Bleu
Kats 2
Friday
April 4, 2003
Saturday,
April 5, 2003
For
the second year in a row the Underground Artists Association
(UAA) hosted its multimedia tour de force: Blue Cat Stew.
Once again taking place at Forward Hall, this event features
music, dance, poetry, indie films and a variety of visual
art projected simultaneously on two 10 foot screens.
In addition to the artists reviewed below there were performances by
Doug Lodge, Shen & Bones, George Looney, Tracey Morrell, Sean Thomas
Dougherty, Dan Wilcox and Lake Trout. Due to PlayErie's focus we are
keeping the reviews within the realm of local music.
MoRebo
MoRebo kicked
off this year's show beginning at 5pm. This eight-piece
group has a smooth, laid back vibe that touches on jazz,
rock, Caribbean, funk, blues & soul. With lots of
percussion, saxophone and sultry female vocals MoRebo
was a great opener for the evening.
The band features Tim Blumish on lead guitar & vocals, Wayne Fambrough
on percussion & vocals, Dan Grosso on drums, Kevin McCleary on sax & vocals,
Chris Polacci on lead vocals, Joel Polacci on congas, Doug Russell on
bass and Kurt Unger on rhythm guitar.
Cubic
Hair
Under
normal circumstances Alethea Bodine and Rick DiBello
perform as the eclectic Torn
Curtain. Bleu Kats 2 is anything but normal, and
in keeping with that premise the duo offered the audience
a performance piece entitled "Cubic Hair".
DiBello entered wearing a large, "hairy" cube on his head while
dragging a shapeless mass behind him. Electronic, trance-like music (composed
by DiBello) provided a fitting soundtrack. After several minutes of slow
movements and odd gestures the mass began to move. Of course the "mass" turned
out to be Bodine who writhed her way out of the black material. Wearing
a dress with balloons randomly attached and a blindfold across her face
she wriggled Houdini-like out of her bonds.
As the piece progressed DiBello picked up his guitar and began to wail
along with the soundtrack. Bodine continued to twist and turn in ways
one would think not humanly possible, until the piece spiraled down to
its conclusion. It was a truly bizarre performance that is one of the
strengths of the Bleu Kats event.
3
Bop
Back
on the main stage 3 Bop was serving up tasty jazz in
a classic trio format. Playing a mixture of originals
and standards 3 Bop breezed through an improvisational
set. Guitarist Frank
Singer was in his usual top form spraying the audience
with flurries of notes. Accompanying Singer were the
highly talented rhythm section of Steve Trohoske on bass
and Brad Amadon on drums.
3 Bop's music made the perfect soundtrack to the art images being displayed
on the two giant projection screens. I found myself enjoying the art
while listening to the band. Where else are you going to find this kind
of a combination? ... great stuff all around.
Joseph
Allen Popp's Weirdo Theatre
This
experimental group consists of Joseph
Allen Popp on guitars, Rob Gray on vocals & theremin,
Ken Cornelius on bass and Rick Lopez on Drums. Joe and
the boys kicked things up a notch with some outside,
but definitely heavy playing. Joe coaxes all manner of
effects out of his guitar while Gray flails his theremin
in a Hendrix-like fashion. The stunning intro to the
Weirdo's set tonight featured sustaining, wailing choruses
of guitar feedback and theremin. The balance was perfect,
never getting so loud as to irritate. Kudos to sound
engineer Misha for keeping the show under control.
Supporting Popp and Gray was the formidable rhythm section of Cornelius
and Lopez. Rick is a joy to watch, having been an impressive talent in
the Erie area since his days with Field Theory over a decade ago. He
has that "on the edge" ability to go into a fill that seems
to come from another planet. On several occasions I thought there was
going to be a train wreck, but Lopez knows exactly what he is doing.
Amazingly he always comes right back in on the correct beat. Cornelius
just keeps on going, and against that steady anchor Lopez is really able
to shine.
The Shen & Bones dancers filled the floor with a wild visual accompaniment
to the Weirdo Theater. Popp intends to feature Shen & Bones at every
Weirdo Theater performance.
Look for the Joseph Allen Popp's Weirdo Theatre art exhibit 4/15 through
5/30 at the Erie Art Museum Frame Shop Gallery. In addition to various
art by Joe, his band will be making yet another appearance.
Frog Tree Gorge Band
As
the evening progressed and Forward Hall became increasingly
full the energy level also increased. By the time Frog
Tree Gorge Band took the stage things were up to the
typical rock show level. Frog Tree started their set
as a trio for a couple of tunes and then brought guitarist
Dev Jana (formerly of Organic Voodoo Machine) to the
stage.
This band is tight, powerful and refreshingly unpretentious. Guitarist
Jeremy has a relaxed, underplayed stage presence.. but make no mistake,
the guy's a great guitar player. Jana appeared to fit the band well,
perhaps this may become a permanent line up?
All in all the first night of this year's Bleu Kats 2 was an outstanding
example of the broad talent available in Erie. I thoroughly enjoyed myself
(as did my wife Brenda, who had some of her artwork on display). If you
did not attend this evening's show then I strongly suggest that you make
the effort to come tomorrow. Telefonics will
be opening the evening at 5pm with several other great local artists
such as Black Rose
Diary, The Human
Being Lawnmower, The Witching (featuring Ruby
Beil ), and a rare appearance of Trevor Huster's Diecaster (the band,
not the studio.)
If
you think that nothing happens in Erie then you are dead
wrong. Come to tomorrow's show and find out for yourself. -
John Trevethan
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Saturday, April 5, 2003
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