Pamphleteers: 2-15-13 at Quenchers

Concert Review

Pamphleteers
February 15, 2013 @ Quenchers
By Dave Miller

The Pamphleteers weren't about to go down without a fight.

With the setlist playedand a modest but enthusiastic crowd at Quenchers demanding more, the band's three members looked at each other and hesitated. A chance to right a wrong hung in the air. Guitarist Jonathan Ben-Isvy looked at singer Rebecca Crawford and saidoff mic, "We're going to go for it, fuck it!" With that, the Pamphleteers launched into "My Lipstick Stain," a song they screwed up and aborted early in the set. This time, they nailed it.

I came to the show figuring I was in for a good one, and not only because I saw two diehard Chicagorock fans, Dan The Fan and Tj Superfan, in attendance. My confidence was based in Crawford. The last time I saw her she was fronting The Dials. I saw them play a punk blend of power pop, rock and new wave in a potent performance in May 2010 at Beat Kitchen. That turned out to be the band's last show when a hiatus turned permanent.

Crawford remains a cool presence. She stood her ground resolutely on the left side of the stage as she sang and played bass for the Pamphleteers, who darkly smashed1960s psychedelia into1980s new wave anda myriad of other influences. Crawford cansing straight or soar into high howls, her versatile voice injecting tension into the music. While I found Crawford to be the leader of the pack in The Dials, she's more part of an equilibrium in the Pamphleteers. Ben-Isvy, formerly of The Returnables, carried a lot of the group's sound with a full, atmospheric guitar. His patient playing gives notes time to ring. Geoff Atkinson propelled the songs with forceful but sympathetic drumming, matching the trail blazed by Crawford's voice and Ben-Isvy's guitar.

The Pamphleteers have been together about a year and are rocking up to speed. Not all song titles have been settled. The group has yet to issue a physical release, though Ben-Isvy said a joint 12-inch with the Blasted Diplomats is in the works. The guitaristalso said he's thought about bringing a synthesizerinto the mix. Six of their songs can be heard here.

OnYou played the middle of three sets on the night. The quintet performed two songs connectedby a long period of improvisation, which basically played out as one long instrumental with a few lyrics tossed in.Three guitarists and two drummers took adventurous paths, and remained in sync. Keyboards were played, sound was manipulated electronically, andimages were projectedon the back wall. The stage was crowded with musicians, instruments and seemingly miles of wires. The performance lasted a half hour, but felt like only half that. At one point,guitarist Stan Woodsang standing atop a tall speaker stationed againstthe left side of the stage.It added even more drama to the experimental experience.

Rainbow Gun Show opened the bill with a modish set. The songs were varied and promising, but the young outfit needs more rehearsal time if it doesn't want those songs to go to waste.

Pamphleteers setlist:

Cannonized
Bloodshot
My Lipstick Stain
Limp Dick and Hips
Hit it Clean
Ghost That Follows
Shivering
Sins and Sand
Puppet Knots
Pamphleteers
My Lipstick Stain

Start: 12:12 a.m./Finish: 12:55 a.m.
Totals: 11 songs,43 minutes