Darynyck

SOUNDS LIKE?
Good news, even young people from America are now lovely little tykes who send puppy-sweet emails like; "Hello Unpeeled, We are a band out of
Columbus, OH in the U.S. I stumbled upon your review blog site. Perhaps you may be interested in writing a review? We are a poppy-folky duo in the indie sense. I could send you a copy of the album in mp3 format if you’d like. Thanks!". This is an album where coastal folk darkness is a perfect contrast to the peculiarly English (Brian Wilson) shanties. The shanties are all a-clatter sophistication, you read that correctly, Darynyck weave complex melodic and percussion tapestry from the simplest instruments and effects. The more emotive folk stuff is warmly cluttered and shot through with shafts of perfectly pitched brass.

IS IT ANY GOOD?
Yes, it's excellent and I know that we're no longer obliged to make rude remarks about America since they swapped the moron for the cool guy, but Darynyck do sound like a quality, relatively lo-fi, European outfit who'd be fit to share stages with likes of Broken Family Band, Hefner and Ballboy. - Unpeeled.net

THE CHAOTIC LP

If you don't read the CD booklet notes closely, you may not pick up on the fact that Darynyck is a duo. Both Daryn and Nyck trade off playing various instruments and singing throughout this recording. And the music these two make together has a distinctly ‘60s, folk music vibe to it. In fact, another male duo, Simon & Garfunkel, comes to mind many times.

However, no Simon & Garfunkel song ever began with a line like, "Well it looks like I fucked up, I did it again." Harsh words like that make it folk-rock music for the postpunk musical generation. Nevertheless, the song this jarring line comes from, "Waiting (Did It Again)", carries with it a winning singer/songwriter vibe, with plenty of Bob Dylan-esque harmonica on it. Harmonica is also prominent on "Now or never". These two men, Daryn and Nyck, are quite philosophical for ones so young. "Alive" begins with the words: "Every breath, we're closer to the last/Too many days spent thinkin' about the past." It's the sort of realization that time is precious; that life is short. While the playing and singing are pretty, the words are oftentimes deep and serious.

Darynyck has both an aggressive and a gentle side. Both variations of their musical personality are displayed during "Now or Never". Most of the way through the song, it is a heartily-strummed acoustic guitar workout. But then, right near the end, it goes all soft and sweet. Yet this shift in gears makes contextual sense because the very next song, "Pieces", is an acoustic ballad all the way through.

The title of this CD describes someone who is deluded into thinking everything's fine; that all is going according to plan. "You say you got it under control, but you're so chaotic," they sing. Over a gently rocking rhythm, featuring acoustic guitar and bass, Nyck sings this song, which tries to make somebody face their dark reality.

This duo plays folk music with a rock attitude. This is not the sort of socio-political folk of the ‘60s, or even the singer/songwriter folk of the ‘70s. Rather, its folk instrumentation and singing, applied to an up-to-the-minute, contemporary outlook. In one instance, on "Working Hard (Going Nowhere)", the pair forgoes folk almost completely. Although the track doesn't rock particularly hard, electric guitar is more prominent than elsewhere, and sounds closer to ‘90s alternative rock than to any folk music from recent past generations.

"The Chaotic LP" begins with a song that also serves to describe Darynyck perfectly. "Make Some Music" innocently describes the desire to create music. "For you and me, it's nothing fancy," Daryn sings, "I'm just in the mood for something pretty." And that's precisely what these men have done with "The Chaotic LP". For the most part, this 12-song release is made up of pretty musical things. At its most effective, music magically makes sense out of life's chaos. The world may seem to be spinning out of control much of the time, yet loving words and memorable melodies make it seem like all is well - at least for three minutes or so. Music, when it's done well, shows us the better side of man's nature: Everybody's in harmony and moving at the same rhythm. And for the most part, the chaos is temporarily kept under control while "The Chaotic LP" plays.

