Black Moth Super Rainbow, Jennifer Gentle, Riverboat Gamblers, Wilco
BLACK MOTH SUPER RAINBOW
If the band’s moniker doesn’t catch your attention, and the musicians’ names seem run-of-the-mill (maybe your childhood friends also had names like Father Hummingbird and Power Pill Fist), this Philadelphia 5-piece is still worthy of a listen. Recently, the group has been super busy sculpting music for a hallucinatory safari through purple elephant habitat in some parallel universe. Dandelion Gum arrived earlier this year, and they released a combined effort with The Octopus Project in 2006 entitled The House of Apples and Eyeballs. While the music sounds largely electronic, the band plays real instruments live. They mangle the vocals in real-time, and recreate all the psychedelic glee in conjunction with trippy visuals projected on a screen behind them. Those who like to know what menacing beasts, polychromatic rivers, and sudden falls lie around each corner should avoid this ride — it is suitable only for wild-eyed, adventurous types. (Appearing at Abbey Pub on Sept. 6 and with The Flaming Lips at the Aragon on Sept. 7) –text: Nick Meador
JENNIFER GENTLE
In terms of moods to sustain for an entire album, ‘anxious claustrophobia’ is probably one of the hardest to pull off — mostly because the reward is dubious at best. After all, who would want to listen to something that would make them nervous and paranoid? So it must count as a surprise that The Midnight Room, the fourth studio album by Italian psychedelic rock band Jennifer Gentle, is one of the year’s most engaging releases. The Midnight Room is filled with trippy, dementedly melodic music in the tradition of Frank Zappa and Syd Barrett. The mood of the album suggests being trapped in a creepy hall of mirrors with no way out. Except that it’s a good thing. On record, Jennifer Gentle is now just founder Marco Falsolo, but the group expands to a quintet when they play live — so expect the band to expertly recreate their sonic quirks on stage while employing an assortment of kazoos, toy glockenspiels and cow bells. (Appearing with Dodos at Empty Bottle on Sept. 7) –text: Jon Graef–photo: Andrew Raiteri
RIVERBOAT GAMBLERS
Riverboat Gamblers don’t need crazy stage antics to draw a crowd. Their solid punk rock sound is more than enough to get the job done for this Denton, Texas 4-piece. But they do it anyways. Maybe it’s the surge of energy from the live crowd or the restricted blood flow caused by singer Mike Wiebe’s ridiculously tight jeans. Yet Wiebe’s tendency to take to the rafters, balconies, and anything else that sticks out more than a few inches certainly hasn’t hurt the band’s appeal. In fact, they’ve been repeatedly called a ‘must-see’ live act. But Wiebe may have one new trick up his sleeve — perhaps forgoing the predictably unpredictable and singing a few extra notes on key? That’s what he claimed in a recent interview at least. Whether on their feet or hanging from the ceiling, Riverboat Gamblers are, indeed, a sight to be seen on stage. (Appearing with Valient Thorr and Totimoshi at Subterranean on Sept. 1) –text: William Jones–photo: Aubrey Edwards
WILCO
The first half of 2007 has quite possibly been the best time ever for Wilco. No band member was asked to turn in their decoder ring to the band’s loft, the record label didn’t demand a better lyrical hook and, aside from guitarist Nels Cline recently contracting a case of the chicken pox, no one in the band was hospitalized in order to win back their mind, body and soul. It’s been a year with the strongest corporate backing of Wilco to get the music out (resulting in a Top 5 debut on Billboard) and the band posting on their website a nice “we have not sold out” note to their fans about their music being used to sell Volkswagens. Although the band’s sixth album, Sky Blue Sky, pulled its punches in spots, Wilco continues to be a band with limitless possibilities. (Appearing with Dr. Dog in Millennium Park on Sept. 12) –text: Chris Castaneda–photo: Chris Strong
