OZ Beat: Music That Matters

The Apes

Saw them at The Fireside in Chicago. This band was so similar in content and emotional response to Scene Creamers that I believe the two, if ever they meet on the same stage, would be a phenomenal trip into the neither lands of transcendental soul fuck. Unlike Scene Creamers, there was not a lot in The Apes show that hinged as heavily on the theater of presentation to get across the point of the music, I admit The Apes holds up a little better on CD than SCs (there are definitely highlights in Scene Creamers that I think do hold really well, just less of a studio production than The Apes). But the one thing they both have in common is their inherent ability to capture the force of sound and pour it into every person in the audience, drawing them into spheres that have no use for lines or definition, truly intimate.

The Apes

Great live show with a drummer who did not miss a beat from the opening blast. Amanda on keyboards creating hard rocking orchestrations that Ilene immediately identified as Rick Wakeman at his peak. Erick, frontman, had the power, charisma and demanded the same attention that Scene Creamers frontman did. In fact, the band live reminded me very much of Scene Creamers. The difference is that The Apes CD holds up much better when played at home (although I still dig the SC's CD). Neil reviewed the Apes a while ago and he was right on target. We would not have gone but for that review. I had only heard a couple of songs going into the show--and it didn't do justice to the overall quality of the material--especially the material from ODDEYESEE. They are one of a growing line of do-not-miss bands.
--Dem