THE VELVET TEEN
Rickshaw Stop
March 19, 2008

The Velvet Teen packed the Rickshaw Stop, but kept a pretty low-key demeanor throughout their hour-long set. The Santa Rosa-based band played extended versions of songs from their three albums, jamming on tracks like "A Captive Audience" and "Chimera Obscurant" from their excellent Elysium record, and my favorite of the night, “Radiapathy” from 2002’s Out of the Fierce Parade EP.

Singer/bassist/pianist Judah Nagler took some time to loosen up and settle into the songs, but about twenty minutes into their set they hit their mark on a sort of bluesy song that didn't have a strong lyrical feeling, but gave the band a chance to stretch out and start taking some risks. Nagler has a distinctive voice, like a roughened up Broadway singer, it’s tough and raw but with a fey Morrissey lilt to it, and he was breaking hearts of those crowding towards the stage. The bass and piano parts he plays aren't flashy but they have strong and subtle grooves with lifts and lulls built in so that at their best moments you don't notice the change you just feel the song get bigger or brighter or more intense. In some of their earlier material you can hear some annoyingly predictable patterns in the songwriting but they seem to be moving away from that on their newer tracks.

Guitarist Matthew Izen hung his shaggy haired head over the fretboard during most of the show. He seemed reluctant to indulge in any sort of rocking out and consistently played up the song's sonics by bringing up swelling piercing wails of distortion and lots of delayed crystalline plucks that were more atmospheric than tangible riffs.

The real highlight of the show was drummer Casey Deitz. He totally wailed all night keeping the songs pumping and the crowd on edge. Deitz pummeled his kit with jaw dropping accuracy and speed. His playing made me think of Stuart Copeland or that guy from Dave Matthews Band (I'm sorry, but that guy is REALLY good).

Overall, the show's energy was lacking, like they were on stage killing time before they got paid. The songs are strong and getting better but still a bit too emotional for me and I wouldn't recommend them unless you're interested in watching some off-the-wall drumming.

[Jeff Bissell]

[STREAM] The Velvet Teen: Various Tracks