| PopMatters Show Review - It’s early in the set, and Califone have already whipped the room into an urbanized, alt-Americana fury, using the crisp edge of country to reckless, noisy ends. It’s a dark energy, rife with crude stories of heartbreak and horror—the real essence of country music. There’s the feel of whiskey soaked nights with no romance, and the dry caress of dust and dementia. Whether or not this country fried homage—modernized by keyboards, distortion, and sequenced beats—is reverent to the beer-swirling originals is inconsequential. Califone ramble with the seedy swagger of real beer-bellied Western warriors. |
this is a nice review for a pretty great show but i must say ben massarella wasnt at this show. joe adamik is an amazing musician and sometimes he doesnt get the credit he’s due. if you read this popmatters review, just so you know- joe was holding down the drums, percussion, laptop, synth and assorted other things. ben’s great too but he just wasnt there