Instead of checking out the crowd-pleasing, positive vibes of Troy’s Summer Square on Wednesday, August 6, I poked my head into local venue No Fun who was hosting Thor Harris for the evening.
His name may not ring a bell for you unless you are tapped into popular strains of experimental rock, and if you are, you might be aware of the fact that he has collaborated with LA’s Xiu Xiu or the multi-cultural Swans. Thor has had his hands in a ton of avant-garde sonic insanity so a night with him would surely be one to remember.
The night opened with Sisterhood of Sleep, a local ambient electronic duo. Their sound was fantastically immersive, filling listeners with visions of a cyberpunk dystopia. Percussion was rarely ever used, very often existing as subtle bumps of bass or the sampled hand drum. On top of this sat the vocalist who would weave her voice effortlessly into the dense technological noise. The auditory world formed during this set was incredible and with the two having not performed in nearly a year, I hope this means more for them in the future.
Following them was More Eaze, a solo electronic amalgam from Brooklyn. Where Thor’s setup covered the entire stage, More’s was a solitary table with a wide array of tech meant to create her music. The tone was a hybrid of harsh, avant-garde percussion and heartfelt, organic melodies.
More would switch between electric guitar and violin while fiddling with her hardware, making minute adjustments that would drastically impact the sonic canvas she painted on. Songs would focus on a heart wrenching sonic idea while the backing percussion would feel like a new age collage whose meaning you can’t quite put your finger on. More’s singing was also accented with heavy auto tune, making her songs feel like ballads from a future where we are all meant to serve as jesters for our robot overlords.
Finally, it was time for Thor Harris and his pals and their set. If you came there for the abrasive, experimentation of the projects he is known for I think you would be surprised. Thor and his collaborators focused more on brisk, evocative rhythms to hypnotize this listener with no delivery of explosive crescendos to scare the audience. I could feel the hallmarks of some of my favorite Swans tracks and the mind-melting anticipation of their rhythms while featuring the intense technicality present in 80s era King Crimson. I also noticed several crowd members either dancing or sitting crisscross like this was some spiritual gathering rather than a local show. Maybe this was their Sabbath.
Thor also employed the help of More Eaze on violin as well as several other fascinating contributors. There was one guy who I saw playing a saw as if it were a theremin and two other percussionists who swapped between woodwinds and marimba with ease. The level of musical mastery at work at No Fun on Wednesday was unparalleled and I felt like this would be something reserved for a much larger stage.
Leaving the venue felt magical, the fantastic musicianship you can find while poking around local venues is fantastic and worth pursuing at any cost. Thor Harris’ music is one that appeals mostly to the most rabid music seekers but I feel it can be enjoyed by anyone if you are willing to get lost in its hypnotic feel.
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