By: Erin Jones
Philadelphia instrumental band Hour’s Chilly Scenes of Winter tour came to Rochester on Feb. 19. Along with Lung Cycles and Jason Calhoun, Hour put on a show that was just as enchanting as the show’s venue at The Psychic Garden.
The Psychic Garden is Rochester’s best kept secret. The nonprofit’s pillars are inclusivity and artistry, and its location can only be revealed by messaging the venue’s Instagram account. This element of mystery adds to the venue’s allure. Its decor creates the perfect ambiance. With decor such as hanging flowers, clear prisms and vibrant TV screens, attendees are truly transported to another world in this secret hideaway. While this decor creates a dystopian feel, the venue allows attendees to feel right at home with its seating area with comfortable couches and a zine station.
The first performance of the night was from Lung Cycles, Rochester-based musician Ben Lovell. Lovell, who also released music under the name Lily Tapes & Discs, performed four songs from his album, “The Other One”: “Shaun,” “Friday Evenings,” “Gary” and “Following Me Up The Stairs.” Lovell sang and played electric guitar for all his pieces. The contrast between the airiness in his voice and the power from the guitar created a dynamic juxtaposition, allowing his songs to be melodic yet heavy.
At the start of Lovell’s set, the collection of TV screens next to the stage displayed various videos of nature scenes, like snow falling. Towards the end of the set, the screens switched to just show different colors, like red and purple. The imagery on the screen paired nicely with the music to create a calming and pensive atmosphere. Lung Cycles’ set was a strong start for the night’s performances.
Philadelphia-based musician Jason Calhoun was the night’s second act. Using only a small keyboard and various soundboards, Calhoun performed an improvised piece. His set started out very light and peaceful, reminiscent of a lullaby. It contained audible sounds of bells, and was gentle and ethereal. As the set continued, Calhoun transferred into more distorted sounds. Calhoun controlled his soundboards with precision as the static and transmission-like sounds grew more dominant in his piece. There was even an incorporation of spoken word, which added depth to this piece.
Even though the synths and distortion became more of the piece’s focus, it still sounded calming. It was a very meditative experience for audiences, only enhanced by imagery on the TV screens during Calhoun’s set. The screens were black with a horizontal wave of a glowing color, which changed as each color faded into each other, from blue to purple, then red to yellow. The changing colors mirrored Calhoun’s seamless, improvised transitions between each portion of his set.
The final performance was the night’s main act: Hour. The instrumental group’s set evoked feelings of nostalgia within audience members, as home videos of a drive through a town during the winter played on the TV screens. Hour used a variety of different instruments to create an enticing sound. From electric guitars, drums and a soundboard to clarinets, a flute and a violin, Hour blends mainstream rock instruments with traditional orchestral sounds. The addition of woodwind instruments, especially the flute, added a whispyness to Hour’s set, which was definitely fitting for their Chilly Scenes of Winter tour. This masterful ensemble of musicians were able to switch the tone of the song from harsh, even incorporating cymbals, to light and twinkly. It was invigorating as an audience member to hear the combination of the electric guitar and drums build. It was grand, yet euphonic.
My favorite part of the concert, besides the fantastic concert and mystical venue, was the appreciation the performers had for each other. Lung Cycles talked about how he was good friends with the performers from Philadelphia in his set. Calhoun shouted out the other acts at the end of his piece and played violin for Hour. Hour congratulated Lung Cycles for his decade-long career in the music industry. They all promoted their own and each other’s music that was for sale during the concert. The support each act had for each other was awesome to see.
Hour, Jason Calhoun and Lung Cycles joined forces to create a magical night at The Psychic Garden. To learn about upcoming concerts at The Psychic Garden, visit their website.
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