The Justice

Ezra Furman and the Harpoons deserve hearty congratulations for accomplishing what most bands who have performed at Cholmondeley's sloppily disregard: hitting the sweet spot of well-balanced instrumental tone. From the orgasmic hum of the bass guitar to the bittersweet attack of the brilliant double single coil telecaster, last Thursday, the band's sound was pure and smooth. This folk-rock sound, combined with drummer Adam Abrutyn's solid foundation, elevated the performance to the professional level. Throw the off-beat, yet endearing Furman in front of this ensemble and you've got a musical force that bleeds talent and originality.

Songs such as "Mother's Day" and "I Wanna be Ignored" were festive hoedowns that emulated an electric Bob Dylan. Furman's voice has a rough, Dylan-esque pleading tone that he wields effectively over the band's characteristically simple instrumentation. His vocal style was even more enhanced during the slower-paced songs, such as "How Long, Diana" and especially "The Hotel Room in Casablanca" (a song inspired by the movie Lost in Translation). His distinct crooning voice was a vehicle through which profound sentiments of heartache could be conveyed. These are the songs that proved that Chicago-native Furman has a mature ear for beautiful melody.

"Smart Kids With No Future" was the title Furman self-deprecatingly dubbed his Chum's performance at the end. The show was riddled with this sort of humorously spontaneous stage banter that Ezra delivered in a shy, humble manner. In fact, he would frequently get distracted by his own eccentric ramblings, in which he would complain about doing schoolwork when all he wants to do is listen to the Rolling Stones and lament over his ill luck with the ladies (a fact he would parody by saying that certain songs were about his encounters with prostitutes). Furman also informed us that Brandeis wait-listed him, a list he was apparently on for a long time. However, this lack of confidence seemed to be nothing more than an act, as he exploded into rock star character when the songs began, dutifully working his pair of one-dollar '80s shades.

It was a shame that the majority of the Chum's crowd only stared blankly at the stage, as if nothing in the world could move them less. I would have expected a more enthusiastic reaction considering the liveliness of their songs and clarity of their tone. Either way, I recommend this band if you're into exploring less-represented styles of music on today's radio waves. They're a fresh talent with a quality, nonmainstream flair.

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools