Review: Dopapod & Tauk Brooklyn 9.28.13
Brooklyn NY -Music Hall of Williamsburg 9/28/2013
Words: John William Mabery
Dopapod has become Dylanesque in terms of their touring regiment. The Brooklyn-based band has been on the road since late January in support of last year’s dual releases, Drawn Onward and Redivider. And despite their frequent appearances throughout the Empire State, their show this past Saturday in front of a packed crowd at the Music Hall of Williamsburg marked only their second performance in the greater Metro area this year. Those in attendance, many of whom were there because of the band’s much-heralded Catskill Chill set, did not leave disappointed.
The palindrome-happy quartet takes the stage, amid the soft glow of colored lights and ambient drones. It’s dramatic, but effective. It’s also the last time there is a sense of tranquility in the Music Hall. From there, Dopapod launches into their set, one long crescendo that builds to a dramatic climax. It’s heavy on material from Drawn and Redivider, and even features some new songs, including the recently debuted “Sleeping Giant.” And then there are the teases and interpolations they slip in there, some of them you don’t remember until you review the set list on their website. They provide the most punch at the tail end of their set, closing with the not-so-instantly-danceable “Vol. 3 #86” and the driving funk of “Black and White.” An absolutely pummeling rendition of “STADA” was all they needed for an encore to send the crowd home happy.
Though one might think of Dopapod as a future heavyweight in the jamtronica scene, they offer so much more than that. They cover everything from Radiohead to Ennio Morricone. They take cues from Zappa, challenging listeners with dramatic shifts in style and time within the same song. Of course, much like Zappa, the lyrics, though few and far between, seem like an afterthought, which is one of the band’s few pitfalls. But such a complaint is minute given how entertaining they are to watch, from an instrumental standpoint, individually and collectively. While the showmanship of keyboardist Eli Winderman and guitarist Rob Compa allows them to explore outspace, it’s the pulsating rhythms of drummer Neal Evans and the understated groove of bassist Chuck Jones that brings them back down to Earth. It’s those elements of spontaneity, balance, and virtuosity that make Dopapod a can’t-miss act. And with all of the opportunities one has to see them, how could you?
Supporting Dopapod was Tauk, the NYC-based instrumental band that has undertaken an equally arduous schedule throughout 2013. Their style toes the line between jam and hard rock, which gives them a broad range of musicians to share a bill with. Their sound is so crisp but feels improvised, inasmuch so that one has to wonder if there’s a fusion album in their future. They operate so cohesively – much like Dopapod – that the only standout among them is drummer Isaac Teel for sheer entertainment factor.
The quartet culled heavily from their first full-length album, Homunculus (2013), and powered through a jam that included Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song” and Kool & The Gang’s “Jungle Boogie,” and later, a blistering cover of “She’s So Heavy,” one that got the whole crowd to sing along. Which is the one of the lone shortcomings of Tauk’s performance – the lack of a peak moment. They could benefit from the occasional vocals, or, dare I say, more soloing. It is that little extra something that could give their songs more dynamics, better parts that create a better whole. That is the difference between a really good band (which they are) and a great band (which they are bound to become).
Nyack, NY
