In true form for a Friday night in Allston, Great Scott was brimming with excitement, alcohol, and beanies. Strange Mangers, Cross Country, and Vundabar crafted a relaxed social and sonic dynamic.
Photo by Nick Raygun
Strange Mangers appear unassuming–clad in all black, with a pony-tailed singer, a thickly bearded bassist, and a wiry drummer. But their music is pumped full of color and personality, despite the nature of their sound. Reminiscent of American Football and Cymbals Eat Guitars, Strange Mangers are challenging the traditional emo sound. Not to Blame The Sound Guy™, but there were times when the guitar overshadowed the vocals, turning it into a mumbling mess. (Unless this was intentional?) But the band carried itself on harmony–not necessarily in sound, but in how in sync each member seemed to be. Guitar speaks to drums, follows bass, informs vocals. Their movements were few and glib, the bassist the most animated of the group, but their sound begets a cleanliness and precision that often gets left in the fuzz with rivaling emo/post-punk groups of this era.
Photo by Nick Raygun
After a brief set change, the Oxford, OH quartet Cross Country brought a charming Midwestern vibe to the stage. Having played with Vundabar in the past–the band noted their opening for the boys whenever they’ve come through Ohio–the kinship was palpable. They were jittery with energy, excited simply to be playing music. Sounding a little bit like Weezer (and with a song suspiciously evoking “Undone–The Sweater Song”) their chunky, twangy riffs balanced smoothly with the languid vocals. The towering guitarist rocked on his heels, the bassist sported a Jeff The Brotherhood shirt, and the drummer kept pausing to push his glasses up his face–all actions serving Cross Country’s wholesome, lively sound. Easygoing but deliberate, their music fills a hole in your catalog you never knew needed filling.
Photo by Nick Raygun
Watching a Vundabar show is like watching a ballet–graceful, enigmatic, and ultimately engrossing. Their set served this well, with frontman Brandon Hagen twirling and tilting his guitar, playing it behind his head a la Hendrix, all while standing on tip toe to reach the microphone. Eyes squeezed shut, sticking his tongue out, he leaned into every note. Hagen’s range is impressive–plummeting, growling deeper notes that color Vundabar’s songs with a warmth and richness, and bright, crisp higher notes that provide a sense of stability. Drummer Drew MacDonald followed suit, tossing and spinning his sticks, standing while playing, his glasses flying off of his face, hair a flying mess. The boys had a new bassist to show off–Grayson Kirtland, to replace Zach Abramo–and he melded smoothly with Vundabar’s persona. Bending and swaying into the music, he kept pace with the energy set forth by the founding members, but a noticeable tinge of nervous energy was hiding behind his every note. At the beginning of their set, they called for “mood lighting,” lowering the stage lights to hazy blues, casting them in a shadow that was electrified by their sound. Crowdsurfing, moshing, and cheers of encouragement from the crowd made the boys feel right at home. They played through some tracks from their debut LP Antics–“Voodoo” is what sparked the crowdsurfing–and some newer songs from 2015’s Gawk. Playing on a vow to avoid the hits, the crowd wasn’t fazed and still seemed to know every word to every song.
