The Rosenbergs, Hairy Apes BMX, Licking Ohio
Grand Emporium
June 19, 1999

Review by Chris Wagner

Due to the idiosyncrasies of the Grand Emporium booking policy, a New York pop outfit jumped on the bill of this recent installment of the (local) Zone Monday. The Rosenbergs delivered an effects-laden blast of guitar pop to the gradually emerging audience, leaving no tools unused in their attempt to win over a foreign crowd. Playing their pedals as much as their guitars, the feedback-loving four-piece proceeded to serve heaping helpings of well-crafted, swirling hooks.

I stop short of analyzing the originality of their approach because the Achilles heel of this band is that it doesn't really explore any uncharted territory. For those following along at home: tight, close voiced harmonies- check; simple, pounding backbeats- check; springy, punchy basslines- check. The implication here is that the Rosenbergs are slaves to a formula, which is more than a little true. Fortunately, it's a decent recipe- if not a groundbreaking one.

The only real beef I could bring would be the fact that most of the bands in this camp tend to feel obligated to attempt, at some point, the "joke song", which usually plays to some already-dated pop-culture reference in an attempt to endear oneself with the audience. In the case of "Puff Daddy Isn't Kosher", the Rosenbergs simply gave everyone an excuse to tend to their drinks; the play-by-numbers cover of "BBC" (seen Austin Powers I?) didn't fare much better. Still, their hearts were in the right place, they played like it was the hometown crowd, and that's what counts.

Over the course of the next group's set, I was repeatedly reminded of the instrumental segues which pepper the more recent Beastie Boys records. Like Brooklyn's favorite sons, Hairy Apes BMX (which includes at least one Billy Goat formerly-of) turned heads with their esoteric lineup and stylistic stew of influences, with funk, bebop, reggae, and Third-World ingredients sprinkled liberally throughout.

The instrumentation bore shades of '60's jazz, when artists in search of a new sound first began filtering Latin and African musical concepts through electric amplification. "Relapse King" showcased this mix, with a shuffling New Orleans beat complete with George Porter-esque basslines, barking Fender Rhodes chords, and Gary Burton-meets-steel drum marimbas, all supporting vocals delivered in a half-rap, half-beat poetry manner. Latino lyrics dictated the band's approach for "Chocoláte" (I think this was the song's name; it was repeated in excess), fueling a salsa exploration.

The 'Apes' blending of styles was so diverse, in fact, that in their desire to pay tribute to their diverse influences, the band occasionally lost focus. As with other similar acts, BMX songs became free-form jams, meandering in and out of a coherent form. The inherent danger in such improvisation is that one may gain personal satisfaction, but at the expense of the message to be communicated to the audience. The 'Apes definitely have the chops; the fun part comes when they're harnessed to deliver a unified message.

Closing out the night's festivities was local rockers Licking Ohio. If first impressions hold true, I'd have to say that these guys are huge Creed and Seven Mary Three fans. Since it's a fine line between wearing one's influences on one's sleeve and plagiarism (and anyone who's ever been in a band is guilty of this at some point in their lives- God knows I've done it), I'm willing to give Licking Ohio the benefit of the doubt and say that they have the potential to shake off the temptation to ape their heroes, and make some vital and creative music in the process.

Having said that, it should be noted that they aren't there yet. What I heard sounded unfinished- a collection of three-chord, four-on-the-floor rockers that, while fairly well executed, didn't really take me anywhere. Distorted guitars and tortured lyrics as a genre has been pretty heavily mined, especially in KC. That doesn't mean it's finished; it just needs to be steered in a new direction. Keep looking, guys- you may very well be the ones who find it.

--Chris Wagner