As I was planning out my schedule for August, I realized that I hadn't actually seen an entire Atypical Tuesday show in a while. This last Tuesday seemed like a perfect time to work one in, since it gave me the chance to see Sleepy Seahorse again and a couple of out-of-town acts for the first time.
I counted about twelve people when a friend and I arrived at the Red Room. A few more wandered in as the night progressed but not many. So it goes. Hopefully, all the people who could've been here were at least over at Neurolux's Radio Boise Tuesday gig.
Nampa musician Noah Jensen started off the night. He admitted at one point that he was nervous, and it showed--had a couple of false starts here and there. Overall, however, his serene tunes, steady tempos and pleasant tenor went over fine. If he can tough it out through a few more gigs--and the little bite in his lyrics suggests that he can--he could become a pretty solid act.
After Noah Jensen came Joey Corsentino a.k.a. Sleeply Seahorse, whose synth/bass/drum tracks gave his performance some extra kick (not always intentionally--the sound system kinda freaked out at one point). In any case, his fresh folk-pop melodies, his high, earnest tenor and his mature, insightful lyrics more than lived up to my fond memories of his opening set for Spondee and the Very Most. When you can cover Tears for Fears' "Shout" and make it sound like stone cold truth, you're my kind of singer-songwriter.
Next up was the Seattle group Younger Shoulder. High, fragile vocals rested safe and secure atop jangly guitar, sinuous basslines, winsome keyboard parts and yeomanly drums. They formed such a strong groove that my only real complaint was that their songs felt too short. But then again, listening to so much James Brown may have just spoiled me.
For the night's final set, Chicago-based musician Richard Album handed the bass off to the keyboard player and took the mic, leaving Younger Shoulder to serve as the Lifestyles. His yelping, charmingly punky vocals reminded me a little of Richard Hell. His unpolished enthusiasm seemed to seep into his bandmates, who cranked it up a couple of notches but still kept it tuneful. It's too bad more people weren't here to see Album run through the bar and roll around onstage, but so that goes.
You can find info on these acts on Facebook and elsewhere online.
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