BAND REVIEW: Swift Robinson & Fusebox Poet at The Money (Rock Hill, SC)

Since my usual posting spot for review is down (http://www.shutter16.com), I am resorting to posting reviews here in the meantime, before they become "old news." ... and the pictures are not of the calibre of shutter16, but I'm gonna post 'em anyway... I'm still learning photography ;)

May 6, 2011 – Swift Robinson & Fusebox Poet at The Money

SWIFT ROBINSON
Tight, spunky, and teeming with talent, three-piece rock outfit Swift Robinson gives new meaning to the term “power trio.” Their presence on stage is so full of energy that photographers will need a fast lens to catch a clear shot of them. Each of these guys brings exceptional skill to the table music-wise as well. Though Swift Robinson boasts a catalogue of catchy choruses, there is substance behind each song, giving enough depth to captivate the ears of even the most seasoned music snob. Bassist Ben Robinson and drummer JC Mears build an air-tight fortress of rhythm around which mobile bass lines and gliding guitar riffs can weave a tapestry of sonic force. Overall, the band has a diverse sound that ranges anywhere from the like of Sublime to Chevelle to late-era Toad the Wet Sprocket, with Casey Bennett’s vocals mixing a cocktail of Finger Eleven, Maroon 5, and Justin Timberlake (with a dash of comic/musician Stephen Lynch). All players display an abundance of skill on their individual instruments, and that was to their detriment during guitar solos. Syncopated drum beats and bustling bass lines make poor anchors for wild guitar solos. The three-piece lineup works so well for them the rest of the time that a second guitarist is unnecessary, but maybe a loop pedal would come in handy to give those solos a platform from which to spring into action. Read more about Swift Robinson or hear their tunes at http://www.swiftrobinson.com.

FUSEBOX POET
For a band that has been playing shows for less than a year, the guys in Fusebox Poet sure do play well together, but technically three of them have been playing music together for many years in a prior project—from which they’ve come a long way. Even since their first show in July 2010 and their CD release show in November 2010, their physical expression of their music has become more natural and fluid. Now they look like they move because they feel the energy of the music, not because they just feel like they shouldn’t be standing still. In previous shows, vocalist/keyboardist Drew Cyphers had been seated throughout the show, but this time he rose from his piano bench and interacted with the crowd, making a palpable difference in the energy returned to him from the fans. The next step might be to add to that energy throughout the show by standing at the piano instead of sitting (since a keytar might look a little odd in a band as pop-rock as Fusebox Poet).

As a vocalist, Drew’s training in school chorus shows through in his firm control of his power and pitch. A broad base of musical influences enables him to write interesting vocal lines that are delightfully catchy, yet not simplistic. He would've been a great candidate for a Best Rock Vocalist award.

Fusebox Poet’s other standout player is drummer Pat Gerasia. Having studied percussion performance in college, Pat’s sensitivity to the intricate melodies put forth by his bandmates gives him a level of rhythmic expression not often seen in the heavy rock world. He can roll out the perfect drum fill to punctuate a phrase, or add a hi-hat syncopation to dress up an otherwise simple rock beat while he leaves space in the music for the other instruments to shine.

Part of the fun of Pat’s drumming is probably in playing off of the unique rhythms strummed forth from guitarist Paul Wright. Songs like “Skylines & Fine Lines” and “Follow” bring out rhythms that defy the white bread quarter notes and power chords that are all-too-common in the realm of hard rock.

If genre-smashing, relatable-yet-complex music is not enough to grab fans’ attention, Fusebox Poet also brings its own concert lighting, controlled on stage by bassist Dave McGarry. Large pillars of white fluorescents and a variety of smaller, colored flood lights illuminate the guys, and choreographed lighting changes pack an extra punch when those heavy chords hit. Fans of many rock genres from Ben Folds to Foo Fighters to Trapt will definitely enjoy this band. Read more about Fusebox Poet or listen to their tunes at http://www.fuseboxpoet.com.

View my *admittedly amateur* photos here: