Like Animals Again

The first 3 weeks of Cheap Thrills have been a very rewarding experience.
There's been an encouraging variety of acts presented, offering a more accurate representation of West Coast talent.

The past Wednesday continued to provide even more pleasant surprises.
$5 for 3 bands and cheap refreshment sure doesn't hurt either.

The Rub are not an easy band to describe.
They are definitely unique and definitely eclectic.
The 7 piece band likes to playfully jump wherever their imagination takes them. From an almost New Wave-era feel to a hint of Prog-Rock, ( "That was so Prog", I was heard to declare, after one such number fueled that utterance. ),
to a waltz, to bosanova, to dancible grooves, and a hint of electronica via an old-school synth.
The huge synthesis of musical styles seemed to mesh and not sound forced.
They have a definite energetic vibe with some fine dynamics ( lots of chord and mood changes ), timely fills with keyboards, bass, guitar, drums and a touch of flute to offer a wider scope of possibilities.
One tune even brought to mind a space-age 'Rawhide'.
Frontman, Adam, seemed to be genuinely enjoying himself , adding some tasteful and well punctuate synth and keyboard contributions.
The harmonies, with as many as 4 people, added to the allure.
The delightfully abrupt time signature detours and sense of fun was very-much welcomed too.
Usually, eclectic bands can leave a feeling of confusion and unease with the listener. But in The Rub's case, it seemed to bring out the curious side, just waiting for the next moment of surprise.
Their music also gave a feeling of sunnier climbs than our rainy and damp town.
I was very impressed with their fearless expression.
Their guitarist even lent out his guitar when The Mohawk Lodge -1 had a 6-stringed emergency.
www.myspace.com/rubbingtherub - Radio Bandcouver