Having seen Brooklyn now-quartet Violens back in April at North Star Bar (when a 5 piece), I was more than excited to catch the band again last night at Johnny Brenda’s along with locals Ape School and Relay. Ape School opened the show with an indie acid rock and indie pop rock set that, while not groundbreaking music by any means, was entertaining. Front man Michael Johnson often sang in a falsetto as the band played solidly behind him.
After a lengthy set-up, Violens took stage and got down to business. The stage banter was minimal, save for front man Jorge Elbrecht asking if the audience could hear everything OK and later to mention that the band had an EP for sale at the merch table. Their no nonsense approach to playing wasn’t unwelcomed as they rocked hard, playing a tight and high-energy set of hard rocking tunes. Laptop beats flowed forth from a Mac manned by synth player/vocalist Iddo Arad as Violens ended their set with a series of dance jams.
Drummer Kris King tore up his kit with an ever present grin on his face as Elbrecht shredded on the guitar through the urgent dance tunes and inspired an eager fan into a frenzied solo dance party. In the frenzy, bassist Ben Brantley ripped off the strings from his bass and tossed it to the ground in a fervor, astonishing and pleasing the crowd.
Violens only get better with age and has great commercial appeal. Expect big things.
Jorge Elbrecht
Iddo Arad
Ben Brantley
Kris King
Violens Set List:
Already Over
Perceived
Until It’s Unlit
Grey Reigning
Spectator & Pupil
Trance-Like Turn (download)
Doomed
Violent Sensation Descends
Full Collision
Violens: website | myspace | download, watch “Trace-Like Turn†| Green Owl comp | rcrd labl | interview with | April 2008 live review
Ape School: myspace
Relay: myspace
