THE ETCHINGS PERFORM FOR AN INTIMATE CROWD
@ SOUNDLAB
NOVEMBER 18, 2011
Soundlab is located in the basement of the Dunn building located at the corner of Swan and Pearl. After making our way around back for the official entrance we made our way down a few steps outside and then inside. We were the first to arrive and locked in a front row spot at the bar.
Having never been to this location we began to absorb the ambiance taking in the darkness with the red brick surrounding. The bartender sweet as she was, still preparing the bar for a long night. When she started lighting the candles and placing them on the bar the mood was being finalized.
THE ETCHINGS were still putting the final touches on a couple songs they would latter play for the audience. At a moment when Mike Randall (guitar) and Rocco DellaNeve (guitar) were tightening up their collaboration, Ben Randall (bass) began rolling out some bass lines that sounded like Cliff Burton mastering a crazy funk sound. OK, now our attention was peaked and the anticipation began to grow.
Their sound seems to build from a variety of foundations of Jazz and Rock that brings a very unique fusion of music. They definitely grab the audience's attention with self-penned material. Hearing the vocals was really the only downfall of their live show. The lead vocals seem driven deep in the mix and having heard a bit of both Randall and DellaNeve in warmup accapella they were great. So why the hiding? They each have a unique vocal quality that needs to be nurtured because this will only heighten the music they are making.
The band asked the crowd if they wanted one or two more songs everyone including us shouted for two. Honestly, four or five could not have satisfied the growing group of fans. There did seem to be a buzzing coming from one of the guitars but it was difficult to decipher which one. When THE MILKMAN'S UNION began their set the buzz or metal vibration was gone.
THE MILKMAN'S UNION are a trio that has a distinct mirror image of the band RUSH. More sound than expected from a three piece is exactly what you get with this band live. Like RUSH their music is smooth and intelligent within a genre that gives applause for hard and repetitive. The experience was very different from THE ETCHINGS as the drummer kept the crowd informed with the songs they were about the play. He continued to thank THE ETCHINGS along with the crowd for having them. The crowd that was still arriving gave off images of the old New York City Jazz days.
There was a table were they displayed their cd's and allowed for fans to donate to their cause whatever the recipient felt it was worth. We would have donated but their was no one around to give the cash to and we were not going to just snatch and grab. Sadly, we left without obtaining a copy of their cd and now looking back regret is what we feel.
The day for us was so long that it was impossible to stay for LAZLO HOLLYFELD. Hopeful that we could get some tracks to listen to we left early. All their cd's shown on their website does not link for a purchase. Their youtube link does has several videos even one from their show in Buffalo for New Years 2007. This gives us hope that they will be back and we can catch them live.
Great job ETCHINGS in bringing the heat of the music into one of the first seriously cold nights in Buffalo 2011.