To say that I like Eisley would be an understatement. I went into the El Rey yesterday with no real expectations (only frustrations from security) and came out smiling from ear to ear.
I’ve been to the El Rey before, when I went to see Chromeo in January, but I had a great time and immediately fell in love with the El Rey upon seeing it again. The setting of the building is really nice, with a slight incline as one gets farther back, and a dip in the middle to provide for a better view from all aspects of the audience. Tables lined the balcony and the walls of the El Rey to provide for comfortable seating.
Doors opened at 8:00pm, and a crowd of audience members who had lined up hours before ran to be in front. The El Rey has no barriers, so audience members are treated to an up-front intimate setting with the bands.
At 9:00, the lights dimmed and Vedera stepped out. Fronted by guitarist/pianist Kristen May, this four-piece band from Kansas City came on for a 30-minute set, singing songs including “A World Apart,” “The Falling Kind,” and “Satisfy.” The most interesting song was their last song - “Song for a Friend”, in which Kristen’s voice crescendos, breaks into silence, and allows for guitarist Brian Little’s to set the beat. Kristen’s voice cuts in with a slow transition and a repetition of “We sing on…” closing out the song and the set, all the while leaving the audience amazed by what they just witnessed.
Vedera has a familiar sound, which provides for easy listening. Kristen May’s distinct voice allows for interesting interludes - she knows when to go all out and when to hold it all in, making the songs sweeter and easier to listen to.
Around 9:50, The Myriad came on - a five piece group from Seattle, WA wielding a piano, drums, bells, tambourine, guitars, and bass. Four clicks led into a piano intro that eventually led to a song similar to something Muse would play. The Myriad had a really solid set, and stopped only once or twice to let us know about their new music video and their new album, With Arrows, With Poise, that was released earlier this week.
For the most part, The Myriad was a good band to listen to, but it seemed like the music drowned out the words. The theatricality of the band was very prominent, as drummer Randy Miller threw guitarist Stephen Tracy mallets and both hashed out an off-beat rhythm with one another.
After their set, the audience waited anxiously for Eisley to come out. Radiohead played in the background while people sat on the floor to ease the pain that had been collecting in their lower backs from standing up for the past 5 hours. Finally, the music subsided, the lights dimmed, and Eisley walked out.
Eisley opened with songs from their new album, including “Go Away”, and “Many Funerals”. Rare songs, B-Sides, and songs from EPs were played as well, including “Lady of the Wood”, “Mr. Pine”, and “Sunfeet”.
Guitartist Chauntelle didn’t sing as much as her sisters Sherri and Stacey did, but when she did, it was so distinct. It was nice to hear something different from the precedent her sisters had set, but at the same time, all three harmonized so well that they seemed to be incomplete without the layers they gave one another.
Sister Christy came out to sing the first verse of “I Wasn’t Prepared”. It’s amazing to see all that talent in one family. Christy sang beautifully - her voice didn’t match that of Guitarist/Vocalist Sherri’s, but instead, gave her rendition of “I Wasn’t Prepared” a new twist.
Bassist Garron Dupree brought out what Sherri called an “oxophone” - it slightly resembled a hammered dulcimer - for “Combinations”. “Combinations” is one of my favorite songs off their sophomore album, and there is no real explanation to it.
The band did not fail to thank both Vedera and The Myriad for touring with them.
Eisley ended their set with “I Could Be There For You”, only to come back for an encore. They sang “A Sight to Behold” and “If You’re Wondering” before leaving the stage for the night.
Eisley’s Setlist:
Go Away
Many Funerals
Lady of the Wood
Marvelous Things
Come Clean
Taking Control
Like the Actors
Mr. Pine
Memories
Invasion
Sunfeet
Golly Sandra
I Wasn’t Prepared
Combinations
One Day I Slowly
Ten Cent Blues
I Could Be There for You
A Sight to Behold
If You’re Wondering
Before I got to go into the venue, Boyd (Eisley’s Manager) asked if I had ever seen Eisley before. I told him that I had seen their acoustic set at the Silent Movie Theatre last year. He told me that their electric set was much better - that I was going to going to be blown away. And I was.
Many thanks to Gabrielle and Boyd for making this review possible.
All pictures by Winnie Jaing
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ...
3 responses so far ↓
1 kristal // May 17, 2008 at 11:38 pm
i believe that garron played a “marxophone.”
2 ... // May 17, 2008 at 11:47 pm
You spelled Stacy’s name wrong. No E. And Christie’s name was wrong as well. No Y.
3 Lerla DuPree // May 20, 2008 at 8:55 am
Eisley Rocks
Great sound.
Good clean music
Loved your write up.
Leave a Comment