There must be something in Baltimore’s water. For a city that has turned out surreal fantasy bands such as Lower Dens and Beach House, it comes as no surprise that Wye Oak’s melancholic droning sounds like something you would only hear in your dreams.
Indie twosome Jenn Wasner (singer/guitar) and Andy Stack (drums/keys) were in town Monday night to play to a just-about-full Horseshoe Tavern, pumping out serene, slow-burning vocals and dark, distorted ’90s (ish) rock, all in waves of volume – literally.
Smooth and mellifluent at times, and at others punctuated by bursts of brashness, Wye Oak delivered a sweeping, powerful performance. Though Wasner kept the banter to a minimum (it was all about the music), she became increasingly more engaged with the crowd as they got deeper into the set – a concept mirrored in their latest album.
Civilian is certainly more accessible than previous Wye Oak records, as indicated by the droves that turned out last night. Wasner’s quavering voice drips with a heavyheartedness, punctuated by gritty, shoegaze-esque guitar riffs. While previous records showcased Stack’s meticulous rhythmic beats, each track on Civilian delves into the haunting beauty that is Wasner’s voice, whereas previous efforts were comparatively a tease.
And she dug deep last night – from doleful ballads such as “Doubt” and “Fish” to the fast-paced buzzing of “Holy Holy,” Wasner had everyone in the crowd wrapped around her finger, greedily lapping up each shivering note.
It’s easy to forget about Stack – if only for the fact that he plays the part of a mystery man, letting Wasner take the spotlight. But his loud, crashing, dirty drumming and key-smashing harmoniously balances Wasner’s honeyed vocals and drawling guitar.
Last night made it abundantly clear that in this city, we love our dream pop crooners, such as Metric’s Emily Haines or Austra’s Katie Stelmanis. And after a stellar Wye Oak show, we’re definitely thirsty for another swig of that Baltimore Kool-Aid.
