Spenblog

Anybody who knew me in high school would probably agree that I was an insufferable music snob (I still am but try to be more subtle about it). And while that is true, my enthusiasm and excitement for music was at its highest. When I found new music, I wanted to share it and learn it and dissect it. Especially if the music was technically complex and gave me an avenue to learn more about the drums. I felt singularly focused on my goal of becoming a master musician. My life was not complicated in the same way it is today.

This observation is hardly original (like most of my thoughts) because generally people form the most meaningful connections they will have with music between ages 13 and 19. If you look at the most significant songs to you, personally, I bet you would probably find that a lot of them come from that time frame. It has something to do with brain development and forming your sense of self (much smarter people than myself have surely stated this in a meaningful way). Basically, as I see it, during this time period you are exercising autonomy in the first meaningful way in your life to that point. I think that you tie the songs you listen to with the things that you do and experience. The songs inform how you process these early adulthood experiences and you tie them to those memories through your adult life.

I exercised my autonomy by obsessing over the drums (I swear it had nothing to do with me being unathletic or bad at getting dates) and so I tie my favorite music from that time period largely with wanting to learn and dissect the drum parts. I remember hearing Billy Cobham’s Spectrum record and pouring over what he was doing on the kit. When I hear that album today, it teleports me back to writing out the drum parts and trying to figure them out. It felt exciting. I felt smart and like I was really good at something. The same goes for Queens of the Stone Age’s Songs for the Deaf, System of a Down’s Toxicity or self titled record.

I don’t really feel that way about that music today. I appreciate new music and can sometimes connect to it on an emotional level, but I don’t feel excited like I need to run over to the drum set and hammer out what I’ve heard. Part of that is just how life shakes out. I have a job and two kids. I’m no master musician. I’m a regular guy. Music certainly remains a part of who I am but my life no longer revolves around music like it once did.

So, when I heard these guys, Angine de Poitrine, I was taken aback. Their look undoubtedly is what first draws most people in, myself included. But their sound is absolutely thrilling. They make use of constantly changing time signatures with overlayed polyrhythms. They have insane riffs making use of microtones (the space between the twelve notes we observe in western music). But the thing is, you don’t really need to know any of that. They just really fucking rock. Their riffs and drum beats have crazy forward momentum. Their use of complex musical tools never gets in the way of their songs being approachable and compelling. For the first time in a long time, I want to get back behind the drum kit and figure out what makes it all work.

And I’m not alone. These guys have blown up. I tried to get tickets to their D.C. show at the Atlantic and they sold out almost instantly. Resale tickets are around two thousand bucks. Good for them!

I have heard critics argue that people connect with Angine de Poitrine so much because they are so relentlessly original and creative. I don’t know about all that–they certainly are not the first band to experiment with microtones or wear crazy costumes. But they have a mainstream appeal that most of those other musicians do not. I truly think anybody could appreciate this band. There’s a silliness and irreverence to them that pairs well with the sheer talent and ability they have to back it up.

Anyways, check them out! Start with Fabienk from their Vol. II record.