Year of the Rabbit @ Someday
Joined by Moon Debris, Hidden Knives, and The Ghost Ease
Portlan 2000 d rock is full of pleasant surprises, as was visible in a dynamic showcase of local music Wednesday night at Someday Lounge. The line-up was both headlined and selected by all-girl trio Year of the Rabbit, featuring an array of female-fronted rock that was anything but predictable.
The evening started with three-piece Moon Debris, a seemingly simple alternative band that was far more than meets the eye. Maracas and tambourines were eventually met with recorders and accordions, making for a set that kept an enthusiastic audience guessing. The group was anchored by the incredibly charismatic bassist and vocalist Heidi Nelms, who quickly coaxed concertgoers to the front of the venue. She proved herself to be a spontaneous force, softly cooing in the background one minute and letting out a bloodcurdling shriek the next. The diverse set included everything from upfront guitar-driven music to tribal, percussion-dominated sounds.
They were followed by spacey quartet Hidden Knives, whose bassist fittingly wore a rabbit mask onstage. Reunited after a recent hiatus, the band played heavy, complex rock with a psychedelic influence. Their sound was made all the more unique by vocalist Miranda Obscura’s prominent electric organ. Obscura was a similarly powerful front woman with a howl that commanded attention in the midst of thick reverb and frenetic rhythms. Their propensity to play drawn-out opuses made their set seem shorter than it actually was, making it easy to feel like they were finished playing all too soon.
Headliners Year of the Rabbit were right at home on the small stage, in spite of a nervousness that made them encourage attendants to drink before they played. Any anxiety felt by the band members was contrasted with confidently passionate vocals and a visibly wide range of instrumental talent. Guitarist Jana Cushman displayed an ability for heart-wrenching vocal vibrato, while Shely Rahimi moved from keyboards to bass and drums for a cover of tUnE-yArDs’ “Real Live Flesh.” Much like their precedents, Year of the Rabbit brought together an eclectic array of sounds, recalling influences as immediate as Fiona Apple and as far-removed as house music. No matter what direction they happened to choose for any given song, the trio was so bare bones that you couldn’t help but cheer them on.
In a unique move, the headliners didn’t close the night, which Rahimi attributed to early day jobs. Chosen because Rahimi “thought they’d be a good closer,” The Ghost Ease were a far from timid nightcap. The drum and guitar duo presented an incredibly full sound in spite of their deceptively simple setup. While they had the most straightforward instrumentation of the night, the band had an infectious energy that could be felt in their visceral blues. Their performance proved Rahimi right, as the girls’ “Be My Baby” rhythms were good for keeping the audience dancing, while their relaxed attitude helped cool everyone off.
The skillfully curated line-up treated spectators to an exciting night of music from locals who clearly love to play. The diverse line-up presented a wide range of groups similar in their strength and enthusiasm, and offered concrete proof of the Portland music scene’s continued power.
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