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This blog was contributed by Nick Phelps.  Nick is a musician originally from Texas who now lives in NYC and frequently tours with Micah P Hinson.  Photos by Adam Brawerman.

The Paper Chase @ The Mercury Lounge 06/25/2009

The experience of seeing The Paper Chase is reminiscent of having a chaotic dream that you can’t quite explain to your friends the next day.  The show at The Mercury Lounge last Thursday was a prime example of this.  The band is a unique combination of hard hitting rhythms with underlying atonal piano runs, all brought together by front man John Congleton’s unpredictable guitar lines and frantic lyrical schemes.  Congleton performs with the conviction of an angry, vengeful preacher, ranting and singing his sinister tales of violence and salvation.  Drummer Jason Garner and bassist Bobby Weaver match this intensity from the first note of the show and do not let up throughout the entirety of the set.   Keyboards, synthesizers, and loop pedals provide different background effects that give their songs an added feeling of being the soundtrack to some sort of horrible tragedy. 

The Paper Chase has perfected the combination of intense, sporadic verses that build to epic melodies, bringing their songs to an impressive climax.  Throughout all the madness, there are relatively calm moments, giving the crowd a temporary break before a return to the storm.  Although many songs contain similar elements and lyrical structures, the show did not disappoint in keeping the audience’s continuous attention with their energy and the front man’s charismatic, theatrical antics.  One highlight of the show was Congleton blessing the front row with his outstretched hand while repeating, “God is everywhere.”   

Watching this type of show, one may find it hard to believe that in addition to writing, producing, and performing for The Paper Chase, Congleton spends the rest of his time producing albums and projects for countless other bands, including The Polyphonic Spree, Modest Mouse, Explosions in the Sky, Antony and the Johnsons, Smog, and even Bono from U2.   

In the endless sea of bland, mediocre music from mainstream pop and indie groups, it is refreshing to find a band with this type of raw intensity and originality in their sound and performance.  Even if you are not a big fan of the band’s albums, catching their live performance next time they come through town will not disappoint and will leave you with a strange, uncomfortable feeling in your gut.

Check out The Paper Chase on Myspace.
What their video for "Said the Spider to the Fly" and "Now You're Going to Get It"
 

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