Last night, I went to Barboza with a friend to see The Soft Moon.
But first, we had to endure an ear-punishing cacophony of sound from Girl Tears.
This garage band has mastered in every detail the reproduction of the sound of apes set loose on the stage to discover the joy of abusing a mic and instruments with the volume turned up to 11.
The most interesting part was between the 30-second “songs”. (Or was it just the same 30-second song repeated 20 times? Who could tell?) The lead screamer/guitar-punisher would suddenly turn human and speak like a normal person. “Thank you all for being here. It’s great to see you.” And then just as suddenly back to unintelligible screaming.
It was a shocking juxtaposition that made me laugh out loud.
I guess I’m not a fan of punk. Each to their own.
Thankfully, this part of the show ended and the place was quickly packed in anticipation of The Soft Moon.
I had no idea what I was in for.
After only the first few bars, it was clear that the singer/songwriter/instrumentalist Luis Vasquez has highly evolved the art of creating music.
It was as though Luis could physically see and viscerally manipulate sound in a way the rest of us cannot, instinctively weaving and forming it’s very shape and substance as it traveled to the enthralled audience.
This wasn’t about catchy pop hooks or rhyming lyrics.
This was a full-spectrum sound experience created by a true master of the medium.
Intense. Moving. Visceral.
If you get the chance, The Soft Moon is a show you do not want to pass up.
Just make sure you’re a little late.
-D
