It was a freezing cold night on December 2^nd as my wife and I walked into the Mad Planet in Milwaukee. The headliner was Marcella, a group we’d seen before and enjoyed greatly. I hadn’t checked on the openers to find out what to expect, but I’m glad I didn’t, because my expectations were completely blown away.

The night started with an incredible band from Appleton called Sunday Flood. This band is heavy, passionate, and intense. Sunday Flood has the rhythmic complexity of Tool, with odd time signatures and intricate drumming, but with a melodic sound all their own. From the very first song, I was hooked. My foot was tapping, my head was bopping, and my lips were smiling. Each member brought incredible talent and voice to the band. The singer part sang and part screamed, giving emotional intensity to the already physically intense riffs. The bass player had the gain cranked, while still retaining both melodic and rhythmic importance in the band. The guitars drove the songs forward in a roller-coaster ride of dynamic hard rock.

Find out More About Sunday Flood and Listen to Tracks at:

http://myspace.com/sundayflood

The second band was another one for complex musical tastes. Self-Evident, from Minneapolis, was as intense and rhythmically complicated as Sunday Flood, but in a different way. As a jazz enthusiast, I can always spot a metal band that has dabbled in the genre, and Self-Evident definitely has a jazz flair to their music. They use intricate rhythms and staccato riffs filled with full jazz chords and dissonance that would get Thelonious Monk bopping his head and spinning, while still retaining a rock and roll edge to the music, making the band completely unique and original.

Find out More about Self Evident and Listen to Tracks at:

http://myspace.com/selfevident
http://www.self-evident.net

The final band was Marcella, which rounded out the evening very nicely, giving us a laid back sound that felt calming at the end of the night. Marcella is a female fronted rock group with dynamic tunes and tight musicianship. The singer/pianist gives the music a sultry, playful edge that commands the attention of the audience, while the guitarist on the other side of the stage dabbles in different effects and ways of playing that gives the music more atmosphere and modernity. The rhythm section creates a swinging bluesy feel that lures in everyone else who hasn’t already succumbed to the music.

This was one of the best local concerts I’ve been to in quite a while. It was one of those rare nights where each band left me wanting more. You can check out all three bands on their Myspace pages.

Find out More About Marcella and Listen to Tracks at:

http://www.myspace.com/marcellamusic
http://www.marcellamusic.com

Written by Andy Zupke
http://www.myspace.com/bigandybassplayer

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