History
Great band! Venue? Not so much
Words: Tony Cheslock
Photos: Marshall Dickson

Appeared:
April 21, 2007
Hard Rock Live, Orlando

I’ve been following nearly every member of History play in one band or another since the turn of this century. What is always interesting to me is the way each member has been able to hone their individual talent to a sharper point. In particular, Kenzie (bass) and Patrock (drums) are like peanut butter and jelly in the way they compliment one another. Matt (guitar / vocals) has increased his range with the guitar and his wind pipes, while Scott has managed to develop a style that allows the mind to freely float over the writhing back beat that Kenzie and Patrock create. While I can’t speak to Mellisa’s style, or her musical history, she adds a well managed dynamic to Scott’s steady Moog-laden backbeat.

That being said, their performance at the Hard Rock venue in Orlando felt a little stale, due in great part to the canned lightshow that said venue put on for every act that night.  Every once in a while, the rainbow of programmed lights would die down, and the stage was illuminated with a simple white light. It was those tiny moments when History completely filled the atmosphere with that beautifully rough musical anatomy. That is how I know, given more creative control over their stage presentation, History has the muscle to make a really profound impression on the modern music culture.