Instrumental music is making a comeback, be it electronic or the heavy handed metal of Pelican. Those little etch marks are threatening to succumb to a growing tide of "Singer? What singer?" bands. While singers exude expressive attitude on stage coaxing the audience along, instrumental groups have a significant disadvantage as intricate solos and elongated melodies steal focus away from literally staring out into the darkened venue to pull people's attention onto the stage. Aetiology is one such instrumental band, rooted in Wisconsin and Illinois, that surpasses that hurdle effortlessly, all with only a several months notched in live concerts.
The three-piece mixes visuals with soaring rock instrumentals, the kind that is ingrained in the idolized halls of late '60s, early '70s rock. Aetiology created their own musical topography by dabbing into psychedelia and experimental rock with troughs of bass from Mike Brandt and cascading drums from Chris Ditton. All throughout the journey, Scott Flesch's guitarwork reinforced with ascending riffs and meandering solos. Even without their visualizations, Aetiology managed to take those Reggie's Rock Club adventurers on an expedition worthy of trekking out on a snowy Saturday night.
As I had remarked, it had been a while since I had delved into traditional rock after being sidetracked-or sideswiped-by the experiments being concocted since early this decade. It wasn't for disinterest, rather concerted efforts to branch out. The night rekindled that old interest through the expert instrumentals and a surprising stage presence hinted at only from viewed YouTube clips. The landscapes created were predominately driven, complex jaunts founded in Chris' drum rhythms. Yet towards the end, they threw in a cliff diving, slower tempo "Strange Hieroglyphs" that was paced and gave time to sink your teeth into the trio's musical abilities. It was entirely refreshing, breaking up the set fantastically to build enthusiasm leading into the final songs. It dared to crack the evening's setlist mold by tossing staggered silence between whispered guitar and a haunting baseline.
Yet I couldn't say more about Scott on stage. Aetiology gave hints of Mars Volta's elongated psychedelic rhythms, while Scott and his expressive hair concreted the comparison. The aforementioned drawback of being an instrumental band was easily surmounted as Scott visually pulled you into his riffs, enjoying the act of performing as much as the audience. There was no lethargy on stage, but an innate passion for those pivotal elements of traditional rock that survives and transforms this very day.
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