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Handstand

My sister (Karlene Graham) and I recently got to see MuteMath in concert.  She ended up writing a review of her experience, seeing them live for the first time.

If I was unsure of who my favorite band was, this concert made up my mind. On Thursday, September 24th, MuteMath headlined a show. They’re a band that seems comfortable evading strict classification, or being confined within a specific genre.

“Their music consists of many elements and has been described as everything from electro-alternative-rock to psychedelic-gospel to experimental-pop”.

I’ve always been a fan of the group, enjoying their musical fusions, but never had the opportunity to see them perform live.  So imagine my excitement to learn that they would be performing at Sonar, in downtown Baltimore.  We arrived slightly early to meet the line wrapped around the building.  As Tall as Lions, a band that was new to me, opened the show and I was pleasantly surprised.  They were a nice blend of so many of the things I love.  Just as their songs carried bass-centric lines, their bassist, Julio stole the audiences attention.  Even as the bass rattled my heart, the crooning lead singer, paired with the reverberating horns of another band member, held me captive.  Many of the members were versatile, often rearranged who was playing what depending on what the song called for.  At one point, one member had his left hand on the keyboard, while his right was holding his trumpet to his lips.  This band was great to say the least, I only hope they’re as engaging in my living room on my speakers.

Check out one of their songs on youtube

Anticipation was thick while the tech crew set the stage for MuteMath.  I got chills just watching a random teenager carry out a beautifully contoured double bass.  I was thrilled to see that the drums were positioned stage left…on our side of the venue.  It had been rumored that the drummer played so manically that he used duck tape to keep his headphones on his head.  Finally, the house lights dimmed again and show lights strobed.  I was going to see if the rumors were true.  The concert started with their high energy single “Nerve” off their recently released album “Armistice“.

With the exception of a few songs, like “Nerve”, “Armistice” was a little more relaxed than the previous albums , so the vibe of the concert was not the sky-high energy that I had anticipated.  I still was not disappointed.  The group was keen on keeping the energy driving while slowing down the tempo.  They carried the crowd on the musicianship and experimental nature of the group, which was very evident in the way they incorporated a xylophone, the double bass, and other instruments, in addition to the traditional guitar, keys, bass, and drums.  I admire the MuteMath’s ability to infuse the unexpected so seamlessly.

The band continued to play songs off their current and previous albums mixed with urban instrumental grooves that you couldn’t help but vibe to… and then they said goodbye.  But the show felt incomplete and the crowd was NOT having it.  This was not the MuteMath we’d grown to love over the years.  We knew they had more to say, so we told them we wanted more and cheered them back on the stage.  They came back with a finale that I never saw coming.  They must have been teasing us because they came out with a whole new high-octane segment:  from somersaults over keyboards to smashing cymbals and crowd surfing on a bass drum.  They pulled out all the stops, all without sacrificing the musicality that I love them for.

All in all, I was very pleased with the concert and would love to see both bands live again.  MuteMath’s CDs have always held their own in the fight for the highest play count on my computer and I haven’t grown weary of “Armistice” yet.  I still have so many patterns, rhythms, and harmonies to unearth before I even tackle their lyrical content.  Which is an entirely different subject, rich with layered meanings, spiritual adventure, and much food for thought.  This is an experience that was so musically rich that I have plenty to digest until the next time I am privileged to see them live.

I’ve posted a few links to some videos I managed to record at the concert.  The sounds quality isn’t the best, but for you mute math fans, you still may enjoy!

Mute Math – Odds

Mute Math – Pins and Needles

Mute Math – Armistice

Mute Math – Clipping