August 20, 2014
I find myself down at the Caledonia Lounge on Wednesday, listening to some jagged garage-rock – a band called Deep Mind – the first of three bands on the bill that night. The man in front of me is dancing in spasms, something more akin to a seizure than a form of expression… but who am I to judge? I’ve lived in Athens for a bit over a week at this point, hardly enough time to form an opinion on anything that’s going on before me.
The decision to come down here was very last minute – a quick glance at a local events calendar and brief youtube session brought was all it took to get me off my ass and head downtown to see Star Death and White Dwarfs. Being that the lead singer, Dennis Coyne, is the nephew of Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne, the band seemed like a worthy investigation.
The crowd, much like Caledonia Lounge itself, is small, and comprised mostly of what I assume to be members of the bands waiting to take the stage. Also in attendance are a few of what I can only assume to be Athens’ hippest. The vibe here is relaxed and generally friendly though, which is alright because I’m a bit delirious from walking around in the heat all day – everyone continues to assure me is unusually mild – and the extra space feels nice, especially as there is no AC or airflow in here to speak of. And so I stand, sipping on a Terrapin Hopsecutioner, keeping an open mind for the bands I’m here to see, and also for Shakes McGee, who is now spasming uncontrollably, raising concern that medical attention may soon be required.
All in all, Deep Mind puts on a solid performance blending aggressive rhythms and indy spirit with high energy vocals and great chemistry. Their set comes to a rocking close, leaving it all on the stage. The drums go wild, the band members lean on one another for support, and then it’s over. I grab another beer.
The previously mentioned delirium proves to be a good state to be in as the lights dim down, a coursing image-mapping projection appears, and eerie string music crescendos. Slowly, the next band, Chappo, takes the stage, last of whom is their frontman, who wears a feathered denim jacket and wields a fog machine that he proceeds to spray in the faces of his bandmates. The next forty five minutes are hard to describe. Somewhere between heartfelt folk and acid-induced noise lies Chappo. Their songs are brief, sometimes heartfelt, complex and highly performative. The antics of their feathered frontman are quite a display – towards the end of the set he prowls through the audience and rolls his way across the floor. This definitely isn’t something that’s heard every day. After they leave the stage, I talk with the drummer (I’m hesitant to approach the frontman) and suggest that they’re something of a psychedelic Deer Tick. “We’re fans of them,” he responds, “I’ll quote you on that.”
Finally Star Death and White Dwarfs takes the stage. The fog grows so thick that the band members become nothing more than shadowy figures looming between an array of eight-foot LED light columns. Deep rumbling sound begins to emanate from the speakers, peaking into an explosion of heavy psych-rock. The performance is a captivating, eye-popping sensation of sound and light; a regular trip through another dimension. The lighting system – fittingly – strobes heavily across the color spectrum, stunning the audience (which had grown at this point) and even subduing my shaking friend.
Star Death’s sound is eclectic but distinct – a delightfully fresh and comprehensive blend of sludge, psych, and hard rock that ranges everywhere in feel form cerebral to straight up frightening, and still remains extremely danceable throughout.There are moments of heavy experimentation that never end up turning into jams, but have great potential to do so (I later learn from bassist Casey Joseph that, given a longer set, they usually get into some jamming and experimentation). The bass tone (speaking of) is incredible. It’s raw and synthy – a super crunchy but fat tone that shakes you in all the right places. To top it all off, they do NOT just sound like an offshoot of the Flaming Lips, striking out their own distinct sound and style.
More than anything, for me at least, Star Death and White Dwarfs felt like home. After spending the last few years in Burlington, VT, I can say that a band like this would fit right in amongst the hippies, weirdos and underground musicians I know and love up there. Leaving the Caledonia Lounge, I feel great. I’m that much more familiar with my new city, and have at least one new band that I will continue to listen to.
Star Death and White Dwarfs played two nights in Florida in Jacksonville and Gainesville following this show, and continues their brief summer 2014 tour through Baton Rouge, LA before wrapping things up with tree nights in Texas in Houston, Austin, and Fort Worth.
http://www.stardeathandwhitedwarfs.com
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