Start strong and end strong seemed to be Tuesday's motto at The Bishop. Visiting Bloomington from the atypical west coast of Washington for the first time, The Globes introduced themselves to the crowd. Though a stranger to most, the band's strong presence enticed interest. I could tell the band felt as strongly about what they were playing as the vibe their music was streaming. As Sean McCotter, who was alternating playing bass and keyboard, shook his head in rhythm with the heavy bass-line, I became compelled to follow along as did many people around me. With all of their songs, they gave a steady progression lead by bass and drum dynamics given by Marcus Ourada, but remained on the edge of energy with the overlying guitar played by Kyle Musselwhite and Erik Walters. I really thought that they gave a great performance and it definitely set a high expectation for the second set.
The mass crowd that showed up for Tera Melos made me think I was in for something impressive. Though I might have set my expectations too high, I still think the creme center of the evening wasn't exactly gratifying. Their repetition reminded me of a sort of unsatisfied inertia. The anticipation was so high for that kick back, yet the band simply waited too long to deliver creating an awkward moment resulting in me losing interest. However, the rest of the audience's reaction was a mix of contradictions. It seemed they were either tapping their foot in tune with the music or impatience. However, my friend and I were among those who were less than entertained.
They were definitely a math rock band, which justified the complex diversity in their music; however, I felt that there was no constant underlying theme. It was like there were too many ideas being presented at once, which made it difficult to connect to. As a first-time listener, I would like to think that Tera Melos is just one of those bands you have to keep listening to before you can learn to enjoy them. However, I'm not so sure their first impression was enough of an invite to do so.
Apparently Maps and Atlases are reliable in more than one context. Although I had enjoyed their latest album Perch Patchwork, previous to the show, I had prepared myself for a little less from their live performance. However, I am happy to say I was proven wrong. Opening with "Living Decorations," the band did not hesitate to set a standard of psychedelic allure for their set. The fluorescent melodies immediately provided a swooning atmosphere. It was cool to hear how the band introduced a new scent of pop to their otherwise indie rock genre.
I was most impressed by how they implemented a feeling that I was listening to a classic 1970's funk band but at the same time enjoying a modern piece of experimental folk. But honestly the music was only a part of the experience. The longhaired, long-bearded lead vocalist Dave Davison truly was the element that made an excellent performance even better. His quick charisma reminds me of that provided by Vampire Weekend vocalist Ezra Koenig. However, I feel that Davison has more of a diverse range in what he can portray. For example, the vocals in "Solid Ground" are a completely different technique than that in "Pigeon." However, he accomplished both with artistic perfection, and I cannot think of another vocalist that could match the aspirations of the rest of the band's work. This might be most evident in the song "Perch Patchwork" where Davison accosts the elegance of strings but also meets the lure of fun rhythms.
This among other elements never let the overall enthusiasm fade. The crowd's engagement was not drawn through an elaborate stage performance, but rather through purely the music. There was rarely a person who was not moving in reaction to what they were hearing. Returning for an encore, the band decided to join their fans and set up on the ground. It was that kind of genuine involvement which I admire in them as performers and in their music. Overall, the night was a success and I found some permanent fixtures for my itunes.
Kelsey Collisi
