PurrView #23 - The Silent Comedy

(photo by Rebecca Joelson; borrowed from OwlandBear.com)
http://www.thesilentcomedy.com/

   The Silent Comedy is a timeless, soulful band hailing from San Diego, who have performed with acts like Mumford & Sons, The Black Keys, and Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros. Since the band's conception in 2006, they've blurred the lines of music to present a sound that incorporates special touches of ethereal vocals, keyboard, organ, banjo, violin, horns and mandolin with eclectic musical concepts, a supreme intuitiveness with each other and the crowd, and pleasing aesthetics that make this band a satisfying one to catch.

   Their videos, which can be found on their YouTube mix, are a deeply touching and positively entertaining time warp (i.e. the video for "Bones" http://youtu.be/2-EQzESFuDU). And after catching them live for the first time, I see exactly the talent that has earned them an invitation to play the Dave Matthews Band Caravan at The Gorge in Washington State, this Labor Day weekend. Vocalist-guitarist-keyboard player, Jeremiah Zimmerman voiced to me his excitement for that upcoming performance. He noted that Dave Matthews Band had inspired him when he was really starting to play music in the early nineties. In addition to that, Jeremiah also stated of the caravan show, with an ear-to-ear grin, "… I'm excited to be playing the same show as The Roots too!"

   Last night, they completed their four-performance Las Vegas stop, playing the midnight show at Book & Stage, Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. The band had been in town playing shows with buddy-band, Saint Motel.

    I'd previously heard a bit of their music before this, but I hadn't expected such meteoric stage presence and funky vibe from guys that-- for the most part-- looked like they had just emerged from the prohibition era; suspenders, derby hat, handlebar moustache and all! But there was nothing rusty and old about their performance. I couldn't help but clap my hands and pipe in myself, yelling "Amen!" to tracks like "The Well" and "Gasoline." They played a well-paced hour long set, full of vigor that drew a hefty crowd to the Book & Stage Lounge, which had been rather empty (with the exception of an obviously faithful group of followers) just prior to them hitting the stage.  

   They have a unique chemistry with the crowd that is difficult for many bands to attain. But to these guys, the love that they make with their audience seems to just come naturally. And the name of the band-- The Silent Comedy-- is appropriate not only in their timelessness, but also in that, if their performance had been recorded and played back on mute, the silent visual performance itself would be almost as entertaining.

   This is an act that I definitely look forward to seeing again; and I'll be doing so when I attend the Dave Matthews Band Caravan at The Gorge, September 2-4. The Silent Comedy comes from unique, cultured musical roots and inspirations. They are a band that you can't just listen to; you have to experience them live to get the full, pleasing effect.  You'll be happy you did so!

~Meow~

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