CMJ Live Review: Communion Party ft. Deap Vally + Matrimony + Foreign Fields – Rockwood Music Hall (19.10.12)

UK based label Communion have come to international prominence thanks in part of Mumford & Sons, but as they continually prove through showcases at events like CMJ, they are a label chock-a-block full of incredible talent. Friday’s event at Rockwood Music Hall was no exception. Nashville, Tennessee based five piece Foreign Fields (pictured below) were performing as I arrived. The band display the typical tendencies of a band signed to, or released by the Communion label: Harmonies, banjo, acoustic guitars and a harmonica solo to close out the night. Their music is the easy listening sort of folk that might be attributed to a band like Fleet Foxes. They definitely evoke plenty of comparisons to the Seattle based group.

The band played songs tonight from their debut record Anywhere But Where I Am, including the track of the same name and “From The Lake To The Land” which may have opened up the album, but closed out the night in fine form, including a breathtaking jam and that aforementioned harmonica solo.

Matrimony (pictured below) were next, hailing from Charlotte, North Carolina. The band’s name probably comes from the fact that the lead male and female of the band are married, while the remaining members are brothers of each member. An interesting play on the family band, that’s for sure. They opened their set with the energetic “Southern Skies”, featuring multiple singers at once (this is the sort of band where everyone is a backup vocalist), Ashlee Hardee Brown on keys and Jimmy Brown on electric mandolin, and enough atypical catchy melodies to make Marcus Mumford blush. While J Brown had lead duties on this song, A Brown would take over on the next track – and this back and forth would continue for much of the set. And yes, there was banjo.

Unlike the prior act, their music would be hard to pin down under any particular category. At times the music comes across as almost anthemic rock, while their influences range from country to folk, gypsy to rock and funk to the blues. With a unique blend of so many genres, and an interesting on stage dynamic, Matrimony were the pick of the festival for me. “Down to the River” was my favourite track of the night, while the set closed with a perfect, foot stomping track in “Obey Your Guns”. This is a band who know how to deliver a good time. Watch this space, a definite band to watch.

Closing out the Communion portion of the evening were buzz band Deap Vally (pictured in header), who we’ve featured on the AU review in the past, made up of two girls from LA with a penchant for wearing few clothes, no shoes and bringing out the blues rock, circa Janis Joplin. They’re certainly a sight to behold, if on outfits alone. Their set tonight was short – five, maybe six songs made the cut. Vocalist and Guitarist Lindsey Troy plays the part of the front woman well, chanelling her inner hippy (and Janis Joplin) through some heavy blues rock tunes, with a loud, raspy voice, plenty of sass, attitude and soul, while Julie Edwards made impressive use of her drum kit with occasional backing vocals.

Lyrics like “you say you’ll marry a rich man” and “your love’s a lie”, with songs called “Wanderer” and “Creep Life” see the band tee tote between 1970s sentimentality and themes of the new, and overall the music could have been as easily suited in the Third Man Records catalogue as it does on Communion. Lindsey held a big smile on her face through the whole set, and they appropriately closed out the show with “End of the World”.

I think the problem with hype is that you start expecting a performance or music that will surprise or overwhelm you. The band didn’t quite achieve either here. They are playing music quite down the middle of the road – wearing their influences on their sleeves and though their selling point is being two young girls from LA playing with plenty of conviction, the music itself ultimately isn’t anything original. That’s not to put it down, but just don’t expect this to be a band to blow your mind. All the same, a truly enjoyable set from the up-and-coming duo, and I’m sure we’ll be hearing plenty more from them soon…

Larry Heath

Founding Editor and Publisher of the AU review. Currently based in Toronto, Canada. You can follow him on Twitter @larry_heath or on Instagram @larryheath.