TruSource Technology DL2 Integrated Digital Mixer

LIVE REVIEWS
The Dig
Silverlake Lounge
Los Angeles, CA
Contact: thedig@redlightmanagement.com
Web: http://thedigmusic.com
The Players: David Baldwin, vocals, guitar;
Emile Mosseri vocals, bass; Erick Eiser, keyboards,
guitar; Mark Demiglio, drums.
Username: thedig@redlightmanagement.com
Material: These New York City dwellers bring a
slightly newfangled style to the indie-rock scene.
Not too hard and not too soft, the band’s gritty guitar
and bass heavy material is laced with the right
amount of pop to keep the cheesiness at bay and
the catchiness intact. Delivering a spectrum of
songs focused on the jilted lover, like the kickedback
“All Tied Up,” or the dance inducing “Hole In
My Heart,” the Dig manage to maintain a stylistic
cohesion.
Musicianship: With every chord struck, key
touched, and kick hit, it’s clear that each member
is born to play his instrument. Mosseri is practically
one with his bass, laying down the backbone
with conviction. His vocals are delicate
and simple, yet stand strong against the overall
enthusiasm of the band. Baldwin is a little more
composed in demeanor, but lets his presence be
heard with guitar skills that pack power and grit.
Baldwin’s vocals are dynamically similar to
Mosseri’s; however, they stay distinguishable and
complementary when thrown together in harmonies.
Eiser leaves no gap unfilled with atmospheric
synths that color the overall tone, and Demiglio
keeps the band in line with flawless percussion.
Skum City
Dispatches from the Underground
Stage at Governors Island
New York, NY
Contact: skumcity@gmail.com
Web: http://facebook.com/skumcity
The Players: Mark Sux, vocals; Mike
Moosehead, guitar; Xtene, bass, backup
vocals; Beast, drums.
Username: skumcity
Material: Skum City, the first band to hit the
stage at the 2012 Governors Island Festival, set
the perfect tone for this all-day extravaganza.
Finding their roots in the tradition of the Seattle
Grunge movement, the band's sound is a genuine
reflection of that era, with their own unique twist.
Anger, introspection, rejection of the status quo
and life’s everyday frustrations are all in tow as
are scrappy and sometimes outrageous lyrics.
The songs are shorter in length than the typical
pop-rock song, keeping in line with the style of
music. The memorable portions come from the
steady and relentless outpouring of words and
raw emotion branded by repetition. In the title
song “Skum City” there is a mantra-like use of
the title which serves as the cornerstone of the
lyric. This pattern follows in “Brand New Day” as
well. In other instances, the payoff line is at the
end of a phrase, “New York City’s the place to be
an asshole,” repeated several times to hammer
home the message.
Musicianship: Mark Sux, the band’s clean cut
lead singer, hardly matches the “punk” stereotype,
but when he opens his mouth there is no doubt he
is the real deal, unleashing all the driving energy
and manic delivery that the songs demand. Mike
The Dig: New York indie rock put on display for all of Los Angeles to hear.
Performance: From beginning to end, the Dig
killed it. They started without any signs of weakness
or hesitation and, by the third song, the
head count grew in density and the groupies hit
the floor. There was little banter in between songs
initially, but Mosseri eventually cracked the hard
focus on the music and opened up with a sincere
appreciation for the turnout. From the overall
quality of the performance it was clear why this
band was given a month-long residency in L.A.,
as it quickly became one of those shows that
ended far too soon.
Summary: The Dig are quite a special find. It's
almost as though each member didn't choose his
instrument; the instrument chose him. With two
solid albums and the ability to put on an amazing
show, this band is ready to be placed on display
for a wide audience.
——Allegra Azzopardi
Skum City: Expressions of anger, introspection, rejection of the status quo and life's everyday frustrations.
Moosehead makes an impressionable statement
with guitar licks that demonstrate technique and
serve as motifs that weave the songs together.
It is refreshing to see Xtene (the sole female
member of the group) playing bass and working
with drummer Beast to keep the ever-changing
grooves crisp and articulated. All in all, the band’s
timing and rhythmic sense is impeccable.
Performance: Skum City gave a focused
and committed performance and projected a
serious demeanor. Though their music was confrontational
and emotive there were no on-stage
antics—pure intensity derived from the music
itself and not some over-the-top look or visual display.
The songs showcased enough rhythmic and
topical variety to keep the set mov-ing and build
the proper anticipation.
Summary: Mainstream by no means, Skum City
embody many of the classic tenets of punk music,
from their hard-edged sound to their rebellious
and at times anti-social lyrics. However, the group
display enthusiasm and respect for the art form
and approach it with the high mindedness and
professionalism it deserves.
——Ellen Woloshin
ALLEGRA AZZOPARDI
MARK SHIWOLICH
September 2012 www.musicconnection.com 51