Goldfield Trading Post 1/22/23
First off, I'll say that I like all of the band members of Citizen Snips individually. But from my vantage point, they have a seemingly talented jazz keys player stuck providing mostly just simple bass lines on the low end, a good heavy hitting rock drummer stuck slamming indie beats, a rhythm guitarist stuck with repetitive electric guitar riffs, and a decent indie lead guitarist/vocalist trying to keep it cohesively indie-sounding. There were definitely times where things seemed to almost come to one collective sound, but mostly they seemed like each member would be better off trying again with another band. As always, I'd love to eat my words and see them have success in the future; there's quite a lot of potential talent here.
As Anita Velveeta's set went along, I found myself asking more and more questions. If she's trying to rap or at least speak poetry over synth, why is there so much modulation on her voice? Why are the genres changing so much, from hardcore synth hip hop to soulful indie rock to screamo to melancholic country to midwest emo? But about halfway through her set, Anita had a moment of real vulnerability with the crowd, admitting to still learning to love her unmodified voice. And y'know, using a voice modulator to combat dysphoria is hardly the worst reason an artist has ever had to use the technology, though I believe her natural voice works great already, even with the frequent genre switches. I may have more questions than answers about Anita Velveeta, but I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing. It's possible that she sticks to one or two genres, fully embraces her voice, and flourishes in a more traditional musical path. It is also equally possible that at my ripe old age of 24, this type of act is the future and I'm going to be left behind, but I don't mind smiling and waving as pioneering artists blaze a new trail, successful or not.
Early Eyes is one of the more traditional "rock" groups I've seen in a while, though I'd say they have more energy and more bite than most straight up rock bands. Their smooth jazz influences are subtle but apparent, and the vocals often harken back to the 2000s post-grunge, pre-emo, pop-punk era, in a mixture that works better than upon first glance. Going back to their energy, their love for and dedication to the music is just apparent through the sheer determination and joy on their faces. And in regards to instrumentation, the guitar, bass, and drums are able to sound either chunky and bold, but also ethereal and beautiful, able to sync up and change at will. While they also had a sampling pad and vocal mods, they utilized them more effectively than the average indie band, utilizing them more as a tool than a full instrument, more a spice than a meal. I don't know how much more I can say about this group; they put on a good show, maybe the best I've seen to a group of 50 people. They made all 50 bob and dance for basically all of their set, even in a tiny, backwoods venue like Goldfield Trading Post. And for that, they have my gratitude for a great night out.
