Schizophonics and C.G. Roxanne Blow Doors
By DONNA BALANCIA
Echo Park Rising is a unique kind of music fest, one that people look forward to all year long.
Bands of every type are scattered throughout the outskirts of downtown, playing in well-known venues like Echoplex, in restaurants like Taix and even on the street corner. What’s great is it’s a free opportunity to see some excellent talent.
And while the bands are leaving their mark on the music-downloading public, no group made a bigger impression on Friday night at Echo Park Rising than the bass players. Watching the bass players on Friday was like getting a free lesson in how to keep excellent bands on track.
The bassists for Plague Vendor, Cheap Tissue, C.G. Roxanne and the Nightmares, Cat Scan, and the wild Schizophonics showed the crowd how it’s done.
Cat Scan
Cat Scan is a band that blends surf music and punk to a successful result. The bass player, Quincy Larsen, is adorable with her schoolgirl-style outfit of plaid skirt and knee socks with glasses. The music is original and this is a band we will be seeing again. Comprised of David Evanko and Ian Waters on guitar and Jeff Goodhart on drums, it’s great to see a band enjoying what they do — it’s a group that clearly enjoys making the music happen. They’re on Instagram @cat_scan – check them out.
C.G. Roxanne and The Nightmares
C.G. Roxanne and the Nightmares, who said there was no other reason for their name other than it’s funny, got on some serious playing Friday. Frontman Marlon Rabenreither has a cool style with original songs and bassist Sam Thornton, who never seems to crack a smile has an upbeat and fun-loving repertoire in his basswork. He works closely with a very non-traditional drummer Carlos Laszlo. With style and purpose, C.G. Roxanne and the Nightmares shows what it takes to grab the audience. Check out their Bandcamp page: https://cgroxanneandthenightmares.bandcamp.com
The Schizophonics
The Schizophonics represent the best in new musical performance. These people can’t be stopped with dynamic frontman Pat Beers and Lety Beers on drums. The bass player Brian Reilly keeps it going despite all the wild physical activity going on on stage and for that alone, he should get a medal. After all, not everyone can leap five feet off the ground and do the James Brown splits on command. This is a band to watch. Check out their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/TheSchizophonics/
Cones
Cones, with its mellow but statement-setting music opened the night for many attendees with Patrick manning the bass. The style is precise but fun with exacting finger work. We want to see this band again and watch where this group goes.
Cheap Tissue
Cheap Tissue is a local favorite and the beloved players had a packed house to play a late set at the Echo. This band is tight and all the fuss is justified. The players are Andrew Taylor, Jesse Youngblood, Matt Spizer and bassist John Tyree. Tyree, a favorite musician extraordinaire, steps out from behind the drum kit to man the bass duties for this band. He brings an energetic flare and plays a decisive bass, it’s a reason to get past the ripped-sleeve shirt and tie, which is definitely original. There is a lot of buzz about Cheap Tissue and for obvious reasons, they bring it. Check out their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/cheaptissue/
Plague Vendor
Plague Vendor is an original who has been on stage entertaining the masses for a while now. The act is quite remarkable with frontman Brandon Blaine creating the moves that bring to mind many of the great punk acts. Except he is classier as musician-poseur, he is artistic and precise in all his actions. But it is clearly the bass player Michael Perez who drives this band in the live performance, with wild fingerwork and keeping the music on track. It’s unusual to see the bassist take such an equal position to such a commanding frontman. But in this case it works. With Jay Rogers on guitar and Luke Perine on drums, the music is a great listen and a winner from all sides. Plague Vendor’s dark tone with light presentation is a unique show that proves balance can be achieved among players. Check out the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/PLAGUEVENDOR/
