Kristin Hersh casts a spell
One of alternative rock's most influential women, Kristin Hersh , showcased her rock resume, which is as varied as it is lengthy, Friday night at the Middle East Downstairs. From the exhausting punk of 50 Foot Wave to Throwing Muses' innovative song structure and propensity for changing time signatures, she proved why she can still fill a room 20 years after the Muses' debut album.
As a frontwoman she's totally mesmerizing without ever being too manic. In a plain T-shirt with hair loosely tied up, she kept her wild eyes opened wide and focused straight ahead. She has a way of swaying her head like a charmed cobra when she sings, her voice alternately becoming a haunting cry or a vicious snarl.
She's impressive as a guitarist too. Hersh knows how to let notes ring out and bleed into one another to create a fluid mesh of sound . The cascading riff of ``Shimmer" filled the dank basement and rode the sea of bobbing heads in the audience. Conversely, the straightforward ``Bright Yellow Gun," one of the band's most cohesive and approachable numbers, was equally crowd-pleasing.
Drummer David Narcizo and bassist Bernard Georges (who also plays in 50 Foot Wave) are one of the better rhythm sections around. Georges wound his vibrant bass lines through each song and Narcizo, charged with the difficult task of keeping the beat through such complex tunes, hammered home his fills and rolls on songs like ``Mexican Women."
As 50 Foot Wave, Hersh, Georges, and Rob Ahlers on drums started the night with an unapologetically loud 30-minute set. The songs were mostly short but intense, with Hersh pulling out a scream that could make the toughest hardcore bands jealous. More punk than Muses, their tunes were simpler, but Hersh's gift for crafting well- textured and lyrically arresting arrangements kept them feeling fresh.
After 50 Foot Wave, Bullseye, whose members are in fourth, fifth, and sixth grade, took the stage. Any fears they were a novelty act were soon assuaged as drummer Dana Kendall (age 11) expertly pounded out the intro to ``Duck Taped Shut." The songs were fun and the kids seemed completely at ease.
Age aside, the band could stack up to most opening acts out there. They have a little growing up to do, but once their voices change and they lose the fussy stage parents, the kids might actually be all right.
