The Well Suited
Last night at the Visual Arts Collective, The Well Suited proved the need for more strings, suits and ties in rock shows. The seven-piece post-punk power-pop experience of drums, guitar, keys and bass uniting with two violins, viola, and cello deliver an exquisite big sound of classically driven indie rock.
If you were unfortunate enough to miss The Well Suited at the Visual Arts Collective last night, do your best to catch them at the second annual Boise Curb Cup on August 29.
Roaming Royalty
This Olympia, Washington four-piece of keys-heavy melodic fun is sheer delight in tune with the energy, stage presence and boisterous vocals of musical theatre. The excitement possible while seeing a band share such an obviously good time onstage is far too rare. Watching Roaming Royalty hop around as though crashing a grade school dance party is as contagious as laughter. Their looping electronica melodies make for bright-eyed sounds with plenty of twinkling arpeggios and a slight, zippy Nintendo tremor echoing throughout. With these thick layers of instrumentation topped off with smart, sassy, sweetheart lyrics belted from the superb pipes of Charles Kraut and Todd Dunnigan, Roaming Royalty is overall irresistible.
Mend
Mend's trance-heavy atmosphere was complemented magically in thick fog and blue-and-purple lighting. Their aching lyrics and mesmerizing keyboard fantasies sparked a dance craze in the entire gallery. As owners Sam Stimpert and Annaliessa Balk turn on the disco ball and scrolling lights, a fulfilling night of music is capped smoothly with a dance party led by this dark-wave electronic band featuring Corey Hennis, Todd Mahoney, and Chet Slater. Yet another potential midweek blues episode is warded off with ease, thanks to a typically splendid line-up at the Visual Arts Collective.
All month at this unexpected Garden City arts haven that is the VAC, you can also get lost in paintings, neon-media, mixed-media and collage visual art by Noble Hardesty, Will Kirkman, Jeff Baker and J. Lee, pieces fresh on the walls after their artist’s reception last Friday. Catch their stunning work while you can.
Comments