Irving Plaza played host to two of the most exciting younger bands in the music scene last weekend, as Vermont-based Twiddle opened up for the jamtronica titans, Papadosio. Papadosio are constantly on the road, this time playing the East Coast on their “Imaginal Cells” tour, and bringing bands like Twiddle, Jimkata, Ghost Owl, TAUK, and more along for the ride.
Twiddle kicked things off at 11:30, with elaborate jams that immediately revealed this band’s ability to rock hard, with a lighthearted attitude. The guys from Twiddle are serious musicians, working through some of their original tunes, including “Every Soul” and “Jamflowman.” The band’s influences are hard to pin down – one minute they sound like a reggae band, at others they’re deep into their jazz roots.
Perhaps one of the highlights from their hour-long set was the song “Frankenfoote,” which featured guest apperances from saxophonist Kenny Brooks, as well as MUN guitarist Wiley Griffin, who played an otherworldly guitar solo. These guys were in a serious musical zone, locked in and tight at every corner. The band finished their set with “The Box,” which segued into the hilariously-bizarre Primus song “Too Many Puppies,” before coming back to “The Box.” Great music, great set, and the nearly-sold-out venue was bouncing up and down, waiting for the next band.
Sure enough, Papadosio delivered. Their “Imaginal Cells” tour artfully blends the visual with the band’s distinct livetronica sound, and the result is absolutely mesmerizing. This band has the unique ability to blend live instrumentation with electronic exploration, manipulating each influence at will. Combine that distinct sound with a knack for songwriting, and you have an instant recipe for success.
The band opened with the song “We Are Water,” a jam distinguished by the inclusion of a spoken-word monologue about water. The speech runs alongside the music, as the band shifts through various movements. It’s a unique concept that translates quite well to the live setting, loosening things up before getting things going.
Papadosio frontman Anthony Thogmartin paused after a few songs, and told a fun story about meeting a couple on an NYC tour bus earlier that day. The band dedicated their next song to the couple, who wildly cheered from the front of the audience. It’s always heartwarming when bands and fans interact on a personal level, showing that the musicians really do appreciate all the support from fans, both old and new. Then they jumped into a scorching rendition of “All I Knew.”
Speaking of scorching, the band’s playing was so hot that a small fire literally broke out on the side of the stage. The commotion was minimal, as the band played through the heat, and gave a resounding “thank you all so much for bringing the heat for our midnight sound voyage” when everything was all said and done.
The band wrapped up their set with “Polygons,” a slow-building groove that whipped the crowd into a frenzy. This is a band that is thoroughly beloved by their audience, and vice versa. Anytime you can feel that connection, amid a night of fantastic music, you know you’re in for an excellent concert experience. Until next time, Papadosio and Twiddle.
Also, be sure to catch Anthony Thogmartin’s solo project, EarthCry, alongside Desert Dwellers at Cameo Gallery on 11/6. More information for that show can be found here.
-David Melamed (@DMelamz)
Check out some more photos from the show below, courtesy of Andrew Scott Blackstein:
