Once again, the neverending Pearls & Brass tour rolled through Albuquerque, the band still pimping their latest release, "The Indian Tower." This show was at the Launchpad, as was their February gig.
Although openers Death Valley Days had recently lost their drummer and had little time to look for/work in a replacement, they didn't seem to be sweating it. Stand-in drummer (or new member - not sure) Maury ably manned the trapkit, and despite a broken snare incident, he recovered nicely with a little help from 500. In what what was almost certainly a gesture of solidarity with Maury, guitarist Gary played exclusively on rented gear.
These two changes conspired to change the dynamics of DVD's usual sound, making for a more flowing, atmospheric and also somewhat "janglier" direction. Dave on bass was a strong link to the "old" sound, and his relaxed delivery and countermelodic style blended well with Maury's drumming, laying down a wide river for guitarist Gary to float his chord structures and enigmatic vocals upon. DVD's set was necessarily short, but they have my undying respect for not playing "Louie Louie" for 15 minutes to stretch. Their six-song set hit the spot just right.
500 was up next with their straight ahead postpunk hard rock. I'm finally getting used to their 4-piece setup now, and although I wasn't sure it was necessary at first, the second guitar does really thicken up their live sound. I may be mistaken, but it seems like the guitarists have also rearranged some of their parts using different octaves and chord inversions, which is always a good thing in a 2-axe band. Nothing fancy from these guys, just driving, straight up, face-melting RAWK. They were the perfect segue into...
Pearls & Brass: 3 young men from Pennsylvania on a serious mission. 3 men with purity of vision: No pretense, no silly stage antics, no attitude. 3 men with vintage amps, a stripped-down drumkit, and guitars plugged straight in. No effects, no sleight of hand, no digital trickery. Pearls & Brass has one simple yet diabolical plan: To bring their fresh and original update on the well-trampled blues-based rock genre to the people. Each a virtuoso player, this Heavy NuBlooze trinity combines their formidable talents to create a constantly evolving sound filled with vaguely familiar blues-based riffs that have mutated and been sewn together into constantly twisting, shifting, compositions filled with adept, on-a-dime time shifts and syncopation. On top of this perpetual motion machine sits the standard blues-rock vocal a la Jack Bruce, John Mayall or Johnny Winter, providing homestyle comfort and familiarity in an otherwise strangely altered place.
Pearls & Brass have only gotten tighter from their relentless touring. They were supertight last time through, but now they seem almost telepathic in their interplay, each member an essential cog in the machine, the machine itself somehow becoming synergistically greater as a result. This is clearly a young band with great potential that has hit its stride. This performance showed that whatever they follow up "The Indian Tower" with could very well be their greatest work to date. They are on top of their game right now.
Edit: I also have some pics. I'll try to post them later.
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