I had no expectations, but a healthy curiosity, going into El Corazón's Sunday evening show. Though I had listened to headliner RX Bandits years ago, the ska-influenced band had fallen off my radar.
But first up was local opener, Wild Orchid Children, who took the American flag covered stage by storm. Bringing a huge amount of energy to the room, Wild Orchid Children's sound brought to mind angst filled bands like Rage Against The Machine or At the Drive-In. Lead singer Kirk Huffman, looking like a young Johnny Depp with Steven Tyler-like mannerisms, truly brought the “wild” of their name. Despite being fairly new to the Seattle scene, these guys have already had their share of rock-and-roll drama: their record producer was shot and killed this past summer. But with crazed performances like this one, the band seems to be gaining strength from their adversities.
In between sets, I learned that the guy next to me had driven several hours down from British Columbia solely to see the next band Zechs Marquise. I was excited to see their drummer set up in front center stage - ideal lighting, for a change! Their set was entirely instrumental, and though I typically get bored watching jam bands, I was pleasantly surprised by Zechs Marquise's sound. You could tell how much energy these guys had simply by looking at their beat-up instruments.
The third act, The Builders and the Butchers, was my personal favorite of the evening. They have that distinctive folk-influenced Portland sound I just can’t get enough of. They also prominently featured their drummers by placing them in the middle of the stage; they were incredibly fun to watch, side-by-side, beating their own individual drums. Singer Ryan Sollee was equally entertaining with his abundant energy and eccentric movements and facial expressions. Although they didn’t have much to say between songs, they did engage the audience by passing out cartoonish-looking bells for a few fans to play along.
Although there was a brief use of trumpet by The Builders and the Butchers, I am sad to report that there were no horns in RX Bandits’ set. Presumably, they were tired of being typecasted as a ska band and gradually grew away from that Orange County sound. Regardless, they are still very much reggae influenced. Although they didn’t play a single song that I remembered from their Drive-Thru Records days, I genuinely enjoyed their set. Ideally heard at an outdoor music festival, RX Bandits have that I-want-to-change-the-world vibe about them. I couldn’t help but notice lead singer/guitarist Matt Embree playing with his teeth a couple of times; was this an intentional Hendrix reference? As it turns out, Embree credited Jimi with being “the only reason” he plays, and paid tribute to him by performing an excerpt from "The Wind Cries Mary."
Remarkable percussion, a highlight of all four bands, shined in the grand finale with RX Bandits' Choi and Tsagakis, along with Zech Marquise's Rodriguez-Lopez, performing a three-man drum-off.
I’m grateful to have finally seen RX Bandits live, even though I can’t call them ska anymore. Embree mentioned that they are living at poverty level, but are happy. Their new songs aren’t quite pop enough to gain commercial success, but you have to respect a band that puts the music first. RX Bandits are clearly writing material that keeps them inspired, and their fans are still moved by it.
