Copper Pocket, L-Ski, Sick Electric, and the Bob Enos bash
By BOB GULLA | March 5, 2008
HEADED TO THE LONE STAR STATE Copper Pocket. |
At the Living Room last week, a healthy gaggle turned out to bid their goodbyes to Copper Pocket, a power-pop trio out of URI that is headed to Austin, Texas, where music rules in the club-strewn 6th Street district. The night kicked in with the Class, a young bunch of talented kids from the southern part of the state. Formal Action, another URI trio, flashed some moments of ska/reggae/psyche/prog brilliance, on songs like “Atension” and “Stop.” If they stripped down some tunes and carved each block of music into two or three tunes out of a single, they’d still be impressive and wouldn’t lose us in the snaking linearity of their music. Earl Greyhound, a power trio from NYC, blasted unwitting patrons to the back wall with brute force, bridging the gap between Cream, the Stooges, and the Black Crowes. Led by the post-Bonham wallop of drummer Big Ricc Sheridan, the band breathed fire into the classic rock idiom with distorted power chords, paisley sensibility, and the one-two vocal crunch of guitarist Matt Whyte and bassist Kamara Thomas. Copper Pocket — Dean Cote, Chris Kleyla, and Jay Gagne — closed the night with a nasty set on par with what came before, which is saying something; Earl Greyhound is not an easy act to follow. The Pocket also draws from the classic rock wellspring, touching on everything from Traffic and the Who to the British Invasion. Kleyla is a fluent guitarist and a talented singer, while Cote and Gagne provide snazzy, stylish, and nearly perfect backdrop for the band’s tunes. Live, they have what it takes to make an impact down Texas way, but you need a little visit from Lady Luck to rack up that rock ’n’ roll glory.
Bringing it all back home
They now call NYC home, but L-SKI has Rhode Island blood running through its veins. Helmed by locals Ben DeFusco and Chad Flaherty, the band formed last year from the ashes of the promising but star-crossed Bridges Fell. Since they self-destructed, L-Ski, which also features Jake Wolfgang and non-native drummer Joe Defils, has made serious strides. Their jammy, progressive roots-pop has distanced itself from the pop stanchions of Bridges Fell, with flecks of moe. and the Chili Peppers adding some significant flavors. Lately, they’ve been building a cadre of fans around New York’s West Village. You can see what all the fuss is about this weekend, as L-Ski takes over the Wheelhouse Tavern in Galilee on Saturday. Call 401.284.0246.
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