-Dan MacIntosh


THE SASQUATCH SESSIONS, VOLS. I & II

What do you get when you cross the witty, catchy pop sensibility of Buddy Holly with the modern, lo-fi melodies of The Shins? You get Darynyck, vocalists and multi-instrumentalists Daryn and Nyck, hailing from Midwest talent hotbed Columbus, Ohio. Darynyck's musical and lyrical influences seem somewhat apparent after only a brief listen to this reissue of a collection of songs written from 2001 through 2005 and partially recorded in the years since. There's a healthy dose of the clever, simple-but-subtle layers of The Beatles and equal parts sounds-sweet-but-really-haunts-you melodies of Elliot Smith or Guster. Darynyck delivers a classic, lo-fi pop throwback sound that somehow manages to evade coming off as forced. It's evocative of many different bands and sounds that span several decades, which only enhances their overall appeal as songwriters and performers.

It's this versatility to draw from many different decades that allows their uniquely catchy melodies to shine on the two volumes presented here. The highlights of Volume I include "Take Me Away (On a Holiday)" and "December (I Miss You)". They're shimmering, lyrical tunes that leave you feeling a bit sentimental without overcomplicating the message. "Before the Summer Goes Away" is another gem, at times coming off more like a sing-along pub song that you may have heard before. It's this nod to traditional songwriting style that leaves your foot tapping and head nodding all while you press repeat to hear it again.

Volume II feels a bit more melancholic, as if songwriter Daryn was searching for answers throughout the songwriting process and exploring varying depths of emotional and lyrical content through his craft. The songs as a whole ebb and flow rather seamlessly throughout this volume, but the disc cranks it up a notch with "Gotta Get Away" and "I'm So Sad." "Gotta Get Away" definitely plays to both performers' strengths, producing a warm harmonic track that plays with simple melody and adds on unexpected layers of sound to break up what could have been a predictable performance. "I'm So Sad" elevates a beautifully despondent (and somewhat depressing) moment and allows a heavyhearted message to soar sonically.

The music that Darynyck has created on these two volumes is so straightforward that it's somewhat disarming. Their approach may follow in the footsteps of more traditional pop-rock artists, but the result is far from simplistic. The risks in playing with arrangement and layering multiple instrumental sounds in the production room definitely pay off for this duo. Interesting harmonies, catchy melodies and a healthy respect for pop hooks will stick in your head for days after listening to these discs. Darynyck have charmed and disarmed me with their memorable melodies.

-Heidi Drockelman - Indie-Music.com

I’ll admit it: I’ll buy albums because I like the cover art. Some of the greatest albums I’ve ever heard were bought on a whim at a second hand store simply because something caught my eye. Sometimes they’re a great indicator of what’s inside- that along with the name of the album. I’ll admit something else: The Chaotic LP completely threw me for a loop. It took me a minute to realize what I was looking at, but the red got me. This was going to hit hard. Nothing says power like a Century Gothic font on a red backdrop. The guy on the phone was my proof. You can’t lie to your fiancée regarding your whereabouts with music like that in the background.

It took another minute after “Make Some Music” began for me to realize what I was hearing. Not here was the wailing of strained strings and gut pounding pedals. It was…soft? Folksy? What is this? I waited for a few measures to see if it would kick in. Is that a harmonica? I looked at the cover art again. You got me, Darnyck. You got me.

And it did get me. After a few listens, Chaotic grew on me, reminding me of the simple listening pleasures from albums like Tigermilk, Belle and Sebastian’s first album; the kind of straightforwardness that made the Beatles popular. She loves you. You should be glad. And it did pick up, in case you were wondering.

“Working Hard” was the next listen, and though not as crisp as I think it could be, it definitely has potential. It’s a good pull of a guy trying to figure out what to do with his life. “Get a job, make a lot of money…Don’t get robbed.” In the end, it says, you never know if it’s all going to be okay. I like it, despite my own overt optimism. I can see where the name Chaotic came from. Not a crazy oh-my-gosh-turn-off-my-ear kind of thing, but a whirlwind of studio jams and breakthroughs, raw talent captured in a net and thrown into a jar. They’re not looking for a polished gleam, it seems. More like a warm glow. The title track, “Chaotic”, testifies to that. It doesn’t seem to have margins, and even the headers and footers are guidelines at best. I’m getting into this, though I’m still waiting for a breakout session.

