Something Like Sound

The light was soft as the sun set over Fort Collins. A group of friends gathered in an unassuming backyard to enjoy the weather, the company, and (of course) the music. While taking a well-deserved break in Ft. Collins this last week I decided to drop by Matt Sage’s house (also known as “The Lowkey”). I tried to keep all preconceptions and expectations to a minimum so that I could simply enjoy a night a lo-fi and experimental music. The result was an enjoyable evening.

Armed with a guitar amp, a few instruments and a veritable smorgasbord of effects pedals Tim Perry (of Weed Diamond) set up on the back porch to play a set under the moniker Lush Cola. He made extensive use of loops and layering to produce a sound that was ambient yet slightly driven. As he ended I overheard someone say, “That’s the best way you can watch a sunset.”

As the nighttime began to overtake the unsuspecting neighborhood, everyone headed indoors to witness a set from that evening’s host: M. Pyres. Along with his current band, The Season Creeps, Sage put on the most upbeat and energetic set of the evening. It was a flurried frenzy of guitar and fuzz, bass and drumbeats.

Finally it was time for the main event: Julian Lynch. Words cannot properly describe the sounds he created in that basement music-space, but suffice it to say everyone there sat with bated breath, taking in every note. It ebbed and flowed, washing over the room and causing me to think “Has there ever been anything in the world that sounded quite like this?” The short answer: probably not. Lynch had a few interesting instruments in tow, including a bass clarinet and an electronic woodwind (pictured above). His set was a continuous composition that lasted for probably 40 minutes (although I honestly lost track of time).

Click for more Lush Cola | M. Pyres | Julian Lynch. To see a full gallery from the show click here.