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Thirsty, the Jeff Freeling Band, and The Wonsers
Review by Danny Alexander
The second Zone Monday was an impressive success, particularly for the
strong crowd that showed up early enough to check out Thirsty's opening set.
Thirsty played hard and heavy and aggressive, sturdy bass allowing for wild
lead guitar and impressive dynamics on drums. Bold rockers with a sense of
humor, Thirsty is one of those bands that begs you not to take it seriously
and then knocks you back in your seat.
In the second set, Jeff Freeling, formerly of Grumpy, returned from Chicago
with some of his old crew to Kansas City and proved that the old sounds
haven't died - they've just grown more supple. Freeling's
Lennon-sifted-through Elvis-Costello vocals were passionate and beautiful,
and it was nice to hear that memorable voice backed by a bracingly spare
arrangement, largely built around percussion and bass-heavy grooves. In the
end, ranging from loungy to houserocking, the Jeff Freeling Band outshone
its once very popular, decade-old predecessor.
Minneapolis's the Wonsers may be most notable for having two giant brothers
fronting the band - makes you realize how many musicians are downright petite
when you see a couple of solid farmhands taking up half the stage. The
guitar leads were lyrical, the vocals passionate and the performance somehow
seemed all the more winning for its impression of clumsiness. The Wonsers
proved to be the kind of band that left you wondering just how to take them,
but sent you away wanting to pick up that cd.
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