I skip ahead to “Last a Lifetime”. This is the kind of song that seems at home on a jukebox, wafting through the air over pints and pool tables like the haze before the smoking ban. I can see someone asking, “Who is this?” and walking over to read the display. I play it again and get the same vibe. It reminds you of the songs you love: easy on the ears and goes directly to the “hum this out loud” file in your brain.

If there had to be one song to pick off of The Chaotic LP, I’d have to go with “Now or Never”, a toe tapping, shoulder bobbing melody that was akin to feeding my ear a strawberry. It’s gotten the most plays so far, and would make a great acoustic bonus track. You know, slow it down a hair, really drag out those “forevers”. Maybe on the next album. For now, you can settle for a good LP that doesn’t try to set a bar or boast in itself. Check it out at http://darynyck.bandcamp.com/album/the-chaotic-lp, and by all means, play it a few times. It may surprise you the way it did some other guy out there. - Lewis Gordon, VideoProducerBlog.com, 10/5/2010

The first thing that stood out when track 1 ("Make Some Music") played was the main vocal. Reminiscent of the 90s Alternative invasion, Daryn's voice heavily reminds me of Evan Dando of The Lemonheads, while Nyck has the appeal for the Beatles/Wings fans, both with flavors for a new generation.

The guitar riffs, while not too complicated are quite catchy, and compliment the rhythm guitar well. The back-up vocals on "Same Old Song" are very solid, though gentle; and the harmonicas of Gabe on "Chaotic," and Nyck on the Beach-Boys nod "Now or Never" & "Waiting" are welcome fillers in each song. The harmonies are some of the best blending I've heard in awhile. Overall, a very nice blending of differing songs.

Modern hippies, and those of old, would find much to like about their new release. Almost every song on their LP could easily be sung by the fans in the crowd. Seeing this band live with their die-hard fans could be a blast! - Steve Dustcircle, Columbus Music Review, 8/12/2010

Folk pop almost always appeals to me, and quirky music duo Darynyck is no exception. In fact, members Daryn and Nyck (adorable choice of band name, I know) create some of the catchiest, cutest folk pop I have listened to in a while. Their simple lyrics and easygoing rhythms make listening to them very enjoyable. They have an irresistible charisma about them that makes me want them to write a song about me.

"Same Old Song" features an upbeat tempo and a variety of instrumental parts. Layered vocals enhance the song's fullness to a high degree, while the rattle of a maraca breaks up the repetitive guitar part and gives the song a fun edge. There is a bit of a campfire-sing-along vibe to this song that makes it perfect for a party playlist. This song is packed with sinfully sweet folk fun.

"Chaotic (Under Control)" is a mellow, guitar-driven track with a tambourine that fits in perfectly. My favorite aspect of this song is a rugged harmonica part that accompanies the attitude of the lyrics very well. The tone is somewhat cynical and pessimistic, making it a nice departure from Darynyck's often brighter vibe, yet it is impossible not to bob your head to this song. It's addicting.

"Now or Never" features a terrific harmonica part and song structure. The harmonica waits for the vocals finish, as if they are taking turns expressing themselves. It makes for a very fun interaction. Halfway through the song, everything slows down to make way for a quiet, slow verse that ends the song with the woeful lyrics, "Will you ever love me again?" Because of their creativity, I am willing to love Darynyck over and over again. This song is proof that this band writes catchy folk pop like it is the only thing they were put on Earth to do.

I recommend Darynyck to fans of Bob Dylan, Dave Melillo and Busman's Holiday. This duo makes fun folk with a dash of edginess that is sure to please any folk pop lover. Watch this live video of them and tell me what you think! Do you like Darynyck? - Shuffle On Music Blog, 12/7/2010

Today's review is of Darynyck's newest release; The Chaotic LP. Daryn and Nyck switch lead vocals and instruments throughout album, and all the songs were recorded by the two in various basements and attics.

Listening to this album, it would probably lead you to believe that Darynyck are heartbroken and depressed individuals. It's a stark contrast to their live performances, where they are cheerful, fun, and very personable. The songs on The Chaotic LP are beautiful in their simplicity, and absolutely gorgeous in the feelings they evoke in the listener. These are themes that most people have felt at one point or another, but are difficult to put into words. Darynyck has found a way to express and deliver these themes and feelings in a surprisingly upbeat style that manages to remain honest without seeming condescending. I think I love this album.

