Gapers Block has ceased publication.

Gapers Block published from April 22, 2003 to Jan. 1, 2016. The site will remain up in archive form. Please visit Third Coast Review, a new site by several GB alumni.
 Thank you for your readership and contributions. 

TODAY

Friday, March 29

Gapers Block
Search

Gapers Block on Facebook Gapers Block on Flickr Gapers Block on Twitter The Gapers Block Tumblr


Transmission
« Immediate Sound Turns Two Rock the Bells is Coming! (Kinda.) »

Review Wed Apr 23 2008

Califone @ The Vic 4/22/08

califone poster by Dan Grzeca

Califone came home to Chicago for a two night stint at the Vic, opening up for Iron and Wine, but they seemed to be a bit confused as to where they actually lay their hats. "It's good to be home," founding member Tim Rutili said with a sly grin. "Or at least home for these guys," he continued, pointing to the other multi-instrumentalists that make up the band. Rutili's banter retreated casually, but he managed to explain the obtuse reference to his move to Los Angeles with a rhetorical question: "This is Hollywood, right?"

Whether or not any of the members currently reside in our fair city matters little, for if Califone has a home city, it certainly is Chicago, regardless of the Chicago/Los Angeles hometown their MySpace page declares. After Red Red Meat ended around the time all alt-rock ended, Rutili began some solo experiments before enlisting former Meat members Ben Massarella and Brian Deck to fill out the sound. While Deck left to produce some amazing albums with Iron & Wine, Modest Mouse and Chin Up Chin Up (not to mention a couple for Califone), Massarella stuck around, the band filled out and they signed to local independent label Thrill Jockey.

(Poster by Dan Grzeca.)

Even those obvious connections aren't necessary for Califone to be considered a Chicago band because their inability to be classified allows them to stew peacefully in the melting pot that is the Chicago music scene. Other than the vague experimental folk label that is often slapped on their backs, I couldn't describe the band sonically without taking the wind out of their sails. But, seeing them live definately helped me understand the dynamic behind the ensemble.

Each member plays many different instruments with Jim Becker and Rutili focusing on strings and keys while Joe Adamik and Massarella pound away on anything that can be percussed. These two groupings feed off each other with no member taking the lead, except for when Rutili sings, producing a strung out vibe that emotes from the stage as a collage of meditation. Massarella took things the furthest, finding new ways to make noise such as spinning a metal ball around a steel drum and hitting what looked like a ceramic jug until its fall from his kit coincided with the ending of the song.

What really separates Califone's experimentation from the new sounds coming out of noise-punk or any of the computer-based hipster bands is it's ability to simmer rather than reach a fever. This is particularly helpful when soliciting collaborations, like last night's piano and xylophone contributions from headliner Sam Beam. Beam casually appeared from the backstage and just fit into the jam without much fuss over his celebrity. He played two songs with the band, peppering their set without interrupting the flow of their rhythm. Some members of Califone returned the favor later on during Beam's set, but it was in more of a backup mode.

The whole night felt like at times a carnival and at times a funeral. Califone definitely evokes the darker side of our waking life, but the variance in the instrumentation and the way the band members interact as showmen felt very vaudevillian and creepy given the haunting tones. Plus the slide guitarist never really stopped playing so there was this backwoods soundtrack constantly playing and keeping the audience in a certain mood for the entirety of the show.

It would be worth it for Califone to explore the idea of collaborating with Iron & Wine similar to Calexico's contribution to the In the Reins EP. And even though I enjoy the pairing, an all-ages show with a band on the Garden State soundtrack does not bode well for good seating, so maybe their next collaboration should be a studio effort so I can see this fine Chicago band a little closer up.

 
GB store
GB store

Feature Thu Dec 31 2015

Our Final Transmission Days

By The Gapers Block Transmission Staff

Transmission staffers share their most cherished memories and moments while writing for Gapers Block.

Read this feature »

Blogroll

  Chicago Music Media

Alarm Magazine
BackStage
Big Rock Candy Mountain
Boxx Magazine
Brooklyn Vegan Chicago
Can You See The Sunset From The Southside
Chicago Reader Music
Chicagoist Arts & Events
ChicagoMusic.org
Chicago Music Guide
Chicago Singles Club
CHIRP
Country Music Chicago
Cream Team
Dark Jive
Daytrotter
The Deli Chicago
Jim DeRogatis
Do312
Fake Shore Drive
Gowhere Hip Hop
Gridface
The Hood Internet
Innerview
Jaded in Chicago
Largehearted Boy
Little White Earbuds
Live Fix Blog
Live Music Blog
Loud Loop Press
Oh My Rockness
Pop 'stache
Pitchfork
Pop Matters
Resident Advisor
Songs:Illinois
Sound Opinions
Sun-Times Music Blog
Theft Liable to Prosecution
Tribune Music
UR Chicago
Victim Of Time
WFMU's Beware of the Blog
Windy City Rock

  Venues:

Abbey Pub
Andy's Jazz Club
Aragon Ballroom
Auditorium Theatre
Beat Kitchen
B.L.U.E.S
Bottom Lounge
Buddy Guy's Legends
The Burlington
California Clipper
Concord Music Hall
Congress Theater
Constellation
Cubby Bear
Double Door
Elbo Room
Empty Bottle
FitzGerald's
Green Mill
The Hideout
Honky Tonk BBQ
House of Blues
Kingston Mines
Lincoln Hall
Logan Square Auditorium
Martyrs'
Mayne Stage
Metro
The Mutiny
Old Town School of Folk Music
Park West
The Promontory
Red Line Tap
Reggie's Rock Club & Music Joint
The Riviera
Rosa's
Schubas
Thalia Hall
The Shrine
Smartbar
Subterranean
Symphony Center
Tonic Room
Township
Uncommon Ground
The Vic
The Whistler

  Labels, Promoters
  & Shops:

Alligator Records
Atavistic
Beverly Records
Bloodshot Records
Dave's Records
Delmark Records
Drag City
Dusty Groove
Flameshovel Records
Groove Distribution
He Who Corrupts
Hozac
Jam Productions
Jazz Record Mart
Kranky Records
Laurie's Planet of Sound
Minty Fresh
Numero Group
mP Shows
Permanent Records
Reckless Records
Smog Veil Records
Southport & Northport Records
Thick Records
Thrill Jockey Records Touch & Go/Quarterstick Records
Victory Records

GB store

Events

Featured Series














 

Transmission on Flickr

Join the Transmission Flickr Pool.


About Transmission

Transmission is the music section of Gapers Block. It aims to highlight Chicago music in its many varied forms, as well as cover touring acts performing in the city. More...
Please see our submission guidelines.

Editor: Sarah Brooks, sarah@gapersblock.com
Transmission staff inbox: transmission@gapersblock.com

Archives

 

Transmission Flickr Pool
 Subscribe in a reader.

GB store

GB Store

GB Buttons $1.50

GB T-Shirt $12

I ✶ Chi T-Shirts $15