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Bands that exude joy are rare. Even if music is supposed to be “joyful,” all too often its execution isn’t. Technical difficulties plague shows; personal differences get in the way of music. These small details can turn hot gigs into merely warm ones.
Thus, Stinking Lizaveta completely surprised me at New York’s Cake Shop last Saturday. This instrumental trio’s music isn’t particularly upbeat. Sacrifice and Bliss (At a Loss, 2009), their latest full-length, is actually somewhat dark. Its tart abstraction suggests a drier Dysrhythmia (whose Kevin Hufnagel was in the crowd that night).
Live, though, this Philly outfit had a blast. The crowd couldn’t help but do so, too. Every so often guitarist Yanni Papadopoulos would yell “Whoo!” into the microphone. It was an expression of pure joy. Sometimes he lifted his axe to his lips and yelled into its pickups, just because he could. It was easy to see why he teaches for Paul Green’s School of Rock. He is a shredder, but not the traditional sort. No poncey sweep picking for him – he earns his notes the old-fashioned way, one note at a time. His pick-melting power suggested an updated version of Dick Dale. Papadopoulos was all over the place – climbing on chairs, amps, anything that could be climbed. At one point, he unplugged his cord and banged out rhythms with its tip. At another, he handed his guitar to a startled crowd member, who smeared the strings while Papadopoulos whipped up an exuberant torrent of effects. Smiles sprouted up all around.
Cheshire Agusta was one of the best drummers I have ever seen, in any genre of music. I have seen Bernard Purdie, Dave Lombardo, Dave Grohl, Neil Peart, and Jimmy Chamberlin play, and Agusta is their equal in terms of making a room move. Her crisp kineticism reminds me of Brann Dailor without the overplaying. Since Papadopoulous was hopping around the room, and his brother Alexi worked through lines incognito on electric upright bass, Agusta held the center down. Everyone else seemed to agree; cameras constantly targeted her. There is still some novelty in a female drummer. (See this great interview with Agusta on the topic.) Agusta didn’t seem to notice. She was fully inside the music, constantly talking with her eyes with her bandmates. Yet they executed tricky stop-time arrangements seemingly with eyes closed. I was spellbound.
Stinking Lizaveta’s website quotes Kurt Vonnegut: “Anybody practicing the fine art of composing music, no matter how cynical or greedy or scared, still can’t help serving all humanity. Music makes practically everybody fonder of life than he or she would be without it.” That night, the band didn’t talk this talk; it walked its walk.
Stinking Liz are one of the greatest live bands around. Their tours must not be ignored.
I was proud to be that startled audience member smearing yanni's guitar
Fantastic show.that hendrix cover made me so happy.
Stinking Liz are pure heart and I would consider them one of our greatest musical treasures. No posturing, no ego….just white hot energy and sound. The Vonnegut quote sums up the elation I get from watching them live. Great review!
Stinking Lizaveta are one of my favorite bands, period!