Sir Splendid show review
Friday, 2/24/07, Honey Bee Hive
show review and pic by Brian LaVallie
I went to the Honey Bee Hive to see Sir Splendid Friday night and came in at the start of their set as they rocked out for about forty onlookers who were swaying and agreeing with Marcus Barron (Vocals/Guitar/Keyboards), Paul Chandegra (Drums), and Christian Schinelli (Bass, Moog floor Organ), as they played selections from the debut album Lords and Peacocks, May 2006, which is the brainchild of Marcus B., who, after his departure from the band Square Circle, which Schinelli also played in briefly as well, played all the instruments and wrote all the lyrics for Lords and Peacocks with the essential drumming of Paul Chandegra. They transitioned between songs smoothly with applause and a thank you from Marcus B. as a film was projected on the back wall and the players were obscured in the imagery for added effect. The trio collaborated to fill the space with melodic minor compositions that reminded me of an edgy Tom Petty that meanders into Beatles, Bowie or even Foo Fighters territory at times while maintaining originality. The changing of guitar and keyboards worked well as Marcus B. occasionally switched back and forth providing harmonizing resonance to the bass and drum foundations that changed tempo with frequent ease producing a complexity of emotion as vocals seem to give good advice or warning of danger. The band was called out for an encore to play their, soon to be classic, My Friend for the finale. Many sang along as Marcus B. sang, “My Friend, is wasted again”, “My Friend likes to pretend” and,” My Friend, is naked again”. Sir Splendid blend well live and are talented musicians, who in rock star fashion, also left with the hottest chicks. They are currently recording a new album titled Sinister Purpose due out this year. http://www.sirsplendid.com. I had intended to see VV Morgue also, who has a female Nine Inch Nails thing going on, and was probably entertaining if she played selections from her myspace page, but lagged waiting for camera batteries to charge. BL