Concert review - Ozric Tentacles

21 May 2009 (Aggie Theater, Fort Collins, CO)
The Ozric Tentacles deserved a bigger crowd than they performed for last night. Maybe it's because they played here a couple of months ago or maybe Thursday night was laundry night in Fort Collins. In any case, the 50 or so people who did come out got their chakras realigned and the cobwebs blasted out of their minds. It was clear that most of them knew exactly what to expect.

The Ozrics are known for a heady mix of progressive rock, psychedelia, jazz, and electronica. The songs often start with a foundation of prog-rock bass and drums: interesting time signatures (simultaneously smooth and jerky), intricate melodic lines that step just outside of simple key signature carried by a throbbing bass. Layers of keyboard flow over the top, providing washes of sonic texture and repetitive robotic groove. Ed Wynne's guitar tears through the soundscape, with a wailing distortion or choked-down funk line. Sometimes, the speedy rush opens up into a dreamier section or something more odd, like a Mideastern sound or dub groove.

Throughout their songs you can hear elements of old influences, like Wired era Jeff Beck (with Jan Hammer), Brian Eno, and Robert Fripp. But there's a more modern feel, too, like some occasional Buckethead guitar thrash, Porcupine Tree rhythms, or a techno trance pulsation. During the more intense sections, the full volume creates sonic artifacts that aren't entirely clear to understand: is that a part they're playing or is it the inner ear being overwhelmed? In either case, when the show is over, it feels like coming back home to earth.

It was an intense ride. The band was tight, even tighter than when I saw them last year. I haven't heard their new album yet (The Yum Yum Tree), but they played some songs I hadn't heard and I assume these were from the new CD. They also pulled out a number of old favorites, including Sploosh! from Strangitude.

One thing that was a little unusual was that Brandi, who's normally on keys, played bass for most the night. She nailed the progressions and added the right amount of dark bass intensity. On some of the songs, the arrangement was reminiscent of Robert Fripp, with tightly intertwined bass and guitar. This just showcased how well Ed and Brandi play together. And even though my pictures show her more pensive side, there were some moments of bliss in her playing, too, especially on Saucers. Despite her focus on bass, she did step up and put her own touch in during the sets and focused on keys for much of the encore.


I almost forgot my drink recommendation: a nice sweet, traditional dessert mead would have been perfect. Sadly, the venue only had beer.


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More photos on my flickr.