Wearing tight leather pants requires an ideal placement of "goods." Just ask Be/Non frontman Brodie Rush.
On Saturday, February 3, at Davey's Uptown, Rush explained to an inquiring member of the audience that it is essential that there always be "two hemispheres."
Rush probably didn't realize it at the time, but he was actually making the perfect analogy for his group's musical style.
In one hemisphere lies the progressive-rock, orchestrated approach, modeled after '70s groups such as Yes and Emerson, Lake, and Palmer.
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Since 1995, Be/Non has existed in several forms. Originally, the group consisted of only three members. Today, there are five. Whatever the number, and whoever the members happen to be, it's probably safe to assume that Rush has always been the center of attention.
The February 3 performance began slowly. The rhythm section began playing, the guitar meandered in, and the synthesizers maintained ambiance. But instead of joining the group, Rush decided to conduct an interview with Beautiful Bodies vocalist, Alicia Solombrino.
At first, it seemed that Rush was merely trying to get the audience involved in the show. But after five minutes of one-on-one time with Solombrino, while the band played behind him, it seemed more likely that Rush was trying to set up an intimate rendezvous for later that evening.
Finally, as the audience grew anxious, or just bored, a female voice yelled, "Stop talking and play some music!" Reluctantly, Rush joined his band-mates in their first song of the evening.
The set moved along in a stop-and-start fashion. Lengthy, steady-rolling arrangements dotted with short bursts of dissonance were alternated with three-and-a-half minute power tunes that cut to the chase.
Midway through their set, Be/Non performed "Freedom Palace," the title-track to their 2007 Anodyne Records release. "Freedom Palace" combined the sounds of several classic rock bands, including traces of Queen and Bowie.
The song began with a melodic organ intro played by John Huff. The rhythm section entered and Rush began singing:
"If you think that I've left you for dead/well, I guess you're only half right/And if you feel that I've deserted you/I've left the note beside the door."
Although Be/Non's style is heavily influenced by classic and progressive rock, not all of their songs fit neatly into those categories.
The verses of "Ice Fight" conjured images of irate snowmen coming to life and terrorizing the locals with pick-axes and chainsaws.
In "Ice Fight," bassist Ben Ruth led the way, tearing a path through the verses with a heavy, single-note, repetitive riff that contained some unusual time maneuvering.
Rush's lyrics were also noteworthy: "Regrettable judgment/Forgettable lunch/Transcendental anointment/I'm a spike in your punch/And I fight, 'cause I like to fight."
In contrast to the ruptured, spastic verses, the smooth choruses of "Ice Fight" resembled the pop-punk sounds of the Ramones or early MC5, bands that could hardly be categorized in the progressive rock genre.
Altogether, the members of Be/Non showed superb ability in playing their instruments and constructing well-developed arrangements. But if you haven't ingested LSD or dipped into Tony Montana's personal stash, you might find it difficult to pay attention during some of the longer songs.
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Hopefully, the band will continue that trend by eliminating the drawn-out jam sections of their set and focusing on the powerful avant-garde pop style that seems to be brewing just below the surface.
This year Be/Non will be performing at The Parish on March 15 as one of the many featured artists at the annual South-by-Southwest multimedia showcase in Austin, Texas.
Locally, you can catch them at the Record Bar on February 24, 2007, and at Fred P. Otts on March 18.
For more on Be/Non, visit: http://www.myspace.com/thebenon
Copyright 2007 Metropolitan Community College