Music seen at Bull Moose, Scarborough, February 9, 2008
By CHAD CHAMBERLAIN | February 13, 2008
Cambiata gave a rare turned-down set at the Scarborough Bull Moose store. For many bands that is a very vulnerable position: loose ends and mistakes are more noticeable at low volume. But, as it happens, Cambiata don’t have loose ends, so they only exposed their more obscure musical references.
Guitarist Sean Morin played a Rhodes piano instead, and his vocal harmonies could be heard even without a mic. Chris Moulton’s vocals were the loudest instrument, and didn't need the mic they had. The influences of vocalists Jeff Buckley and Aaron Weiss were more discernable than usual in his multi-dimensional melodies.
The setting's acoustics weren’t conducive to dynamic inflection, which meant sections of their songs that usually build required pretext. But in the quiet, their songwriting technique showed, pulling as much from academics as from the rock sphere.
"Shards of Pornography" was played in the very style it references — slow, R&Bish, and devoid of rock character. They played unreleased songs from their catalog that might not fit their usual rock-venue performances, and ended with a classic cover of "Blizzard of ’77" by Nada Surf.
A regular local rock band might have been jittery where Cambiata was confident, further demonstrating that their main concern is not others' opinions but their own.
On the Web
Cambiata: MySpace.com/Cambiata
Related:
Amanda Gervasi's solo work, Kurt Baker takes Europe, and more, Power pop, radio rock, and more, New projects, debuts, and goodbyes, More 
- Amanda Gervasi's solo work, Kurt Baker takes Europe, and more
Speaking of AMANDA GERVASI , we've also got word of a solo release on her part, scheduled for July 24.
- Power pop, radio rock, and more
NOW IS NOW frontman MITCH ALDEN has plans for a solo release. The party's scheduled for January 21 at RiRa. Expect some seriously upbeat power pop.
- New projects, debuts, and goodbyes
Former CAMBIATA mates CHRIS MOULTON and STAN DZENGELEWSKI (hardest name in Portland music to spell?) have a new project they're calling VANITYITES , and they're getting help from all kinds of former bandmates and other talented folks.
- Pete Kilpatrick Band comes home; Dennis Bailey's Dylan tribute
Congrats to the PETE KILPATRICK BAND . Their "Coming Home" won a national fan-voting-based contest from insurance provider USAA this past week.
- Portland Music News: May 1, 2009
SEAN MORIN will perform his senior composition recital at UMaine Augusta's Jewett Hall on May 6.
- Cambiata, Olivia Cornell and The Precious, Elijah Ocean and more
OLIVIA CORNELL & THE PRECIOUS have released their first CD, available now at Bull Moose and the like. Though they won't be playing out again until fall, have a listen to Filthy Things if you've got a jones on for some girl-rock mixed with some NYC punk flavor.
- Winter to remember
Sometimes January in this town can be a bit slow. It's cold. There's a holiday hangover. Whatever.
- Live: Andrew Bird in Portland
For his nearly-sold-out show in Portsmouth’s Music Hall, Bird compensated for the absence of bandmates by doing, well, everything himself.
- Siren song
When the Receiving End of Sirens took the stage, coming out to the “Cheers” theme (“Sometimes you want to go….”) and the screams of a packed Avalon, it was clear that it was good to be back.
- White Denim | Fits
Even more than on last year’s auspicious digital-only Exposion , Austin’s White Denim stomp down the fine line between fertile versatility and iffy uncertainty. More often than not on Fits , this works out awesome.
- Northern neighbors
Canada’s most populous province, Ontario, is full of promising, undiscovered acts.
- Less
Topics:
Live Reviews
, Nada Surf, Jeff Buckley, Chris Moulton, More
, Nada Surf, Jeff Buckley, Chris Moulton, CAMBIATA, CAMBIATA, Less
