She Sings Sanctuary

With Cold Specks being stuck in The Rockies because of a snowstorm, their Friday night set at Lee's Palace was moved to Sunday. But though it was on the eve of the work week, the venue was full for her self-described "doom soul". The impeccable sound tonight, I've never heard a better mix at this venue, did justice to both acts.

AroarA's debut album takes as lyrics the poems of Alice Notley (In The Pines). Married to the wonderful verses were catchy, but trancy, arrangements. Because of their reliance on a drum machine and sampler, this duo often played over repetitive samples and beats. But they were also able to spin out subtle variations with their guitars. Given the occasion, Ariel Engle's clear voice was augmented tonight with backup vocals from Feist and Daniela Gesundheit (Snowblink). This was their strongest performance to date and many in the audience were obviously won over.

It was hard to know how to react to Cold Specks' music. With her assertive "church-choir" voice (with an attitude) and oblique lyrics, you may be tempted to stand and absorb the emotions. Yet they were also anthemic tunes especially from the new album Neuroplasticity. Anchored by driving guitar and furious drums, as well as the rumbling of a baritone sax, these demanded that you move. Most people tonight fell into the congregational mode. At one point, there was such utter silence (no glasses clinking; chatty talkers in the back) that it even unnerved Al Spx as she was tuning her guitar. She also sang a few songs a cappella, none more powerful than Holland from her debut disc. In a wrathful nod to an earlier quip about touring in the U.S. ("That country is fucked up ... somebody should tell the government"), she included along with the verses like "O death, where is thy sting?", exhortations of "Hands up, don't shoot, I can't breathe". It was an electrifying moment that made tonight more than just a pop performance.