Split Lip Rayfield review - Denver, CO
PostPosted:Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:14 am
I went to see these guys on Saturday night in Denver. For those that are not aware, they are (now) a 3 piece bluegrass-like band from Kansas. They used to be a 4-piece but their guitarist, Kirk Rundstrom, died last year from cancer. So it's just a 3 piece with a mando, banjo and...um...a bass. The bass is made from the gastank of a car and the single string is a weedwhacker line. This is the first time I was going to see them, although I have one of their discs so I was familiar with their music. Classifying music can be hit or miss, but these guys are like punk bluegrass or alternative bluegrass. This isn't Bill Monroe bluegrass if you know what I mean.
Not having the guitarist, I thought that maybe something would be missing from the music. No fucking way. These guys were awesome. Every song is two and half minutes of pure musical frenzy (slight exaggeration--their songs are shorter, but the energy is not exaggerated). They didn't go on until almost midnight on Sat., but they were, in the words of ESPN, en fuego. :) Each guy has some serious chops and can totally rip it up. For being only 3 guys, you didn't notice a missing piece. Perhaps if you're a long-time Split Lip fan, you would notice their founding member Kirk wasn't there, but being a new Split Lip fan, musically, they were really tight. The banjo especially stood out, but each one had moments where they totally shred. That gastank bass is killer--a big huge booming sound that filled the room. If I had to be an ass, the only things I would find fault with is their song duration (really short--I didn't time it but I would guess 3 minutes is about average ) and the fact that a guitarist would be a nice addition. He'd have to have some serious chops to keep up with these guys though and he'd have to have enough energy to last the whole show. But with as much energy they bring as a threesome, it didn't matter. They totally fucking rocked.
If anyone in the Denver/Boulder area is interested, they're playing the Fox tonight. And then they go up to Ft. Collins and play some place up there (the Aggie, I believe). If they come through your area, don't hesitate to see these guys. Like I said, I saw them in Denver on Saturday night and I was so pumped by their music I'm going again tonight to see them in Boulder. They're that good and definitely worth the money.
Disclaimer--not affiliated with the band in any way and I've only had one cup of coffee this morning so please excuse bad grammar, spelling mistakes and shitty writing. :)
Not having the guitarist, I thought that maybe something would be missing from the music. No fucking way. These guys were awesome. Every song is two and half minutes of pure musical frenzy (slight exaggeration--their songs are shorter, but the energy is not exaggerated). They didn't go on until almost midnight on Sat., but they were, in the words of ESPN, en fuego. :) Each guy has some serious chops and can totally rip it up. For being only 3 guys, you didn't notice a missing piece. Perhaps if you're a long-time Split Lip fan, you would notice their founding member Kirk wasn't there, but being a new Split Lip fan, musically, they were really tight. The banjo especially stood out, but each one had moments where they totally shred. That gastank bass is killer--a big huge booming sound that filled the room. If I had to be an ass, the only things I would find fault with is their song duration (really short--I didn't time it but I would guess 3 minutes is about average ) and the fact that a guitarist would be a nice addition. He'd have to have some serious chops to keep up with these guys though and he'd have to have enough energy to last the whole show. But with as much energy they bring as a threesome, it didn't matter. They totally fucking rocked.
If anyone in the Denver/Boulder area is interested, they're playing the Fox tonight. And then they go up to Ft. Collins and play some place up there (the Aggie, I believe). If they come through your area, don't hesitate to see these guys. Like I said, I saw them in Denver on Saturday night and I was so pumped by their music I'm going again tonight to see them in Boulder. They're that good and definitely worth the money.
Disclaimer--not affiliated with the band in any way and I've only had one cup of coffee this morning so please excuse bad grammar, spelling mistakes and shitty writing. :)