NNNN? out of NNNNN stars
Rarely do I ever go see a band without listening to them first. But the buzz around The Slip was so positive that I decided to take the chance. The Bonnaroo-bound Boston trio barged into Portland riding the success of their most recent album, Eisenhower. The band also gained fame when their song “Even Rats” was included on the popular video game Guitar Hero. That was enough to pack The SPACE on Congress Street to full capacity last TK.
Phonograph, a five-piece folk rock group from Brooklyn, opened the show. The intricate use of a pedal-steel guitar immediately demanded attention. Despite the lead singer’s Kermit-esque quality, the band gave off a very Wilco-like vibe and put on a good show. Next up was Wintersleep, a quintet of proud Canadians. The lead singer was a direct cross between Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder and the Counting Crows’ Adam Duritz.
The Slip took the stage to a smorgasbord of instruments and musical toys, which would account for their epic space-rock sound. It was hard to believe only three people would be using so much equipment. Beginning the set with two non-album tracks, The Slip plowed into “Even Rats,” and the Guitar Hero fans came out of the woodwork. It was hard to tell if the intense applause was because the song was on Guitar Hero’s soundtrack, or because it’s a damn good song. But either way, it got results.
The Slip rarely spoke to the crowd, but they didn’t have to. Their music said everything it needed to. Though their lineup consisted mainly of the drums, bass, and guitar combination, they often ventured into other territories, with exceptional use of a harmonica, a synthesizer, a steel drum, a xylophone, and countless random noise machines. The Slip even had a way to play the bass through a series of pedals, leaving bassist Marc Friedman free to jump on a second guitar. Never have so few people made so much noise.
The band then debuted a pair of impressive new songs, which sold me to avidly look for their next album release. The song “Airplane/Primitive” was next, and it proved to be a highlight of the evening. The crowd again roared with approval as The Slip launched into “Children of December,” the title track of their most recent album. The audience was on cue when lead singer Brad Barr sang the line “make a little noise.”
The band closed their set with the last two songs on Eisenhower, “The Original Blue Air” and “Paper Birds.” The dramatic conclusion sparked a lengthy ovation, resulting in a brief encore. The Slip sent the crowd home with a brilliant cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Have You Ever Seen The Rain?”
The Slip is one of the most original bands around. Combining the likes of Built To Spill and The Flaming Lips while still appreciating the classics like The Beatles and Led Zeppelin, the trio created a sound like no other – powerful, vintage, futuristic, and solid.