Nadeem Salaam
On a 86 degree day it seemed like we’d melt our faces off but too bad Long Neck had other plans, their dual guitar interplay, saturated bass lines, swirling around singer Mastrodimos’s head while she belted an oenomel voice that had an unpredictable duality. The band like the rest of the line up were on tour, this group from New Jersey, and yes their banter shreds all the rules on banter, I don’t want to hear that it can’t be done, it just had to be as sincere as theirs.
Next up was Field Mouse a five-piece scattered across the east coast, a fan leans over “make sure you get good shots, they’re amazing!” Noticeably a keyboard on stage is changing the perspective of Long Neck’s more raw sound. Field Mouse are a great a band to have on next to Long Neck, they have a more refined sound (hooks, dual harmonies) but their guitar work also echoed the one thing that all bands had in common last night, costal grunge indie pop that both laments labels through a punk ethos, yet channels the best of what we love about these genres and their ability to unite people around uncertainty and self discovery. Field Mouse never step on their own toes sonically, every musician has something to give while singer Rachel Browne’s voice sounds just as strong live as it does on Meaning their latest.
As a their set came to close the night was officially packed shoulder to shoulder, a few people with cameras nestle in next to me as Summer Cannibals take the stage as a four piece, opening up the stage for some much needed air because once the first song started singer Jessica Boudreaux was brandishing her guitar like it was on fire. The band played many of their songs available from a record that almost never happened. “Can’t Tell Me No” sent the crowd into a distorted guitar nirvana while their drummer’s DIY programmed lighting kit really delivered a complete experience.
Really that’s what Summer Cannibal are. Something to be experienced that worn out record plays do only so much to satisfy (albeit you should totally get the record too!) the band exudes much more than musicianship while not sacrificing killer guitar tones, incredible rhythmic timing, and guttural vocals that cut the air, with a certain rebellious spirit that could shake your bones if you weren’t careful! I personally love a little danger and excitement, Summer Cannibals deliver that without ever a second going by for you to introspect. They’re there then they’re not. An experience to be had.
