boys. Yet, for all those who tend to shy away from the nasal vocals and harsh pulsing of Claypool, never fear, because Dillon successfully softened the feel with spine tingling vibraphone rhythms that made every beat entrancing and impossible to ignore.
If there were one key element holding the band together, it was Speice's drums that acted as musical adhesive. Without him, the tendency of the rest of the band to max out their instruments would appear to be no more than a compilation of interesting sounds. But the drummer paved the path, acting as the compass, allowing for the other band mates to take off into oblivion, only to return with his signal, a reassuring rat-tat-tat that reminded them all of their original direction. He kept a steady pulse throughout the show proving he is truly the bonding agent of this lively band. Their ability to create body-shaking music out of a fender-bender of musical rhythms was amazing, and from the looks of everyone packed onto the dance floor, they seemed to agree. All in all the Hairy Apes BMX proved to Missoula that their ship has sailed and we hope their course brings them back real soon.
Tanya Seledee
JamBase | Montana
Go See Live Music!
Upcoming Hairy Apes BMX Dates:
2/13/2004 :: Red Devil Lounge :: San Francisco, CA
2/14/2004 :: The Peak Show Studio :: Los Angeles, CA
2/15/2004 :: The Temple Bar :: Santa Monica, CA
2/16/2004 :: Mogollon Brewing Company :: Flagstaff, AZ
2/19/2004 :: Flamingo Cantina :: Austin, TX
3/6/2004 :: Chelsea's :: Baton Rouge, LA
3/12/2004 :: Trees :: Dallas, TX
3/18/2004 :: Rhythm Room :: Houston, TX
3/20/2004 :: The Vibe :: Austin, TX JamBase
3/23/2004 :: The Deli :: Norman, OK
3/24/2004 :: Chester's Place :: Fayetteville, AR
3/25/2004 :: The Blue Note :: Columbia, MO
3/26/2004 :: Hangar 9 :: Carbondale, IL
3/27/2004 :: The Brick :: Kansas City, MO
3/29/2004 :: Jack Quinn's Emerald Ballroom :: Covington, KY Supporting The Slip
3/30/2004 :: The Dame :: Lexington, KY
4/1/2004 :: Newport Music Hall :: Columbus, OH Supporting The Slip
4/2/2004 :: Mr. Small's Theatre :: Pittsburgh, PA Supporting The Slip
4/3/2004 :: Wise Fools Pub :: Chicago, IL w/ Orquesta Ranura
5/31/2004 :: Grog Shop :: Cleveland, OH Supporting The Slip
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