As Yet Untitled @ The Blue Lamp – September 17, 2005

Friday night, I’m intoxicated to the point of assistance when walking, and I end up at the Blue Lamp. The tinsel like backdrop on the stage visually confuses me, but not nearly to the level the act I’m there to see will.

Apparently this band has a following, for the club was at capacity. This, the “CD Release Party” was an opportunity for “Yet” fans to get a listen to the album in it’s entirety live and pick up a copy.

The band came out on stage with miner’s head lamps and began their set. The immediate and relentless barrage nearly crippled me. I watched in astonishment as five grown men assaulted the audience with the most incomprehensible set of rock music I’ve ever witnessed. I swear the entire band is chemically dependent, from a bass player who is clearly on methamphetamine, to a singer, who we will identify as “Mr. Happy”, having a strong preference to cocaine.

Obviously the energy was very high during the set. I saw a bit of dancing by audience members which is to be commended. The overall presentation had organization, but lacked execution. The horn player’s melodies were indiscernible, the guitar player had an orgasmic appearance at every solo, and the drummer was too subdued for the may lay that took place.

“As Yet Untitled” is to be praised as artists and their attempt to do something original. But I see a few bands on the music landscape that use absurd composition to gain an avant garde opinion from the masses. I respect the musicality of say “System of a Down” but I can’t wrap myself around notions that go nowhere and resolve to nothing. I would classify “Yet” as that type of act. Perusing their minds for gimmicks (head lamps) to band-aid the fact that their composition skills lack substance.

Ratings:

Musicianship: 8
Songwriting Prowess : 2
Stage Presence : ? (I can’t quantify the madness)

I’d love to say “As Yet Untitled” sounds like other acts so you could have a point of contrast, but they are unlike anything I’ve ever heard. And there’s a reason.

p.s. Kudos to “Spider Silk Dress” who I only saw the last half of their set, which rocked. They are an act you must see.