“Showdown in Central Park...” An unforgettable bass line and a sexy groove capped with a hot atmosphere started the Powerspace set at House of Blues Wednesday night. Sift together teaser lights, a pinch of anxiety, loads of confidence and all-encompassing passion, and you’ll have the perfect combination of onstage “bring it” elements. Performing as headliners for The Next American Star’s Midwest showcase with Local 101, Powerspace showed some of the younger and/or newer bands how a few years of experience and countless hours in a studio can set one band apart from the next.
There were moments of complete synchronization between guitarists Tom Scheiter and Max Perenchio where, even on opposite sides of the stage, distinguishing between choreographed and complete musical connection was impossible. Max’s energy was so pure and contagious that it was hard to believe the front row of the audience wasn’t chanting his name. Swing that arm one more time, man, and you would have created a screaming little girl out of me.
Not to mention the high performance quality from lead vocalist Alec Cyganowski. This guy has either studied the motions of every classic rockstar front-man or he simply just has it in him. The way he works the mic stand, makes eye contact with the audience, and bends backward lower than a break-dancer more than impresses the audience - it brings them to his world. That world that consists of hot bass lines and blood-pumping drums (provided by Jake Serek and Kevin Kane, respectively). If everyone could turn around and have those two at their backbone, it may just be a perfect world. Every bass kick could be felt through the floor and all the way up the body, syncing the heart rates of the entire room. Because of this higher-than-reality world created onstage, it was easy to forget the floor beneath my feet and any previous knowledge of music and just say “Ok, take me with you” to the songs. Even their old friend “Right On, Right Now” was delivered with a harder clarity and more focused musicality. "Don't Stop" created a believer out of my skeptical partner in crime that night. Incorporating voice-doubling in octaves, and bringing tight harmonies to a chorus not only shows off muli-talented band members, but also reminds the audience that real musicians are at work here.
While locked away in the studio finishing up their new album American Machine, Powerspace is also honing their craft. Studio time can often turn groups into vampires stuck in their own creation of reality. Luckily, all five members appear to have never ending sources of positive energy and anxiety (to show off their hard work!) channeling into those hours that every live performance has proven them a better, tighter, and more mature band.
Powerspace is telling a story behind their lyrics and surprising (yet appropriate) breakdowns. A believable, honest-to-the-gods-of-rock story. Open your ears and let them sing it to you.
A Work In Progress 2
No comments:
Post a Comment