SOUNDTRACK: AMONG AUTHORS-Tiny Desk Contest # 878 (August 9, 2019)
A lot of the time when I say I haven’t heard of a band, tons of other people have.
But I’m expected to say I don’t know who Among Authors is because as of this performance they are unsigned and self-managed.
They make a kind of artful indie prog rock. Two lead guitars, a simple drum kit, and piano. All centered around pianist Ian Ketterer’s amazing voice.
Out of more than 6,000 entries to our 2018 Tiny Desk Contest, Among Authors was one of the most original bands I’d seen — so much so that we invited the group to perform as part of our Tiny Desk Contest tour in Seattle. I was even more impressed by Among Authors’ songwriting and keen, spare musicianship at that KEXP-sponsored event, so I invited them to play a Tiny Desk concert. By the time their big day came, nearly a year later, they were ready — nervous, but ready.
They play three songs, each one longer than the last.
“Radio Signals” opens with just piano and Ian Ketterer’s soaring falsetto–he sounds a bit like Ryan Lott from Son Lux. After a minute and a half Patrick Brockwell adds some gentle brushed drums and both guitarists play different intertwining melodies.
Ian Ketterer sat behind our upright piano, partially hidden by his hair and hoodie. Patrick Brockwell’s clean look provided a stark contrast, and his no-frills, perfectly placed rhythms matched his appearance. The two guitarists, Jon Livingston and Jason Ketterer (Ian’s brother), played intertwining melodies, often lifting the songs from their dimness while embracing the mystery in the lyrics.
“The Overture” opens with all of them singing oohs–they have great voices. The guitar parts are not unlike the slower parts of Explosions in the Sky–fast high notes in repeated melodies that interweave and sound amazing.
The blurb says that these songs aren’t catchy. And that’s true. These aren’t earworm pop songs. Yhey are intense and inviting. I’ve listened to this Tony Desk more than many others. It’s impressive when Brockwell hits his low drums (floor tom, I assume) how deep it is–there’s not a lot of bass in these songs so the low notes really stand out. And Ian’s voice is really quite amazing–he gives this his all.
“Lure” opens with lovely intertwining guitar lines. When the main part of the song kicks in, the thumping drums and fast piano really propel the song along. It’s fantastic. The song runs about 8 minutes with an extended instrumental outro that is dynamite.
Just to add some even more fascinating detail to this band
Nearly a dozen years ago, at 23, bandleader Ian Ketterer had open-heart surgery. Born without a thumb on his right hand and deaf in his right ear, he plays piano and sings.
I don’t know how hard it was to overcome any of that, but he (and the rest of the band) certainly did. I’m going to have to look for this CD.
[READ: August 2019] Exorsisters Vol. 1
I saw this book in the store during an Image comic book sale. I loved the title and was blown away by the art. The whole premise seemed like a lot of fun.
I love the way the story doesn’t explain the set up for several chapters, it just jumps right in at a wedding.
As a pretty redhead is about to marry a handsome blond, dude, chains comes out of the ground and pull the man into hell.
Everyone in the audience believes that she was stood up, but she saw him get grabbed by a demon.
Then we meet twin sisters Cate and Kate. Cate is prim and Kate is a rocker. Lagacé’s artwork is perfect from the start. They are distinct but similar. Her whole style is almost like an Archie comic, but less sweet. I love it.
The girls promise to investigate.
Meanwhile, we see a woman who proves to be their mom. She bets a guy in a bar that she has done something worse than he has. We don’t hear what she has done, but she clearly beat his horrible tale. (more…)
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