I'm really bad at classifying bands into genres. Perhaps it comes from the modern day group's aversion to being labeled as one thing or another -- so many people want to defy the stereotypes of the specific genre they play and want to become an amalgamation of every available type of music in the world. But when you're looking for a way to describe someone, there are only so many words you can use before you start to lose sight of what the music actually sounds like. So I came up with this for last night's bands: soulful, bluesy folk rock. I thought it sounded wrong, because folk rock generally implies soft, just jaunty acoustic guitars -- but both Midnight Masses and Borrowed eyes are far from the quiet, soft implications of the word "folk." They make you understand that rock has roots, and they use them to the best of their advantage.
When Midnight Masses stepped on stage, I certainly wasn't expecting what I got. The band, fronted by enigmatic lead singer Autry Rene Fulbright, is a heavy, well-oiled machine that knows what it's doing when it puts out the dark rock and pure heart and soul of its stage show. The sound was reminiscent of the end of the world -- you could imagine the air swirling around you, debris everywhere, watching it all fall apart amidst beautiful, tight harmonies, and huge guitar sounds with driving, big drum lines to keep it all grounded. The band formed as a project between Fulbright and ...Trail of Dead's Jason Reece in 2008, just after Fulbright's father passed away. And the music carries all the weight of the event, but turns it into something beautiful, despite. The religious imagery is typical for the son of a minister who grew up in Atlanta, and it makes the stories much more powerful. This is a band that can do huge things, if they continue on their projected path -- and I hope they do, because I plan to see them again.
Borrowed Eyes was up next, and they also boasted a large lineup of people -- at least 6 in each band, with rotating members of both due to missing members of Midnight Masses. I loved the set that Borrowed Eyes played for us; they gave us true Americana folk rock, with amped-up guitars and lyrics about coal mine struggles, the slave-mentality of the everyday working man, and struggles to fight your demons (with one song literally being about Satan). Singer and guitarist of Borrowed Eyes, Danny Wood, was one of the rotating musicians of the night -- and it was easy to see that he was happy to do it. He was outspoken and funny all through the night, and his stage presence showed that he knew exactly why he was up there, playing like it was his only option in life.
We got the chance to talk with him after the show, so keep an eye out for the interview! It's hilarious -- and has a fantastic ending, with a surprise from one of Danny's friends.
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The notably tall, heavily tattooed Danny Wood had a busy night last night. He not only provided vocals and guitar for his own band, Borrowed Eyes, he also stood in as a bassist for opener Midnight Massive. The extra work didn’t seem to dampen Wood’s spirits any, and at the night's end the sweat soaked singer appeared exultant. It was the second consecutive Monday that Borrowed Eyes played the Studio at Webster hall, and on a personal note, the 47th consecutive day I have attended a concert.
Midnight Masses is an alt rock band from Brooklyn powered by a blues fueled sound and lyrics that reference religious iconography. Part of the band's usual lineup was absent with musicians from Borrowed Eyes acting as adequate substitutes. Front man Autry Fulbright performed with ferocious intensity, rapidly banging on a tom with his back to the crowd whenever he was not singing. The ethereal country-ish vocal harmonies that kicked off “Heaven” helped make that song a set highlight, with the skinny Fulbright shuffling behind the mike as the band played.
Borrowed Eyes is a rock band with very pronounced blues and folk influences. Usually folk influences are associated with sensitive, whimsical aesthetics, but Borrowed Eyes' sound is gritty and raw; more a throwback to outlaw folk and country legends than sixties' revivalists. "This is a song I wrote in a town called Austin Texas, and it's about Satan,” singer and guitarist Danny Wood announced before the band chugged through a song punctuated by stabbing trumpet. It was a very amiable, hometown crowd composed heavily of personal friends of the band. The palpable warmth put the musicians at ease, and the music flowed easily between tracks as the night wore on. From the passionate Americana howl of “Some Demons You Can Share With Others” the band moved into “Amazing Grace” with effortless fluidity. After performing “Slaves” a blunt send up of 9-5 monotony, the group paid tribute to the Lee Dorey song that most likely inspired it “Working in a Coal Mine "momentarily lowering the volume of the instruments to a barely audible murmur to highlight the dynamic, infectious chorus. Though their subject is the struggle to survive hard circumstances, Borrowed Eye’s upbeat resilience pokes fun at the workaday grind rather than being crushed by it.
