[ATTENDED: April 17, 2018] Tancred
When I saw the name Tancred a while back I imagined a kind of Middle-Eastern-sounding band. I had a very specific idea in my head. So I was really quite surprised to discover that they are actually a 90s-sounding alt rock band created (more or less exclusively) by Jess Abbott (who was in Now, Now for a time).
When I first heard “Bed Case” I was totally psyched. It pushed all of the buttons I have for 90s female-led alt-rock. I mean, holy cow. There’s a total Letters to Cleo/Juliana Hatfield vibe but with a modern sensibility of not following exactly the 90’s rules.
I was super duper psyched that they were opening for Julien Baker.
Incidentally, Tancred (1075 – December 5 or December 12, 1112) was an Italo-Norman leader of the First Crusade who later became Prince of Galilee and regent of the Principality of Antioch…. thanks Wikipedia.
When Jess came out on stage she said hi, we’re Tancred. I have seen a number of trans musicians lately so I assumed that she was referring to herself in the gender-nonspecific plural since she was the only one out there. She played “Song One” solo. And then the rest of the band came out (so much for referring to yourself in the plural).
The guys helped rock out the rest of the songs.
Jess explained that they have a new album coming out and so they were playing most of t hesongs from it. The fact that these were new songs and I reacted so wonderfully to them made me know this was a greta band that I needed to hear more of.
Each song had some kind of great alt rock touchstone–catchy and fun with a great fuzzy guitar sound.
There were quieter songs and then songs that rocked. And Jess’ voice is just fantastic (like on “Just You“).
The only glitch the whole night was one time the bass effects didn’t work and Jess explained that we can’t have that song without bass. But it was quickly fixed and song was great.
They ended the set with three songs from the previous album Out in the Garden. And that’s when I recognized “Bed Case,” the song that first introduced me to the band. The guitar riff was spot on and it was a highlight of the evening.
It’s not often that you’re as excited for the opening band as the headliner, but that was definitely the case tonight.
After the show Jess and her guitarist were hanging out selling merch and they were both super nice. They even autographed my CD.
- Song One
- Clipping
- Queen of New York
- Underwear
- Something Else
- Rowing
- Reviews
- Just You
- Apple Tree Girl
- Bed Case*
- Control Me*
- Pens*
She played all of the new album except for “Hot Star” I wonder why not that song.
*from Out in the Garden.
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