Come see the Family

I've always tried to have something good to talk about before writing, but that became much to hard very quickly, so I found writing something, usually fills the time just as well.
Unfortunately though my ability to do this has been hampered for the last couple of months thanks to an intermittent computer issue that was, dare I say, most troublesome.

But it appears to be working again, so I'm getting in while the going's good. And right after I happened to see a very interesting band over the weekend.

Akron/Family are a little known indie band from the US who have graced our shore for an Aussie tour. I had no idea who they were until a friend came and told that I had a ticket for their show.

So, to prepare, I bought an album and quickly established that I may very well be extremely bored come gig night.
It's not that I thought it sounded crap, their album has a very experimental, folk-rock style of sound that really tweaks the interest. But after 1 listen I felt it was the type of music I would need to be in the mood for.

Come Saturday night, my expectations were set. And (here comes the metaphor) those expectations were blown out of the water!

After a couple of slow opening songs, making the crowd a little quiet, they promptly told everyone to lift their hands up limply, stick their tongues out and shake it up, to get warmed up.

This got the crowd nicely warmed, which started them dancing, then out came the funkier, psychedelic songs with harmonies harmonizing all over the place. These guys have that really raw sound that comes with their sometimes slightly off key harmonies and heavy percussion driven songs.

But they get into their music so much, you can't help but start grooving yourself.

The whole gig seemed to be building to a crescendo. As we got further and further into it the music's intensity grew and the little jams in between songs quickly turned into massive jams.

By the final song about 8 people came onto the stage from the previous bands (all of which I didn't see as I was busy having pre-drinks at the time) and started busting out on various percussion instruments.
The room was bouncing, the stage was going off and the drinks were flowing!
Akron/Family are definitely a band you must see live as the album just does not do them justice.

They look just like three red-neck nerd from the Southern US of A where, evidently, they happen to be from. Well, New York actually, but they're still from the same country.

So, in short, I thought I was going to be bored, turns out I was freaking amazed and entertained. What more of a night could you ask for?
These guys have experimented and created something very awesome and definitely for the live audience.
Go and see them if you get the chance. I'd do it again.



Oh and Merry Christmas and all that stuff!