Make Some Music - A primer on starting a band because, "you're tired of working for the man." I could totally see this song being played on Sesame Street by a band of muppets to teach kids about playing music. It's a sweet, fun song that's just enjoyable to listen to. It isn't full of profound or deep lyrics, or overly complicated compositions. It's just a couple dudes making music.

Working Hard (Going Nowhere) - Light, fast-paced, with simple arrangements. The song pretty much asks the listener if it's all worth it? Going to college to get a job, working hard, but you never know what's going to happen, do you? What is time well-spent? What is really worth it? It's a rhetorical question, obviously, but lyrically this song is a stark contrast to the previous track.

Chaotic - Interestingly, one of the first songs I heard from Darynyck a few years ago. Although the liner notes say it was recorded in 2006, so I guess that shouldn't be surprising. Acoustic pop with lots going on in the background - tambourine, claps, harmonica. Nyck sings, with Daryn and guest Gabe; on backing vocals. I've known my share of chaotic women and this song reminds me of all of them. However, I have to wonder; is the behavior really chaotic? Or more like indecisive?

Pure and True - Different style than the previous tunes. Different feel; more like a traditional folk song. The whistling complements the rest of the music; in most other songs by other artists that contain whistling, it is often used as a centerpiece of sorts - and usually sucks. Not here. The lyrics remind me... unfortunately they remind me of myself and a past relationship in a lot of ways. I listened to this song a few times; just reminiscing about the past and how I'm glad I'm sane after all that happened.

Same Old Song - Another simple and straightforward tune with some cool guitar effects that do not overshadow the singing.

Pieces - Jesus, another song that seems to be ripped from my own experiences. I'm starting to think that Darynyck are telepathic and have scoured my brain. Or are these themes more universal and shared than I previously thought? Beautiful song in a tragic way.

Now or Never -Quick tempo, still going along with the theme of complicated love and sad, failing relationships. Now I'm convinced they've been stalking me and taking notes. This is a gorgeous song, but kind of hurts to listen to, as it strikes too close to home.

Alive - This is another song that is slowed down, downcast in mood, and full of honest feeling.

Waiting (Did It Again) - "Well it looks like I fucked up, I did it again..." I think this is the only song with swearing in it, and that conservative usage really adds to the power of the word. While on the surface it doesn't seem like it, this song seems bitter to me. Bitter at the narrators feeling of being at fault, and bitterness at hoping for something better. I may be wrong, but art is up to the interpretation of the audience, right?

New City Lights - A song about moving on. The singing wraps around the beat rather than being subordinate to timing (which is how 99% of all rock songs are), which is pretty neat. The music is upbeat and a little quicker in tempo than most of the other songs on the album.

Last A Lifetime - A departure from the styles of the previous songs. Much more focused on the lyrics and singing, rather than the instrumentation.

Without You, It's True - The perfect closer for the album. The last line sums up not only this song, but the entire feeling of the album; "I hope you'll come around."


If I had heard this album a year ago, it would have never left my CD player and I probably would have cried everytime I listened to it. I know some people who could use the catharsis, and I will be passing this on to them. Buy this album, borrow it from a friend, just find a way to listen to it. It is well worth it.

One last thing; My favorite Darynyck song is I'm So Sad (which DID help me through a rough patch), unfortunately I'm So Sad is on the Sasquatch Sessions, which is an album I do not have, nor have I listened to. Someday I hope to rectify that. - Quarantine Media Blog, 12/6/2010

It’s hard to describe the pleasure found in a wholly unexpected album, which makes summing up Darynyck’s The Chaotic LP a chore—as I would rather sprawl out on the floor and bask in its simple, kindhearted pop goodness.

The duo of Daryn and Nyck have expanded their home-recording tomfoolery into a bona fide band, which gives more of us a chance to hear their efforts.

