Show Review:
Dumbwaiters, Wye Oak, King of Prussia
Words: Christian Crider
Photo: Marina Williams

Appeared:
January 12, 2008
New World Brewery, Ybor City

Another evening at New World Brewery was, yet again, delicious. The over-twenty-one crowd was out in full force on this foggy Saturday night. The show started out as King of Prussia took the floor. Now, I know what you’re thinking, “WTF is Prussia?” But that’s beside the point, because this Athens, Georgia quintet is neither here nor there. Instead, these rockers offered up a cornucopia of folked-out, psychedelic, indie-pop. With solid, timely drumming and a weeping electric violin, King of Prussia managed to pull off a sound reminiscent of both The Velvet Underground and (oddly enough) Flogging Molly, while at the same time retaining a high degree of originality.

Next up was Wye Oak. At first glance, this Baltimore group seemed like a typical girl/boy duo. On further inspection, I nearly had to change my diaper when the light bulb finally blinked on. Some folks may remember the one-armed drummer of Def Leopard, Rick Allen, and how amazing it was to see him overcome such a deficit in the name of rock. Well, drummer Andy Stack of Wye Oak is no amputee, but that didn’t stop him from playing the drums one-handed, nor did it stop him from playing rhythm with the other hand! Needless to say, this was one of those “holy shit” moments that overshadowed the rest of the evening. Vocalist Jenn Wasner’s performance was equally impressive, and Wye Oak left the crowd in a state of awe.

Dumbwaiters squeezed the icing onto the proverbial cake as they pounded out a tremendous set. It’s almost impossible not to hear the influence of the ‘90s in their music, but they are by no means stuck there. Indeed, Dumbwaiters have taken their music forward with a great deal of momentum. Mostly upbeat with heavy bass, staccato drums, and playful vocals, not to mention numerous keyboards, their sound was a refreshing take on post-punk alternative. All in all, Dumbwaiters were out in full force.  With the promise of a new album on the horizon, their future seems brighter than ever.

Dumbwaiters.org