[ATTENDED: September 7, 2019] Pottery
After cutting it so close last night for the Joanna Newsom show, I made sure to leave plenty early for this sold out show.
A few months ago, Route 95 was closed at Girard Avenue. For TWO YEARS.
So the ease of getting to Johnny Brenda’s has been removed. They are also doing a lot of other road constructions in the neighborhood. Which meant it was impossible to find a parking space. I drove around for nearly 30 minutes before finding a spot in a neighborhood I’ve ever been to before. By the time I arrived for the show, Pottery had already started. I don’t know how much I missed, but I am bummed I did because e I really enjoyed them a lot. [Judging by other setlists, I suspect I walked in during the first song, but I’m not sure].
Nevertheless, I did get to hear a solid 30 minutes of their set.
Pottery are from Montreal. They are a five piece with two guitars a bass, keyboards and drums.
Austin Boylan, is the lead singer and guitarist. He had a fascinating bowl cut, a great staccato style of play and several different, equally interesting vocal styles.
On the right was guitarist and vocalist Jacob Shepansky who played all the coolest solos and sound effects. Next to him was bassist Tom Gould adding great backing vocals as well.
I couldn’t really see keyboardist Peter Baylis, who added great depth to their sound. But I could certainly see (and hear) drummer Paul Jacobs, who was a madman behind the kit. He must have been exhausted by the end of the show.
As I walked in I thought their sound was interesting–kind of groovy and soulful. Not at all what i was expecting from a band opening for Fontaines D.C. The song was “Smooth Operator,” and just as I settled in thinking I had this band figured out, the song took off–it got faster with a funky bass line and really wild guitars. It was fantastic.
They had a lot more surprises up their sleeves. As Brooklyn Vegan puts it: their music combines “nervy mutant pop, krautrock, and psych.” But that doesn’t even count the punk and noise that accompany their live show. And more surprising is the fact that all of these styles often come about in one song.
I really enjoyed the way “Hank Williams” starts with this rocking riff and jagged guitar line before launching into a full on rocking song with a very different coda at the end.
I loved the backing vocal chanting on “Take Your Time,” and the way it slowed down dramatically before building up again to a chanted chorus. Another fun chanted song was “Hot Heater” which had a slinky disco feel.
Their songs are all short on the record but I’m certain they jammed them out longer (even if they were played more quickly). But the most impressive thing was the complexities within each song. I loved the way “Lady Solinas” went from this kind of standard rocking song to this middle section freak out with some wild guitars. And the end is a full on speed rock. All within three minutes.
In fact most of the songs were heavy, noisy and rocking except for this mellow song which sounded vaguely like Parquet Courts. I like that the venue put on the disco ball for this song). But even this slow song has some great wild drumming at times.
The crowd was suitably into it (aside from the guy behind me who was talking louder than the band), and I though they were pretty great. I actually planned to buy their CD, except that they don’t have one. Their EP is only on vinyl and cassette. So I’ve had to enjoy them on bandcamp instead.
The final song was the longest. On the EP, “Lifeline Costume” runs to 8 minutes and I think that’s how long it stretched out live. I really liked the diversity in this song as it starts with speedy, catchy riff. Midway through there was a lengthy fast drum roll and Boylan played fast percussive muted strings along with it. The buildup didn’t prepare us for the shredding conclusion.
They crashed through the end and with that they were gone.
I don’t know the setlist, but looking at some shows around my show they played probably 7 or 8 of these songs.
Markit Aneight can confirm the setlist with this video
- Blast Off
- Hot Heater
- Smooth Operator*
- Spell *
- Hank Williams *
- Take Your Time
- Reflections
- Lady Solinasn*
- Sad Tires
- Sun Fever
- The Craft *
- Lifeline Costume*
* from No. 1 EP
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