Dancing. A visceral response to the sonic absorption of music audibly injected to the brain via the ears. This is the effect that Foxy Shazam set forth to cause audiences to do, and with enchanting results for the open minded listener.
Oozing with soulful candour and hardcore punk-like aggression, the band’s recently released LP entitled “Introducing Foxy” is a colourful addition to the otherwise stagnant musical landscape which the screamo era left in its wake. As those who were introduced to that genre years ago (before it was mutilated by extreme over saturation and over production) begin to grow up and broaden their musical tastes, a new breed of punk rock brethren are emerging to fill the void in their ever growing taste for aggressive music. In the forefront of this novel genus are the likes of Coheed and Cambria, the Fall of Troy and incidentally, Foxy Shazam. The sound that these bands produce, although fast and driving, are more influenced by the likes of Rush, Queen and other theatrical prog rock bands instead of the accustomed punk and hardcore staples. However, the latter genre still has an imperative influence on the spastic sound the Cincinnati five piece creates.
Injecting a concentrated shot of spirit into their flamboyant prog-punk, Eric Sean Nally (vocals), Sky Vaughn White (piano), Loren Daniel Turner (guitar), Joseph Allen Halberstadt (drums) and Daisy (bass) mix up the melting pot that has seemed so torpid over the last few years and breaths some fresh life into the musical backdrop that today’s youth thirst for ever more readily. Taking musical cues from Modest Mouse, Al Green, Elton John and the Blood Brothers, the band amalgamates dance friendly, piano driven pop and soul with spastic hardcore and rock music, creating a concoction that is as antagonistic as it is alluring.
Dynamically, the band is very well versed, each member adding a facet of character that compliments the eccentric unit of sound they make as a whole. Nally’s yelping, soul inspired singing and guttural screams compliment the driving instrumentation provided by his band mates, who explore the realms of punk, funk, flamenco, soul and metal, all in the span of the 33 minute record. The uniqueness of their sound, though, derives primarily from the splash of the piano’s keys found throughout the entire record. White’s addition of keys to the sound is eclectic and forceful; reminding this reviewer of an amphetamine induced Little Richard, bordering on boogie woogie, but inebriated enough to be abrasive and abstract at the same time.
All together, the five gentlemen create the most theatrical version of punk music this reviewer has yet to hear. A troop of dancers and actors would not be out of place along side the band during their live performance. From the piano stomping opener of the title track “Introducing Foxy,” to the metal tinged character piece of “Ghost Animals,” Foxy Shazam are on the prowl, and shall be inciting a venue wide interpretive dance pit in a town near you soon.
April 22, 2008
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