The two of them distill the essences of many talented pop acts into one solid, unified sound. In their record collections, I am sure you’d find the Beatles, Elliot Smith, Teenage Fanclub and R.E.M., along with a couple of Cheap Trick and Big Star sides.

Playing so deeply in the classic pop mode is a tricky move that has killed off many a good band. The attitude of this band, a little more carefree and loose, smacks of not trying too hard and simply letting the music flow as far as their talents will take it.

The Chaotic LP isn’t flawless, but I’m in too good a mood to pick it apart. Suffice it to say that Darynyck’s best release is yet to come, but this one will do until then.

Darynyck’s release show will be held at 10:30 tonight (July 1) at Circus, 1227 N. High St. Also on the bill are Alert New London and Monolithic Cloud Parade. - Rick Allen, The Other Paper, 7/1/2010

Darynyck’s "The Sasquatch Sessions: Volumes I & II" is a two-part house party. Vaguely reminiscent of The Beach Boys’ album "Party" (in theme if not in content), the CD creates an atmosphere of accessibility and acquaintance as though you’re listening to the band in someone’s living room surrounded by friends. The simple nature of many of the songs -- particularly in Vol. I -- contributes to that feel of upbeat fun with an edge of melancholy. Darynyck knows how to piece together a song with just enough complexity to add interest, but not too much that it gets in the way.

The band unofficially began when friends Daryn and Nyck, who had known each other since the second grade, joined up in high school to create music back in 2001. Four years later, they began 'Darynik' in the Toledo area, eventually moving to Columbus in 2007. A year later, Kevyn -- which makes that darned 'y' suddenly suspect -- joined the band. Daryn and Nyck both sing vocals and swap around instruments like jugglers at a circus, seemingly able to play anything that can be plugged into an amp or held in front of an open mic.

Volume I of "The Sasquatch Sessions", Nyck says, “is a little more upbeat, fun, with positive lyrics.” While Voume II “is the more mellow, melancholy stuff.” And for the most part it follows that line, with a couple strays here and there.

"The Sasquatch Sessions" is somewhat of a mish-mash of genres and sounds -- from ‘50s pop to ‘60s folk to songs that are very 2007 -- but manages to maintain a remarkable evenness. The CD pulls you in instantly with the inordinately fun “People Get Together” and holds your interest through simple tunes, excellent lyrics, and an intimate recording style.

Darynyck delivers a solid offering in "The Sasquatch Sessions" that deserves to be noticed.

The band will be delivering the CD at a release party on Friday, April 4 at Oldfield’s on High. Be there to be the first on your block to pick up "The Sasquatch Sessions, Volumes I & II" and see Darynyck perform live. You won’t be disappointed. - Dave Schaefer, LifeOnTheCbus.com

Two discs, each clocking in at around 25 minutes, make up "The Sasquatch Sessions", a wonderful acoustic based pop collection. Listening to this album made me feel like I was sitting around a camp fire on a beach on a nice spring evening. Nice, very nice, indeed. - Lazlo's Den

Armed with lo-fi yet somehow resplendent Indie Pop songs that have a classic, occasionally psychedelic undercurrent, darynyck was formed in Toledo by a couple of longtime pals (Daryn & Nyck, get it?) who made homemade recordings together in high school. After college, the duo found themselves in Columbus and working together on songs again. The group's live shows can include anything from 3rd member, bassist/guitarist Dayn, to drum loops, while their more acoustic shows feature beats from djembes, tambourines, egg shakers and maracas. Fans of the Indie Pop style will find darynyck's music a welcome addition to that canon, fitting comfortably somewhere between Grizzly Bear, Guster, and Iron & Wine.
YOU'LL DIG IT IF YOU DIG: Acoustic Guided By Voices, The Shins blissfully stoned and minus electricity, The Left Banke signed to SpinArt Records. - Mike Breen, Cincinnati CityBeat

Usually bands work on an album for a few months - or a few years - then celebrate its release and move on to the next project.

Darynyck, the songwriting partnership between Darrin Wesenberg and Nick Cantello, has taken a less-than-conventional route toward the release of their debut, The Sasquatch Sessions. They recorded for five years, let the music sit for three more, then finally released it last spring. Now, a year later, they're releasing it again.

