Bongos, synths, and voice boxes, oh my! Aqueous brought the funk to Nietzche's saturday where they released new album Giant Something. Self-described as "blues meets progressive" is a little modest, to say the least. Songs bounced between reggae, funk, psychadelic, and anything else resembling Phish and Pink Floyd. Aqueous must be a conglomerate of robots to play with such combined attention to detail and, yet, fluid spontaneity.
Aqueous formed in 2006 at the University of Buffalo. The five man jam band is manned by Evan McPhaden on bass, Brad Darrell on drums, Mike Gantzer on guitar and vocals, Dave Loss on guitar, vocals and synthesizer, and Nick Sonricker on percussion.
To be honest, I wanted to see them because they covered a medley of Super Mario Brothers, but of course with a funk-adelic twist. With no real designated rhythm guitar, Mike and Dave trade opportunities to wail on climbing solos and psychadelic riffs. They use their guitars like lawn-mowers, taking their time cutting every blade of grass. Aqueous understands that the art of music can never be rushed. Solos act more like waves, coming and going a myriad of times throughout strings of songs. Each time, climbing higher and higher, sharing this journey with the audience.
Simple, relaxed lyrics come and go, sandwiched between grooves of explorative guitar riffs. Mike loves shoes, it seems, singing "watch out my shoes are tied / I'm talking double-knot." Passionite lyrics for the shoe-wearing generation.
I went to the bar for a second, and it sounded like Peter Frampton had taken the stage. Mike pioneered a guitar talk box solo and all I could think of was "Do You Feel Like We Do." He nailed pitches left and right, pulling his trick to everlasting heights as graceful as a bird soars. As if that wasn't enough, they ended their first set ushering special guests to play horn and saxophone on two gigantic songs, Triangle and Aldehyde. Brad and Nick would blend drum fills together at every turn in the music, always plugging up any holes so there are no leaks.
Aqueous brought down the house saturday at Nietzches and are as airtight as a spacebag. Spring is in the air and, yes, jam bands are cropping up in droves but Aqueous sets themselves lightyears ahead of any imitators. The group explores new soundscapes thanks to added synthesizer, talkbox, percussion and a lot of inflatable flamingos on the stage. Indeed, these guys have succeeded in making something giant. Definitely catch them in the area as they tour Buffalo with their new album, Giant Something.
aqueousband.com :: Shows :: Music
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