As I entered during the first song of Pillars and Tongues’ set, I hit an unsettling wall of off-centered pitch, as Mark Trecka (vocals/percussion/objectophiliac) thrusted his pelvis into an accordion. This Chicago tribal, tonal, soul-folk trio was unfettered by conventional rules that govern music. Evan Hydzik (bass), Elizabeth Remis (violin), and Mark Trecka explore, play, and have a conversation. Whether or not it is a place I want to travel, something I would watch again, or a conversation I would pay a dollar to overhear… Well, the jury is taking its time.
Their excessively long tracks and desire to build songs without “meat” confused me. Trecka has an absolutely lovely voice, and Remis’ is not far behind, but their drawn out, organic, abstract style is not working. They would be wise to step away from the primal and head back down the road to traditional. Helpful advice given to me that I will impart to you: When seeing a Pillars and Tongues’ show, close your eyes or look away (as Trecka’s gyrations are distracting).
Sixteen year-old (minus breakups/hiatus) indie-rock band Joan of Arc also possessed a non-traditional slant, but their math rock leaned toward an under-confident “TOE with an emo singer,” Tim Kinsella. The first – more than twelve-minute – song stopped and started, built and paused, but, aside from the lack of smooth musical segue, entertained anyway.
A creative quartet with contagious energy, Theo Katsaounis (drums) brought the audience to him with lengthy build-up and pace, and Bobby Burg (bass) kept us entertained, jumping around the proper amount, while Victor Villareal (guitar) played focused-driven riffs. Unfortunately, Tim Kinsella (vocals/guitar) interrupted. After his long, chatty introduction, I should have assumed that his vocals would be an auditory sticking point for me. I would suggest that they move to 100% instrumental; they have fun, they change things, and they manipulate the listener, but the vocals get in the way. I’d like a do-over of JOA, with Kinsella on guitar, sans mic.