"It's two discs," Wesenberg said. "Why not have two releases?"

The duo struck up a musical partnership during their high school years in the Toledo suburb Sylvania. They screwed around with multi-track recordings on a boombox before Wesenberg headed to the University of Dayton and Cantello enrolled at Ohio State.

"A good yin and yang of it is Darrin's more technical and theoretical, and I'm more on the side of improv and simplistic going with the flow," Cantello said.

Throughout college, the pair got together frequently to record their collaborations in bathrooms, basements, closets and cars, cranking out dozens of straight-laced pop tunes in the vein of the Beatles' "Good Day Sunshine." Upon graduation, they came back home and began playing at open-mics, adopting the name Darynyck so they'd have something for their MySpace page.

It wasn't until they relocated to Columbus in 2006 that they started to branch out into honest-to-God gigs. At that point they began to think about emptying the vaults and releasing their large backlog of recordings.

The Sasquatch Sessions was ready for release early last year, so when fellow Columbus popsters Yummy Fight invited Darynyck to share a bill with them, it also functioned as a release party.

There was little fanfare for the occasion, though; in many ways, it was just another show. So Wesenberg decided to celebrate Sasquatch one more time before unveiling a collection of newer tunes later this year on local label Champions of the Arts - hence Friday's proper release show at the Scarlet & Grey Cafe.

The Sasquatch Sessions is relentlessly poppy and willfully simple. Cantello and Wesenberg have a framed copy of the first song they ever scrawled together, an admittedly "cheesy" ditty called "Happy Times."

Since then, they've focused more on mastering the art of pop hooks and harmonies, forgoing experimentation in favor of universal appeal. Songs like "People Get Together" and "Babygirl" are as basic and direct as they sound.

"The lyrics are definitely not mysterious or ambiguous in any way," Wesenberg said. "From my standpoint, the lyrics should be something people can relate to."

Despite the pop mind-set, Sasquatch plays like the collection of polished demos it is. The peek into a band's private past will resonate with the legion of bedroom maestros who, like Darynyck, found escape by pouring their creative energy into a laptop computer.

"I never expected to do more than open-mics," Cantello said. "It's just satisfying to be acknowledged, at least." - Chris DeVille, Columbus Alive

Darynyck is throwing a second release party for their album The Sasquatch Sessions tonight at the Scarlet & Grey Cafe, a year after the album first dropped. Read all about it in this week's Locals Only feature; while doing so, stream "New Years Day 2004," an extra track they tacked on to the second disc of their vault-clearing double CD.

Musically, the song's somewhere between early Bob Dylan and Simon and Garfunkel, a wistful folk tune colored by harmonica (or is that accordion?), a confident melody and lyrics about longing for somebody far away. Whether that chasm is geographical or emotional in nature isn't stated, but either way this is a fine little ditty that reminds us, like Bono did (with slightly higher stakes) back in 1983, that a new year isn't always cause for renewed optimism. - Chris DeVille, Columbus Alive

The men behind Darynyck mesh their myriad instruments and layered vocals with the spirit displayed in their namesake -- combining their names, Darrin and Nick.

The low-fi duo, each of whom contributes vocals as well as guitar and percussion, clearly believes in the power of two.

So the band mates are having a "re-release" party tonight for their 2008 album, The Sasquatch Sessions: 2001-2005, Vols. I & II.

"We figured: It's a double-disc album, so why not have a double release?" said Wesenberg, noting his love of performing despite the lack of initial fanfare for the recording.

"We don't want to reach 40 and regret never playing in a band."

Q How long has the band existed?

A We've actually known each other since second grade, when we played on the same soccer team. We started dabbling in music in high school, but we were always too lazy to really pursue a serious band. Nick and I formed Darynyck around three years ago after dissolving a short-lived cover band -- finding ourselves living back home in Toledo with our parents and nothing better to do.

Q What does your latest music sound like?

A I'll quote Cincinnati CityBeat (from 2007): "acoustic Guided by Voices, the Shins blissfully stoned and minus electricity; . . . comfortably somewhere between Grizzly Bear, Guster and Iron & Wine."

