Local independent record label Eternal Otter hosted their vinyl release party at Space Gallery on Friday night. The event was held to promote the release of the label’s three new series of 7-inch singles, titled “Death, Rebirth and Transformation.” The records feature unreleased material from from Lady Lamb the Beekeeper’s Aly Spaltro and former band mate TJ Metcalfe, Blaque Boose, and Cerberus Shoal.
The show featured performances from Lady Lamb The Beekeeper, and Blaque Boose, as well as Dana Gross, Jesse Pilgrim and the Bonfire and Over A Cardboard Sea, who will all be releasing vinyl singles through Eternal Otter later this year.
Eternal Otter founders Will Ethridge and Alicia Sampson also took the stage as the Panda Bandits, calling upon the show’s musicians to perform a tribute to South Portland’s defunct Cerberus Shoal.
The music of the night ranged from performance art-style to ballads and blues. It was an interesting and eclectic mix of genres.
Panda Bandit were the first to take the stage; with bird noise makers, fire crackers, an emphatic beat and static chords, and dressed in linen suits, animal masks, and face paint, the Panda Bandits performed with fierce beauty.
USM alum Jesse Pilgrim and his band The Bonfire took the stage next, bringing about a complete 180 in musical genres. Playing a fast moving, folked-up sound, with songs ranging in subject from life in Portland to Arctic explorer Ernest Shackleton, Pilgrim and his band have refined their sound in recent performances with a more driving drum sound that amps up the energy level of their performance. Pilgrim’s band also featured fellow USM alum Andy Barbo and current student Mica Jones.
Over a Cardboard Sea gave the show another tempo change with their over-the-top ragtime sound. Looking like early 1900’s mobsters and performing their “old-timey” comic songs and novelty tunes.
“It’s nice to see so many different styles of music being played,” one audience member said. “It’s nice that it’s not all just the same.”
Over a Cardboard Sea put on a fun and lively show, replete with squeaky dog toys, and a one string bass, the band consistently made the audience cheer, laugh, and dance.
Dana Gross, played a set of soulful blues songs. His voice rose, dropped, and warbled, he serenaded the crowd.
To pay homage to an absent friend, members from most of the performing bands, under the guidance of the Panda Bandits, played “Path of Ashes” by local blues artist, Samuel James.
Moses Atwood began the next set with a smile. “Alright,” he said after he and his band had settled on stage. “I wrote this one yesterday.” He proceeded to sing a blues-with-a-hint-of-gospel song that had the crowd moving and dancing.
Ethridge eased the audience into the intermission with a vinyl anology. “Think of this as the point where the record is finished and you have to turn it over to side B,” he said.
During the turn over, the crowd was alive with energy and excitement at what “Side B” had in store for the audience.
“To be honest,” one girl said, “I really just wanted to see Aly Spaltro. But I’m impressed! The rest of the bands have been excellent!”
“Side B” began with the Panda Bandits, performing a song by another absent friend. “This is our homage to Cerberus Shoal,” Ethridge said, warning, “get ready, things are about to get weird.” The song was bass heavy, with the singer’s guttural voice quieting the room, until it seemed that no one was moving, all eyes were on the stage.
Blaque Boose followed the tribute with what could only be described as musical theatre. Candlelit bones, poetry, costumes and an ambient, ominous chanting music made up the Portsmouth, New Hampshire band’s set. “Become the sun,” they crooned to their captivated audience.
Finally Aly Spaltro and TJ Metcalfe, former bandmates, stole the show on the Space Gallery stage for a rare reunion performance. Metcalfe bounced from playing the drums, to bass, and guitar. Spaltro played the guitar, banjo, harmonica, and sang her heart out.
The duo worked well together, cracking jokes and smiling the entire time. Their lyrics, ranging from humorous, to lovelorn left the audience holding their breath in anticipation.