How does one describe something that defies description? The fact that I am going to try and describe a show by The Fewel Project demonstrates that I have too high an opinion of myself. Too late to fix that one. Whaddya know, I master drunkenness, and I think I can do anything.
I had the distinct honor of talking to Rafa and Jericho for quite a while before their set. It was a distinct honor because they are such cool guys. I usually don't want a band I am reviewing to know that I am doing so, but The Fewel Project's set had been pushed way back, and they were accessible, so I had David Ramirez, of Hiney's, introduce me to them.
While they didn't give me much warning of what kind of music they were going to play (my working definition was 'experimental blues'), they did impress on me that they are intelligent, thoughtful guys. This is important, because, otherwise, I might have dismissed their music as intentionally annoying.
Musicians generally try to avoid being annoying, but this is a part of The Fewel Project's strategy of challenging the mind-set of the audience. Being a purist, I try to annoy for it's own sake, but enough about me. Their music is definitely experimental, and is very much an acquired taste. It took me twenty minutes of their hour-long set to even start to understand it. After seeing their whole set, and sleeping on it, I kind of get it. I think I have heard similar stuff on MySpace.com, but without putting any effort into deciphering it.
The fact that they demonstrated excellent traditional musical skills amid their cacophony compels me to try and understand them. The drumming is excellent. In fact, if you just heard the drums, you might think he was playing with a fusion band. The guitar work is also excellent, and the vocals are pretty good. They might be excellent, too, but I'll stick with 'pretty good' until I see them again. They employ a lot of stops. Jericho, the guitar player, shows very nice vibrato, and in-place (not just on lengthy notes), which I always appreciate.
It is hard to hear any blues on half the songs, but it is there in places. Toward the end of the set, they played some very tasty blues, indeed. At times, they sounded kind of like a 60s jam session. As the set progressed, they began playing more and more traditionally, but never quite making it all the way. In fact, they started the set by playing in different keys altogether. Their apparent insanity is planned; their music is really a kind of minimalist art.
In Minimalism, the artist tries to barely, barely demonstrate a thought, challenging the audience to "get it." The Fewel Project doesn't do this, exactly - they add a lot of dissonance to their creation, especially in the beginning of the set. In effect, they add a small amount of music to "anti-music", while displaying just enough sanity to provoke the listener into trying to get their message. I didn't quite get it, but I think I can.
After the show, I went up to Jericho to say goodbye. He asked me point-blank, how I liked their show. I told him that I didn't want to give a simple answer.
"Interesting," would have been accurate, but would have made me look ignorant. My response, at this time, is, "Interesting." I can be a minimalist, too.
- Charles Hurley
