Smells Like Hurtmodel Spirit
June Caldwell
June 18, 2007
Reviewed by Rodger and June Caldwell
Picture by June Caldwell
We followed our noses to The Smell in downtown LA to check out Hurt Model a “math rock” dynamic duo that started the night in an energetic mode. The Smell is a small hangout in a neglected stretch of Main St. That’s part of its charm. You enter through a dark alley with a few characters lurking about offering helpful directions and requesting spare change. It is a totally cool art house/hip coffeehouse (sans coffee)/nightclub. Its staff of dedicated volunteers runs the place that provides a warm friendly venue for local musicians and artists to perform. I say check it out. It’s a work in progress worthy of your attention and only $5 to get in.
Hurt Model kicked off the evening with Trevor “SpiderFingers” Vento’s fretwork on his enviable guitar collection and Bennett “Quikfoot” Erickson drumming in high gear and then they kicked it into overdrive for the last two songs, “Where can I get some Quaaludes” and the catchy “Wild Side Mile Wide”. Trevor’s Zappa-esque thrashing on guitar coupled with Bennett’s locomotive rhythms came on like being charged by a rhino with nothing between you and the dusty trail. It was one of those rock n roll moments when you could just let go and ride the guitar and drums like a roller coaster in flames. Intricate guitar and drum tempo changes like the coaster was lurching around bends into lands unknown, with plenty of power punches thundering throughout. Somehow we all survived. I would be afraid to ‘do the math’ but they both got chops to burn. They have been together five years and left me wondering what they’ll sound like in five more with their soon to be added bass player. Hope he can keep up.
Trevor’s use of open tuning kept him switching guitars with each tune. It also gives them a sound that’s hard to describe. A dash of Zappa, a few drops of Metallica, a pinch of Hella here and there maybe? Naw…. I didn’t hear any Quaaludes at all either. They are playing around town here in LA. Grab your plugs and go!
For more pictures, see: Flicker.com.
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