hat happens when you cross six strung-out instrumentalists, two eccentric French sisters and a rock band with enough soul to challenge Aretha Franklin?
Answer: The $8 concert of The Six Parts Seven, Coco Rosie and headliners TV on the Radio at Ace’s Basement place last Thursday.
It was a night full of energy, noise and indie kids, easily distinguishable with their cell phones, tight denim pants, tie, and nifty wool hats – even though it’s now technically springtime.
Ace’s Basement, with its gloomy but communal ambiance, was the perfect location for the Greensboro indie community. The stage is nearly indistinguishable from the crowd, as it’s just one step higher than the fans. The best part is that, after their set, the musicians feel comfortable enough to join the crowd and enjoy the show with everyone else.
Ohio’s The Six Parts Seven took the stage first and played a trancey, psychedelic set of instrumental rock. Lead guitarist Allen Karpinski spoke between songs to introduce each number with a quick anecdote. My favorite part of their set was the spacey xylophones that created a very unique and haunting melody different from much rock today.
Up next were the Casady sisters, Sierra and Bianca, otherwise known as Coco Rosie. Sporting unusual yellow skirts and bizarre tops, these young women played even stranger music. With guitarist/keyboardist Sierra’s operatic, soprano singing and Bianca’s bluesy phrasing, I couldn’t figure out what style of music I was hearing. Not to mention the fact that Bianca’s instruments were kid toys – a yellow kiddie piano with colorful keys and a golden truck that made siren noises.
Odd as it was, Coco Rosie’s music was delicate and hypnotic, and I really enjoyed its peculiarity. The sisters obviously have talent, and their harmonies were tremendously eerie. But what really added to the effect was Bianca’s extreme sadness. She did not smile once throughout the entire performance, which emphasized her desolation.
With two very distinct opening acts, I was psyched for T.V. on the Radio’s set. Originally from Brooklyn, T.V. on the Radio has a wonderfully dramatic sound. They mix several musical elements – soul, doo-wop, post-punk and rock ‘n roll, just to name a few. With only one album and an E.P. out, I see great potential for them in the future.
From “Young Liars,” their opening song, to their final encore “Ambulance,” these guys played their pants off. Every one of them showcased enormous talent: explosive drumbeats, heartfelt and soulful singing, powerful guitar riffs, and a pounding baseline.
The highlight of their set was when they played the songs “Wrong Way” and “Staring at the Sun” in a row. Those are my favorite on the album, and they sounded even better in concert.
And to make the show even more awesome, the energy increased as the night progressed. Their set lasted for about an hour and a half, and with two encores and a whole lot of rock, I felt pretty satisfied with the show.
Except for one thing: the singer’s microphone was not turned up enough. I was standing front row and could hardly hear the lyrics. He sounded great from what I could tell, but try singing over a thunderous rock band with enough energy to create a supernova – the results aren’t so strong. Even when the two other back-up singers came in, the lyrics were only semi-audible.
But still, it was only $8, and I sure got one hell of a concert experience.