Eric Danton writes:

…Bitter Tears singer Alan Scalpone, in the wedding gown, eyes rimmed with red like some cross-dressing Miss Havisham, sang in a deep, slightly unhinged tone, accompanied at various times by guitar, piano, bass, drums, trombone, kazoo and slide whistle. He wasn’€™t the only eccentric on stage: Band mate Greg Norman sported a drawn-on fu-manchu mustache and wore a Chicago Bulls jersey tucked into short, tight jean shorts that didn’t quite close in the front. Bassist Michael McGinley donned a woman-size lavender shirt barely buttoned across his chest…

…Singer Tim Rutili began with a droll promise to send out good vibes to amend for some vaguely remembered slight he might have delivered last time the band played Northampton. Although he couldn’t recall what he may have done to offend, his band’s 70-minute set was absolution enough.

The quartet creates stunning atmospheric soundscapes, using subtle electronic noise and skillfully deployed dissonance to transform roots-inflected rock songs into sonic works of art…

…Three members of the Bitter Tears returned (looking far less maniacal) to play trumpet and trombone on about half of Califone’€™s songs. At times it was as if someone flipped a switch that turned off gravity, sending the elements of tightly structured songs—€”horns, guitar, banjo, drums, percussion—€”drifting into beautiful disarray until an unseen force reasserted itself and pulled them back together into a musical resolution.

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Go See ‘Em!