Page 27 - the NOISE June 2016

REVIEW’D BY BEVERLEY NAPALM
The World, from left: Elyse Shrock (drums & vocals), Stanley Martinez (sax), Amber Sermeno (vocals & bass), Alexa Pantalone (Sax & bongos), Andy Jordan (guitar)
THE WORLD
Live at Double Nickles Collective
Tempe; Sunday, May 8 2016
A gig in my fave record store? How exciting that I happened to be in PHX this weekend! The opening 3 hardcore punk bands were okay enough, and I didn’t dislike them. Confident, rehearsed and earnest, as all good HC bands should be. But they all suffered from a common problem with many punk bands:- they all played uncomfortably loud in an enclosed space. I think there is a “big amp” syndrome where guitarists in particular mistakenly equate volume with powerfulness. It’s not the same thing you guys! you can have both at the same time of course, but making your audience’s ears hurt just because you have the equipment to do so, doesn’t really do much for me these days (as I slough off into tinnitus riddled old age). Had the bands turned down just a tad, I would have enjoyed them a whole lot more, and I’m sure the kids chugging beer in the parking lot would have probably piled in to swell the numbers too. Luckily, with ear plugs in hand, the 3 support bands gave me ample time to peruse the Double Nickles record store, aka Ghost of Eastside Records.
The store is a wonderful collective of several different sellers, under one shared roof, and is a treasure trove of decades’ worth of used and new punk, indie, reggae and obscure vinyl treats. Well worth making time for a visit if you are anywhere near. I have found several records in this store that has left me wondering “how the heck did this turn up in Arizona?”
The World, from Oakland, CA were on their first tour in support of their 2 debut vinyl releases, a 7-inch and a flexidisc. Luckily, the band had a far more measured ideal of how their sound would occupy the space, and had the good sense to turn down to a more enjoyable level. There are clear comparisons to many (forgotten) UK post punk female fronted legends such as Delta 5, Essential Logic, X-Ray Spex and the remarkable Swiss all female band Kleenex. Possibly all bands you have never heard of, which makes the genre The World are presently mining a delightful treat, and quite an unusual American trait. I was impressed with how the individual members worked so well with each other, complimenting their shared conviction, and leaving space for dynamics. No overbearing guitar solos, or punk rock diva attitude here.
A possible reason for this may be due to the band’s make up, 3/5ths female. I have theory related to this. If you give an average guy in a band an electric guitar, 9 times out 10 he will crank it to 11 and play some vaguely Hendrix-y solo. I think a lot of guys only make music because they want to dazzle you with their individual skills. Where as many women in bands, (often without realizing), possess the ability to dazzle with their collective skills. How many gigs have you witnessed were the guitarist is noodling every riff he can muster before the band has actually played their first song? Or even worse... riffing in between songs... urgh... See what I mean?
Anyways, back to The World ... they hold my attention for all the right reasons. The rhythm section of drums (Elyse) and bass (Amber) was in simpatico, spewing forth a highly danceable groove, concise, spacious and tight within a confined song structure. I think there is a refreshing approach to women musicians that is often overlooked, and an unheralded reason to many a band’s brilliance. Possibly female musicians don’t need to ape established male stereotypes within musical genre, and find their own variation on a theme naturally. The drumming I loved. Vibrant, confident, feminine, strong!
The World’s guitar (Andy) is also especially tasty — inventive in approach and sound structure, with some neat post punk-esque chorus effect lines, intertwining into audible joy when wrapped around the driven bass. Thrown into the mix, two saxophones (an instrument that admittedly in the hands of “mainstream” musicians has previously left me cold), but in the hands of Alexa and Stanley is taunting, adding color with a calculated effect, and without crushing the vocals (Amber and Elyse). There’s even room for an occasional bongo break! These kids have some neat ideas. I truly believe The World will be coming for you all soon. Just don’t bother googling
“The World Music”... here, try this link... theworldband.tumblr.com
| Beverley Napalm is open for more reviews. reviews@thenoise.us
thenoise.us • the NOISE arts & news • JUNE 2016 • 27