Words and Photos by Alder Boutin
Math-rock band Love For Strangers celebrated the release of their EP “Gone Through Motions” with a short but sweet set Thursday night. They played at The Bassment, a venue tucked beneath Baltimore pizza shop Ema’s Corner. Guitarists Jefferson Hirshman and Nik Redcay, bassist Zach Miskimon, and drummer Jack Naden warmed up the audience with an instrumental song before singer Rachel Byer skipped up to the microphone stand.
“Hi, friends!” Byer greeted the crowd, her inviting tone reminiscent of an elementary school teacher’s – though her tattoo-covered limbs and gauged ears gave her away as decidedly punk. She quickly moved her mic stand aside, keeping just her bright green microphone, to give herself more dancing room. Her black dress flounced as she jumped back and forth, directing the audience to follow her lead.
Love For Strangers performed two unreleased songs before playing through the three-track EP, ending with the thoughtful tangles of metaphor in “Under My Skin.”
‘Cause I can’t see through you
Like stained glass on ceilings
Fiberglass feelings
You’re under my skin
Upon chants for an encore, the boys struck up another instrumental tune while Byer retired to the front row to continue dancing. Before the band packed up, she convinced a young girl in the audience to give the microphone a “hell yeah!” (with parental permission).
Apricity, an experimental guitarist and drummer duo, opened the night. The drummer kept intricate rhythm to the guitarist’s rapid strumming as each song faded smoothly into the next. “Apricity,” they explained, “is the warmth of the sun in the wintertime.”
Shoegaze band Guttered consisted of younger but talented musicians who cheerfully selected Xbox 360 visuals to run as a backdrop to their set. The singer’s vocals added texture to the instruments without overpowering them.
Love For Strangers finished their EP release mini-tour last night in Philadelphia. Keep an eye out for more east coast shows from this Baltimore-based band – at your local bar, gallery, or even pizza restaurant.
Loudspeaker Collective 