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Blue Matter with Joe Mazzari Band, Session, and The Screen,
Milly’s Tavern, Manchester NH; March 19, 2005.
By Bill Copeland
Skope Magazine
Posted 3/22/05
Art Murphy has started another fine band. The former lead singer
of the now defunct Stone Soup finds himself fronting the more
alternative sounding Blue Matter. With a crack band behind him
Murphy performed new songs with a style and ease he didn’t often
show with Stone Soup.
Starting their set with "Gun In Your Hand," Blue Matter
served up some power pop oomph. Murphy entertains with a stage
persona that looks like a combination of Buddy Holly and Elvis
Costello. Lead guitarist Kurt Levasseur brought a lot of melody to
these songs and bass player Bobby Whitworth provided a lot of
palpable rhythms with his six string bass. Whitworth also weaves a
thick groove with drummer Doug Hinton.
Later in the set, Levasseur displayed some flights of fancy with
his impeccable guitar leads. An odd sounding song, "Everyone
Is Like A Stranger," had a colorful vibe because Levasseur
and Murphy were in perfect thinking contact. Their most
impressive, number, "Up For Air," rocked right out with
Murphy settling in the mid range of his dynamic voice to make a
forceful presentation.
A cover of U2’s "Desire" came off well because Blue
Matter made the song their own by putting their own breezy,
personal stamp on it. It was nice to see a cover song go beyond
mere imitation. Funky guitar riffs and spidery melodic phrases
marked their song "Bleeding Honey" and their set closer
"Undertow" had a big, wide sound that allowed Murphy a
chance to show that he’s a good rhythm guitar player.
Murphy’s video recording company Thumbprint Productions in
Epping, New Hampshire recorded the show for its Catch The Vibe
Live Recording Series. Those in attendance can eventually relive
the concert experience in the privacy of their own homes once the
DVD becomes available.
The Joe Mazzari Band opened the show with their usual solid
delivery of the original punk rock sound they have developed.
Mazzari used to play in Johnny Thunders’ backing band and his
education shows in the raw, powerful, and tight-as-a-drum sound
blaring out of the speakers for 40 minutes. This trio never tires.
Their talent just pours fourth. At times, the punky guitar leads
slowed to an ominous crawl. Other times, they just pounded the
song home. "Shake" was their best offering, as the title
word becomes a chorus shouted at the top of their lungs.
Local New Hampshire band Session played a confident set of bouncy,
danceable songs. A few songs sounded too much alike, and they
needed to vary the tempo a bit more. I got tired of hearing the
same quasi-reggae beat for most of their set. But they did get
people up on the dance floor, so they do get high marks for that.
There were some vocal flourishes in "Cased" and their
bass player has a quick nimble style that punctuates their
rhythms. Session is a young, confident band that will probably get
better with more experience.
Closing act The Screen were a really neat copycat version of The
Cure. I know that bands don’t like to be called copycats, but
The Scream has it down really well, including the Robert Smith
hairdo sported by its lead singer. I kept expecting him to start
singing something by The Cure. If a band is going to be
derivative, they should at least be derivative of something good.
I found The Screen very entertaining. Imagine The Cure with a
heavier guitar sound but the same beefy, layered music. This New
Hampshire band get up the energy level with several solid
"original" songs. I think they might do really well if
they can eventually move away from their obvious influence.
For more information on the DVD recording of this event, please
visit www.ThumbprintProductions.net
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