I went to The Bridge/Progressive Arts Initiative last night to see a pair of fairly new local acts: Myceum and Articulate Chewbacca.
John Ruscher wrote briefly about Myceum before, but Scott Ritchie deserves a little more noise in response to the racket he’s making—a one-man Casio massacre. Really digging into Myceum’s music is like cracking into a jawbreaker or trying good whiskey—you only get to the core of things through patience. Perched at a keyboard wired through a half-dozen effects pedals, Ritchie eased through hills of static and valleys of drones during a half-hour, single-song set that eventually gave way to warm tones and harmonics—sounds of French horns, a brass section, flutes.
Next up was Simple, a band from Carrboro, North Carolina. I don’t have the links, bells or whistles to connect you to their music (this is a good thing), which largely sounded like bad covers of Bush songs (this is a bad thing). Also, that whole "If you can’t say something nice" rule applies here, which is also why I’ll never, ever write about Avril Lavigne.
Leave hateful Avril messages or fond memories of listening to "Glycerine" below. Moving right along…
What a wookie! Click here for more photos of Articulate Chewbacca and Myceum from last night’s show at The Bridge.
Articulate Chewbacca features members of The Nice Jenkins (Jordan Brunk and Adam Brock, easily one of the best drummers in the city) and newly annointed State Band of Virginia Truman Sparks (guitarists Jon Bray and Adam Smith). Scott Ritchie joined the group on keys, as well; much like Myceum, the group unfurled searing highs and grunting lows, delivered in layers that you don’t listen to so much as swim through. Unlike Myceum, these wookie-rockers’ transitions are crisp: Chewbacca slipped from 7/4-time thrash into crackling ambient noise, not unlike the great post-rock band Slint.
I doubt either act will play a large-capacity venue anytime soon, but keep watch for more sets by these acts. In the meantime, The Nice Jenkins play Gravity Lounge on monday, July 21, and Truman Sparks have a tentative gig planned for August 15.
