Located in the hipster center of the universe, Northsix in Williamsburg is a cavernous room that hosts bands from all musical genres. Friday night gave the locals, complete in their matching “I’m an individual, but the same as everyone here” uniforms, some hometown flavor with Oakley Hall and Dirty on Purpose, two Brooklyn bands gaining a healthy national following.
Oakley Hall’s performance was a back porch fall equinox party, complete with hearty ales and fiddle playing, these New Yorkers bring the cornfields and heartlands to the big city. Their Americana/Urban flavor was snug like an old sweater as the sound enveloped. Tightly crafted songs mixed with rambunctious playing gets all in attendance feeling a part of Oakley Hall’s extended family. Vocalists Patrick Sullivan and Rachel Cox take turns strumming guitars and singing leads. The blend of male and female tones add a deep texture, Cox’s voice in particular is dynamic. For this performance the lap steel of guitarist Fred Wallace seemed to be lacking, but the loud violin playing of Claudia Mogel made up the difference as the rhythm section of Jesse Barnes on bass and Greg Anderson on drums rolled along. Wilco introduced to Camper Van Beethoven in Tom Petty’s garden under the noon sun, this band warmed the heart and ears on a cold February night.
The flipside to Oakley Hall’s comfort music was the noise rock of Dirty on Purpose, but oh what sweet melodious noise it was. The art of messing with knobs, feedback and bows-on-6-strings, is a tricky one. It’s easy to lose the music inside the ruckus if there is no song structure to hold up the din, the act becomes old very quickly. Good thing for Dirty on Purpose they have the skills to make it work, with a great band name and Sonic Youth Light sound, Doug Marvin, George Wilson, Joe Jurewicz, and DJ Boudreau are ready to stampede through the indie rock world.
The quartet took the stage in front of the packed house and went to work mixing fuzz tone and punchy low ends with feathery vocals and upbeat excursions. D.o.P. played a loud set, but the volume never became deafening, they contorted notes pleasurably, screeching guitar necks for maximum results. At times resembling early 80’s U2 without the front megalomaniac, Dirty On Purpose conducted a tour of the ritualistic soundscapes found in factory’s and dreams via a music that is both accessible and smart.
Some guitar problems marred tonight’s show, and lyrically it was impossible to get a handle on what was sung as the vocals floated specter like above the sound. With most of the songs played during the set slated for a new full length in the works, black rimmed glasses wearing girls and Chuck Taylor sporting boys all across the country will be able to decipher the words and sing-a-long to Dirty on Purpose in the near future. Both bands produce great sounds flowing from different veins. Here’s a toast to variety, and good music.
For more info see: dirtyonpurpose.com
