Five rhythm-hungry metal-heads shot out of the gate with "Stasis," which finished amid an eruption of outpoured support from the previously lackadaisical crowd, to which singer Ashton Johnston appealed, "Now will you all come up to the front?" The band's newest fans happily obliged. Screaming lead guitar lines, spot-on vocal harmonies, and tight rhythms kept the audience engaged, smiling with heads bobbing in time, for the all-too-short half hour that S.I.Q commanded the stage.
Musically, there is little left to critique. Having two very capable vocalists in the band, Johnston and guitarist/vocalist Philip Rich, helped the intriguing vocal lines, complete with perfectly tuned and blended harmonies, mesh seamlessly with the intricate guitar harmonies provided by Rich and lead guitarist James Nelson. Johnston even relinquished the reigns to the lead vocals to Rich for one song, showcasing that, yes, Virginia, some bands have two lead-quality vocalists.
As for guitars, Rich's 7-string baritone guitar caught some attention even before the band played a note, and he gets a helluva sound out of a very small VOX combo amp. Nelson plays a Peavey Valve King half-stack and yet doesn't overpower (also thanks to a good mix by Pete at The Money). He does create some impressive, fingers-smoking solos to soar over the solid rhythms laid down by Rich, bassist Cole Millward, and drummer Corey Butler. For one song, just to be different, the rhythm section took a break, and Johnston and Nelson serenaded the bar with an acoustic song, which displayed a different form of power that echoed the acoustic beginnings of the band. The riffs are catchy and captivating, the music is laid out creatively but intuitively, and every song was executed with a certain unmistakeable precision--the band is well-rehearsed and it shows.
Many new bands are shocked at their first performance by the odd sensation of being onstage, baring their soul's work in front of a bunch of strangers, but S.I.Q. gave very little indication that this was their first performance on a bill with other bands. They remembered to thank the other bands, the venue, and the fans; they plugged their next show; and Johnston made the effort to talk to the audience while the rest of the band was tuning (hey, at least they value being in tune!). What stood out as "green" was their stage presence and member interaction. All four on the front line were hesitant to come out of their zone and interact with each other or the fans beyond facial expressions and in-place movement.
Toward the end of the set, Nelson broke out of his stationary bubble to go stand by Rich in the midst of some serious guitar harmonies, which looks especially neat since Nelson is left-handed and Rich is right-handed--the guitars make a "V" between them. Then on the last song, Nelson began a mutiny on the "fourth wall" across the front ledge of the stage. Rich, Johnston, and Millward followed suit, and the four stood atop the front speakers of The Money to raucous applause. The urge and ability to be mobile while playing is something that comes in time, so with a few shows under their belt, these guys will undoubtedly grow to convey their music physically as well as they do musically.
Another testament to where this band has the potential to go is the standout song "Wash Away," which is their self-proclaimed flagship song--it was the tightest, most polished of the night. ("This band started because of that song." says Rich.) If that's what they can in do in one year with their first song, imagine the potential energy in the rest of that set a few months from now. S.I.Q. entertained heartily with their first official show, and it can only get better from here.
Learn more about the band and become a fan on Facebook and Reverbnation, or see them at Tremont Music Hall for a Battle of the Bands on August 8th (contact the band for tickets).
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