by Kyle Schmitt
The Grey A - Grey Jacks and his four-piece band presented a clean, polished
rock sound with barbed lyrics. His songs call out con men and liars,
while Jacks rues that, "Everywhere I see / people happier than me." His
songs impress the most when the energy increases, as it did on a rousing
"love letter" to New Orleans and a cover of "Personal Jesus" that he
dedicated to Those Darlins. Embracing his self-described "politipop",
Jacks made time for election-year sloganeering in DC. He warned his
audience that "The game is rigged", and his advice to "Vote 'em out" was
the right message at the right time and place. And speaking of right
time and place, Jacks later told the crowd to bring their vaporizers to
his 4/20 show at Comet Ping Pong.
Idle Bloom - This group conjures a rich, heavy sound that channels My Bloody
Valentine at times. While most songs lacked a defined structure, hooks
arose out of nearly every verse, and the marked dynamics got heads
bopping from the first song onward. The lead guitar sounds almost
synth-like and lends grandeur to the mix. Olivia Scibelli's strong
singing proved a match for these domineering guitar tones, and her
bandmates' backing vocals integrated well with the portentous
instrumental atmosphere. Idle Bloom's strengths were highlighted on
"Dust", which featured guitar that sounded like it was lighting the way
for the bass to cut a path through the darkness.
Those Darlins - This set took on a valedictory feel, as it marked the first
of Those Darlins' final four shows (for now, at least). It felt even
more like graduation day when guitarist Nikki Kvarnes (a Rappahannock
County girl) pointed out her cheerful family in the audience. Those
Darlins shifted effortlessly from blues to hard rock to country,
sometimes blending all genres into one blazing song. Despite the
fact-based subject matter, "Hives" rang out with joy, and Kvarnes and
fellow guitarist/singer Jessi Zazu teamed for a fantastic vocal
performance on "That Man". Zazu is a compelling live performer, spitting
twang as she stares down her audience and bounds up at the microphone
like she can't wait to tell off her lyrical target. The ladies strutted
through some crowd-pleasing covers, with Zazu tearing through "White
Light/White Heat" and Kvarnes venturing into the audience during a
smoldering "Shakin' All Over". If this was it for Those Darlins, then
these women have earned rightful admittance to their eternal paradise in
Guitar Heaven.
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