If the answer weren't Toubab Krewe (Feb. 5, Cat's Cradle), I would have had to craft a punch line for that riddle. Luckily, the Asheville-based Krewe merged everything we love about jam bands with African music to create a highly entertaining set.
At the base of the five-piece Krewe were relatively prosaic song structures based off reggae guitar staccatos, washed-out surfer chords and catchy riffs. Without vocals, each song would build to a climax, yielding for multiple solos, time changes and breakdowns. Basically, Toubab Krewe was jamming.
To write Toubab Krewe off as "just another jam band," though, is a gross understatement.
This band has taken multiple trips to West Africa, so its sound is more authentic than you'd think an American band could be. Then, the instruments themselves (I definitely couldn't name most of them) add sounds that don't show up in rock music, but are played in a way that still adds to the music.
Finally, rather than just ending songs, the drummer would pull out his African percussion and duel with the full-time hand percussionist, creating some of the best interludes you could ask for.
Not only is the instrumentation for real, the Krewe's technical proficiency is equally stellar. Musicians built off each other at the perfect speed, reaching multiple high points that sounded like at least 15 musicians on stage. The clatter of hand drums behind the washy cymbals being undercut by a bass line backing up a guitar solo over an infectious riff is enough for me to say anybody needs to experience Toubab Krewe at least once.
Even somebody predisposed against jam bands, seeing the underlying formula, it's hard to not at least appreciate the Krewe from a technical standpoint. And if you're one of the many ex-Deadheads who love this sound anyway, then Toubab Krewe is definitely the best option in the area.
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Tortoise (Monday, Cat's Cradle) -- Keeping in the theme of instrumental bands with unusual, percussion-heavy instrumentation, Chicago post-rock veterans Tortoise are going to grace our tiny brains with out-of-this-world complicated progressions done so smoothly and sweetly that we won't fully comprehend what happened until they've already packed up their vibraphones.
Recorded, Tortoise is normally a relaxing, but underrated, listen. Often showing up on iTunes' "study" and "ambient" playlists, it's easy to capitalize on the band's mood, but this ignores the intricacy of rhythm shifts and world influences. Its most recent album, "Beacons of Ancestorship," saw more energy than normal, especially on the rocker "Prepare Your Coffin."
With a full-time drummer and four multi-instrumentalists rotating effortlessly between a second drum set, vibraphones, guitars, bass and more, live Tortoise is a louder, more enthralling listen that accentuates the deeper elements of the band's sound. "Glass Museum" can be napped through on record, but as the 14/8 turns to 11/8 on the drop of a dime right in front of you, the awesomeness can't be ignored.
The best part of seeing Tortoise live is being able to revisit classic albums "TNT" and "Millions Now Living Will Never Die" and pick out more details and think of them as the fully formed, brilliantly crafted works they are.
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We Landed On The Moon/Lake Inferior (Sunday, Local 506) -- Local indie band Lake Inferior will be gracing the single population of Chapel Hill with a Valentine's Day show, but Louisiana-based We Landed On The Moon is still the night's headliner.
Singer Melissa Eccles has a powerful voice that never falls into screaming territory, and this keeps guitar patterns that merge catchy riffs with punk energy from being too abrasive. Instead, We Landed On The Moon is the real package for indie rock, delivering guitar-driven, energetic drums, and strong lyrics that we can actually pick out in the mix.
