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The Knotwells at the Hexagon Bar - Photo by David de Young
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The house was packed right from the start for The Knotwells' Blood River Melodies costume CD release party at the Hexagon Bar Thursday. Members of Fort Wilson Riot opened the show in costume (as is usual for them). Villain Hex Samotron (Joe Goggins) on bass and beatbox wore a lime green Marge Simpson do and a sparkling wine cape; the Prophet Master (Ben Smith) on drums looked like death in a red robe; super-heroine Mingus (Amy Hager) fended them off with killer vocals and keys; and The Deerhunter’s dead Nick (Jacob Mullis) backed her up on guitar and vocals. People had to stand on chairs to see over the large crowd of dancers.
The middle band was Mike Gunther and His Restless Souls, intensifying the spirit of the event with his raucous Baptist shaker rhythms, old blues soul, and medicine show proclamations. Gunther always stirs up a restless energy while entrancing the crowd with his bittersweet tales. His shows are even more dramatic with his new clarinet player, and sometimes a 3-piece horn section with him. Gunther played bamboo sax, guitarist Aaron Larson played trumpet, and Suzanne Scholten played trumpet. In addition, the group has added clarinet player, Paul Fanfara, who is also the band Painted Saints. The crowd grew more frenetic. Sweaty dancers took breaks for air on the fringes before going back in for more moshing as another irresistibly danceable song began.
Then, ladies and gentlemen (sound of a drum roll) the Knotwells! This was the band’s Hexagon debut, and it also celebrated the release of their new CD Blood River Melodies. The band has accumulated avid followers from over 4 years and 90 shows. Though many newcomers also attended.
From first song, “If the Pills Don’t Kill You” the crowd screamed enthusiastically in a way I hadn’t seen since the Gogol Bordello show. Influences could be heard from bluegrass, rockabilly, punk, old country, and gypsy music, all played at breakneck speeds amplifying the drama of the lyrics.
These songs about hardship had been inspired by films, myth, murder ballads and real and fictional events including a bike crash, an encounter with a Neo-Nazi in New Orleans, poverty, pills, and a gypsy junkie on his way to a death camp. During the song “Hodag,” the large mythical “Hodag” monster with huge scary teeth was invoked and appeared in the middle of the dance floor, dancing with and anklebiting fellow dancers.
Jackie B’s wild gypsy and classical viola playing along with the bluegrass and old-timey banjo and guitar of Joel 2, the tight rhythms of Johnny Knuckles, and Joel P’s bass kept the dancers crazy for dancing, and wanting more. Arik Xist’s electrifying vocals, sometimes sung, sometimes hollered, amped up the already frenzied crowd, and the night became a tilt-a-whirl blur.
The Hexagon’s booker, Chris Dorn, called it, “One of the funnest nights we’ve had.” Each of the groups had friends and fans attending, and cross-pollination occurred, creating a larger base of enthusiasts for each group.
Location Info:
Hexagon Bar
Artist Info: Fort Wilson Riot, Mike Gunther, The Knotwells
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