I just want every song to be catchy in its own way, with each recording being its own different layered, crafted creation.

Q What is your favorite quote about Darynyck?

A From the Quarantine Media music blog, written by some dude we've never met: "I hate to admit this, but these guys might be too good for me to review." That couldn't be more untrue.

Q Why should someone see you in concert?

A Where else can you see a harmonica- and trumpet-playing Italian-American . . . (who is also) a singing and whistling drummer? Plus, we swap guitar and drums toward the end of the set -- which is always fun.

Hopefully, by that point, we've consumed enough adult beverages to make for an entertaining finish. - Kevin Joy, Columbus Dispatch

Ruby Tuesday / Columbus, OH / June 26, 2008

Darynyck was playing with the Fancy Lads at Ruby Tuesday. Two bands I haven't previously seen live (but I have wanted to for a while) and a venue I like. So of course, I had to go.

I was sitting on the patio cooling off when my head started bobbing reflexively to some half heard music coming from inside. The sound was very poppy and joyful. I thought it was the Fancy Lads, as I thought they were first up. I went inside, and lo and behold! It was Darynyck pouring forth the joy!

This being the first time I've seen Darynyck live, I wasn't sure what to expect. How could two guys perform the rich tones and sounds I've heard on recordings in a live concert? Ok, the only recordings I've heard have been on their Myspace site and their official band website. And we all (should) know by now how sucky Myspace's compression is, combined with MP3 'quality' sound. But those MP3 Myspace recordings sound good. However, I reviewed 4 of their songs already so back to the show.

The stage lights were bright at Ruby Tuesday. So bright that the band had to ask the people in charge to turn 'em down. From an audience standpoint, one of the things I like about Ruby Tuesday's is that the stage is lit up while the audience area is dark. Think about it, how many other places around town are actually like that? A lit up stage and purposely darkened audience area? no strobes or disco balls? It's like being in a theater.

Like other bands I've seen and liked (foid, for example), Daryn and Nyck exchanged instruments for different parts of the set. This exchange didn't slow the pace of the show or ruin the mood either. That's a pretty good feat to pull off.

At one point, Nyck (I'm pretty sure it was Nyck, if I'm mistaken, I apologize) played a cornet while drumming. Literally. Now, it wasn't like he was blasting out some Louis Armstrong while beating out some Neil Peart drums, but the fact that he kept a beat with the drum AND played a cornet at the same time impressed both me and my date.

Speaking of my date, she was, in her own words, "swooning" for the band. The non-offensive but thoughtful lyrics and happy and rich music, as well as the two dudes' winning stage personalities made them a great band to see live.

After a somewhat stressful and tiring day, a cold beer and some Darynyck was the best possible way to relax.

My only regret was that I had to leave immediately after the last song (Chaotic, one of the songs on the 4 Song Review I wrote earlier) and missed the Fancy Lads (and missed picking up Darynyck's CD too). - Quarantine Media Blog

[Disclaimer: I hate to admit this, but these guys might be too good for me to review. Aw hell, i'll try i guess. - TR]

"No Time"
Starts slow with an acoustic guitar and soft, earnest vocals. This song makes me feel sad and introspective. Song slowly builds as electric guitar and bass are introduced. God, I want a beer to weep into. What have I been doing with my life? Daryn and Nyck's vocals complement each other. very nice tune.

"Chaotic"
Thankfully more rocking than "No Time." This is a bit more light-hearted and straight-forward. "Oh, you got it." Yeah, you do. Did I hear claps? Dang, I like songs with clapping in 'em. Makes me happy.

"Waiting"
Geez, I was unprepared for the word, "Fuck" in this song because I don't recall any swearing in any of the other songs. This is a break-up song. And a damn good one at that. I'm really diggin' the harmonica and the vocals. Actually, I like everything about this song.

"People Get Together"
This song is like a mash up of every single 60's everyone-be-happy song ever written. Tambourines and bell-bottoms, sideburns and Lennon sunglasses. A very happy song.

Dang it, I'm not used to having nothing to complain about. Damn you Darynyck! I'm going to go reread my review of Avionix to return myself to a more comfortable pissed-off state. - Quarantine Media Blog