SLOTHRUST/LOST FRIENDS – LIVE AT SINCLAIR

SLOTHRUST/LOST FRIENDS – LIVE AT SINCLAIR

By Rick Fleck

Less than two weeks since the last sold-out show I attended at The Sinclair – a venerable live music club a stone's throw from Cambridge's Harvard Yard – I found myself coming back for his “muddy” guitar rock Slothrust. This is a show I've been waiting for since I saw they were making their last stop Of course you are having a 10 year anniversary turf tour. I had plunged into a deep dive of all things Slothrust and, like the line running around the block to Mass Ave, I anxiously awaited the start of the show.

Slothrust opened with the instrumental “Surf Goth,” an aptly titled song with King Crimson-like time-shifts. “Surf Goth” was followed by “Cranium”, a haunting number with vocals reminiscent of both Patty Smith and Kim Gordon. “Cranium” featured an extended guitar solo that veered into early 1970s hard rock/proto-metal songs. “The Next Curse” had a guitar intro a la Joy Division that later veered into hard rock territory as well. The lyrics evoked Black Sabbath's “Electric Funeral”.

Slothrust is a completely unique band consisting of guitarist/singer/songwriter Leah Wellbaum and drummer/percussionist Will Gorin. Joining them on stage was bassist Annie Hoffman of the original band Weakened Friends. Innovative and creative, with great musicianship, I was blown away by all the twists and turns the music made. “Homewreck Wife,” for example, sounded like it could be built into a waltz step. “Intro” was another excellent instrumental and could have easily fit on a Pelican album.

Rick Fleck photos

The title track “Cubicle” began. Slothrustplays his 2014 breakthrough album in its entirety Of course yes, in tracklist order. “Cubicle” sounds like a tribute to the Pixies. Many of the songs in the set had a Pixies element, especially the guitar sound. Wellbaum's voice is a remarkable instrument. During “Cubicle,” one could hear hints of both Kim Deal and Courtney Love. Slothrust drawing inspiration from a myriad of disparate sources, but always turning them into something uniquely their own. For example, the lyrics and delivery of “Juice” brought back memories of the paranoia of Gibby Haynes and Electriclarryland era of the Butthole Surfers.

One of the things I appreciated most about Wellbaum's guitar playing was her solos. They never felt tacked on like you'd hear from other bands. Wellbaum's solos were completely instrumental, enhancing the songs and taking them to the next level. “Magnets Pt. 1” and “Magnets Pt. 2”, played as one track, created a work that reminded me of the hardest prog rock one could find at Porcupine Tree's In Abstinence album. The saga rose to a climactic finale of thunderous bliss. Wellbaum started SlothrustHis statement track cheekily declaring 'Magnets Pt.1', this song 'starts with a guitar part that I couldn't play when I wrote it'. It sure can now.

“The Couch Incident” took the show into new territory. It's a post-metal song that Hole, playing at their heaviest, might sound like live. I do not know how Slothrust feels about the heavy metal label. They are not a heavy metal band per se. They have more alternative elements than your typical metal band. Their lyrics and aesthetic are not what one would traditionally associate with metal (although metal is spreading its wings in the new century). But Slothrust is a guitar oriented band and, at times, very heavy. “Beowulf” was a frantic heavy metal/hard rocker that featured Wellbaum striking some traditional guitar god poses as she soloed.

“Pony,” a Ginuwine cover, is an inspired choice as well Slothrust's current single. I've always been a fan of cover songs when an artist brings something new to it, rather than just producing a copy. It is remarkable how Slothrust they re-envisioned and then performed their version of “Pony”, originally an R&B/Hip-hop mega-hit. For me, “Pony” was the highlight of the night. He was lavishly embraced by the crowd, who were loud and enthusiastic all night. “Horseshoe Crab” and “Planetarium” were the encores, with the latter ending the night in a Ramones-esque rock 'n' roll riot.

Hailing from Portland, ME's musical powerhouse, the band kicks off Weakened friends – married couple Sonia Sturino (vocals, guitar) and the aforementioned Annie Hoffman (bass, vocals) and Adam Hand (drums) – played a generous 12-song set. Hoffman on bass is great. She's all over the stage, hopping around, baseball cap askew, a big smile on her face. Her enthusiasm is contagious. He can also lay down some incredible bass, bringing the funk to some songs as well.

Rick Fleck photos

“Spew” reminded me of vintage Nirvana. Two songs later, “Haunted House” blew my mind. Sturino introduced the song by saying, “Inside your head is the most haunted place in the world.” She then advised us all to 'Casper it', referring to that traumatic inner voice, to thunderous cheers from the audience. The set included an unlikely, but very effective, cover of Natalie Imbruglia's “Torn” that retained the emotional impact of the original while transforming it from a ballad to a hard rock gem.

Slothrust it was in many ways a revelation. A lot of people of my generation – Baby Boomers/early Gen X – tend to live in a world of classic rock radio, afraid to stray from the familiar. Younger generations do not face this disadvantage. They easily explore music from all decades. It's humbling to realize that music from the early 70s is now 50 years old.

Slothrusthis album Of course yes it's only 10 years old, yet I wonder how many of my peers know about it. They lose a lot if they don't. Slothrust they're an undeniably modern beast, but they have influences that reach back into rock history, making their appeal timeless to fans of hard rock, proto-metal and the harsher heyday of the '90s alternative rock scene.

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