Monday, November 29, 2010

THE CENTENNIAL


Another trip to the Hi-Dive this Saturday night, with three bands performing: Glowing Houses, American Tomahawk and The Centennial. I was there to see The Centennial whose leading member is Patrick Meese, who led the former band Meese. His wife Tiffany and brother Nathan and a bass player make up this new band.

This is what was written in advance of the show:

Earlier this year, Denver pop/rock band Meese--whom many anticipated were following the same path toward stardom as The Fray did a few years ago--made a rather surprising decision to disband and regroup, as a completely new band with a completely different sound. Dubbing themselves The Centennial, brothers Patrick and Nate Meese, along with Patrick's wife Tiffany, made their public debut at the Hi-Dive during last summer's Underground Music Showcase.

This Saturday night, November 27, The Centennial is returning to the Hi-Dive, their original launching pad, to celebrate the official release of a brand-new EP, aptly entitled Second Spring. Helping them celebrate the release will be American Tomahawk, Glowing House, and Tommy & the High Pilots.

The sound of The Centennial is a vast departure from the days of Meese. While Nate still covers the guitar, Patrick has left his previous slot on keyboards, leaving those duties to wife Tiffany while he sings lead from the drums. Gone also are the melodic pop hooks; this new sound is exploratory, experimental and reflective, a sound that is better heard than described. Familiar faces working from a totally new playbook.

http://www.examiner.com/local-music-in-denver/the-centennial-formerly-meese-releases-ep-this-weekend-at-hi-dive

Nothing special about the local band Glowing Houses. However, I did enjoy the second act, American Tomahawk.
This is what Westword wrote about them:
Adam Halferty has toured with 3OH!3 and played drums in a number of very recognizable bands over the years. American Tomahawk, however, Halferty's solo project, might make folks hope he never returns to the drum throne again. His latest album, Generalities, Contradictions and Future Criminals, which he recorded on his own, shows us not only his excellent production skills, but his prowess as a singer, guitarist and songwriter, as well. "Our Song Knife" opens the album on a subdued note with quietly strummed guitars before giving way to rich and layered choruses on songs like "Please" and "Sunshine People." With the fragility and yearning of Pedro the Lion's Control, Generalities swoons and bends through complex stop-and-start rhythms while Halferty seamlessly harmonizes with himself — something a drummer would be hard pressed to pull off, but something a true musician like Halferty comes close to perfecting.


Download American Tomahawk's show from this night here:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=O46H2AB1


The following pictures are from The Centennial's performance this evening. I was trying out a different camera and my verdict is that it failed.




























Download The Centennial's show here:

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