Show Review: Myopic, At The Graves, and Savagist

Sunday night saw Velvet Lounge play host to a room full of amps but devoid of people. Despite a crowd that consisted mostly of the other bands and a handful of friends all three bands played all out, passionate sets, approaching the show with the same seriousness that they would any other.

Myopic was the first band on last night, taking the stage around 9:15. Their set, which clocked in at around 30 or 40 minutes, saw the venue at about as crowded as it got that night, with around15 people in the crowd. This was one of Myopic's first shows following the release of their debut EP, Vacuous. Their enthusiasm for the music was obvious; they played the entirety of the record as well as some newer material and other songs that didn't make it on the the EP.

You don't normally think of doom as being a genre that requires particularly demanding attention to precision but Myopic defied that notion. They played incredibly tightly, free of any glaring mistakes or missteps; emphasizing dynamics, and raw, fuzzy riffs, rock solid rhythm, and frantic solos. Drummer Michael Brown's performance was especially strong in this regard, aggressively beating the drums, and providing a powerful base that the rest of the band built off of. Vocalist Nick Mutschler's performance was also impressive; bellowing forth tortured, hateful screams without sacrificing enunciation or vocal clarity. While the band could have probably benefited from a little more energy and movement on stage they still gave the crowd at Velvet Lounge a fantastic performance. Their tone was fantastic, they were completely locked in with each other, and played emotional, pummeling music.

Next up was Anne Arundel based stoner-sludge band At The Graves. A late addition to the bill, they decided to play the show on only a couple days notice. Embracing elements of doom, drone, and experimental music they played a punishing set steeped in atmospheric drones and were probably the loudest band of the night. Frontman Ben Price's vocals were ethereal and furious, working well with the sludgy, atmospheric music that the band plays. The guitars were fuzzed-out and crunchy, with Price putting more emphasis on controlling feedback and creating a sense of dissonance and a haunting atmosphere than on technicality.

Like Myopic, At The Graves rhythm section was spot on. Bassist Billy Keane's bass lines settled into a deep hypnotic groove, reminiscent of bands like Om or the Melvins. Similarly, drummer Joe Jacklin complimented the music perfectly and fit right in with contrast between loud and quiet dynamics that At The Graves love. One of the most exciting aspects of the band's performance was Price and Keane playing their own toms while their instruments laid at their feet, lending their music even more heaviness and ambiance and letting the audience get lost in the riffs, feedback, and drones that the band created. Again, like Myopic, a bit more movement and audience interaction wouldn't have killed At The Graves, but such a small crowd may have made that a bit more difficult, and on the whole their performance was excellent.

The last band to play was Athens, Georgia's Savagist. A bit older and more established as a band than either of the previous acts their chemistry and experience was quickly evident. Simply put, they fucking killed it. The breakneck, brutal, grinding sludge (or as they put it, "ruff rock") that they churned forth reminds listeners of pre-Leviathan Mastodon. They commanded the stage as though there were a crowd of hundreds, despite the fact that the audience consisted of around 10 people.

They were the only band to employ two guitarists which were used expertly, with frontman/guitarist Clem Adams and guitarist Patrick Ware busting out creative harmonies, ferocious chords, riffs, and solos, and unusually musical feedback. In what became the night's theme, Savagist's rhythm section was amazing. Drummer Jason "Mohawk" Richardson completely brutalized his drums, with the thunderous sounds that he produced driving the band forward and a snare that cuts through like a cannon. Also impressive was bassist Daniel Shroyer, who played with surprising speed and precision, shared vocal duties with Adams, and was absolutely brimming over with spastic energy, bouncing around the stage and ignoring all obstacles. Every song was bursting with reckless southern savagery and aggression. Savagist is damn good and it's a shame that there weren't more people at Velvet Lounge to witness their set.

The night was fun. The sound was excellent and the bands did more than play well. They played their hearts out and they all seemed just as comfortable playing for a dozen people as they would've playing for a hundred. The small crowd ate up everything that the bands dished out and all really enjoyed and appreciated the music. Having a bigger crowd there would have been better for the bands but they most certainly did not let that bother them.

Be sure to "like" all these guys on Facebook and check out their tunes on Bandcamp. You will not be disappointed.

-MG