Like White Rabbits or Anathallo, everyone in Freelance Whales has to help out as multi-instrumentalists as they play their brand of College/Art Rock. On stage at Off Broadway in St. Louis, it was a seamless myriad of sounds akin to Sufjan Stevens or Meredith Bragg. The crowd joined in, singing along, but Off Broadway’s sound mix was such that the Freelance Whales’ five voices still shined.
“Starring” comes on like Sufjan Stevens on an indie groove. When Doris Cellar takes the center mic and lead vocal, she sounds a bit like Bjork’s fairy-punked voice. Elsewhere, the sound bounces along on keys so that they sound like De Nova Dahl. Freelance Whales are a brighter, shinier Sunset Rubdown.
Seemingly blown away by the full venue, drummer Jake Hyman says, “What are all you people doing here?” We were there to watch beautiful music orchestrated out of thin air and sent out to us in charmingly refreshing style.
Peter Wolf Crier
Halfway through their set at Off Broadway opening for Freelance Whales, Peter Pisano of Peter Wolf Crier said—a bit surprised by the revelation, “This set gets progressively louder.” And for being just Pisano’s guitar (plus loops) and Brian Moen’s drum set, they were indeed loud, rocking, and raucous. Peter Wolf Crier take Bon Iver, rock it ahead, and create a pulsing sound with a bluesy twang. They can go from a folky vibe to thrown down rock.
While most of the people had gathered for Freelance Whales and may not agree, I feel as if PWC stole the show. Pisano plays his guitar for all its worth, like Woodrow Lin who I once described as a guy rocking out in a basement alone until reinforcements were called in (review). PWC’s Moen is definitely the right reinforcement for Pisano’s rocked out Damien Jurado sound. Moen plays his drums as if behind a full band—blistering, energizing, and full of incredible fills.
During the set, Pisano confessed that they are fans of 90’s rock especially Bush. However, for a cover, they actually picked Nick Drake’s “Place to Be”—which they fully pounded into the night. An awesome experience all around.
Freelance Whales
Peter Wolf Crier
Jagjaguwar
