The weather outside was frightful, but the bands were so delightful. Last night, the faithful fans of indie rock decided to ignore the winter storm warnings and headed to Cambridge, packing the Middle East Upstairs for a smattering of sonic delights.
St. Louis quartet So Many Dynamos opened up the show with their aggressive mixture of fast-paced Dismemberment Plan-inspired chord changes and quirky metal compositions to create a sound that would fit comfortably into a gig featuring local bands Ho-Ag and Big Bear. The band's set played into the hands of the crowd that was eagerly awaiting headliners Maps & Atlases, as their musically-complex instrumentation easily lent itself to a hip-shaking good time.
Although Maps & Atlases were the act most people came to see, Philadelphia duo Pattern Is Movement was the band that deservedly stole the show. Sandwiched between two groups with a similar fortitude of musicality, drummer Chris Ward and singer/keyboardist Andrew Thiboldeaux simply stunned the crowd with their mix of opera-worthy vocals, church-organ keyboard tones, and off-the-wall drumming. Folks may have reacted with awe and light applause during a short pause in the band's opening number "Bird," but by the time the twosome began performing a note-perfect cover of D'Angelo's "How Does It Feel?," the audience welcomed the band into their music libraries with a healthy does of hollering and whistling.
Chicago's fearsome foursome Maps & Atlases closed out the show with a performance that displayed a fantastic breadth of skill. Leaning on speedy math-rock chord changes that would appeal to any fan of Minus the Bear, the quartet put on a show that sent Bostonist into a sonic stupor. Clearly the band's skill and chemistry has them on track to headline the biggest clubs and arenas in the country, but the intimacy of the group's lyrics made the set a perfect fit for the coziness of the Middle East Upstairs. All in all, the warmth and energy of this particular show were immediately missed as Bostonist made our way outside into the snowfall.
A few days before the show, Bostonist chatted with Pattern Is Movement drummer Chris Ward via email to find out what makes the duo tick.
Bostonist: You and Andrew have been playing together for a while before forming Pattern Is Movement. What set things in motion to start your current project?
Chris Ward: We attended youth group together as kids and we started hanging out. When we both realized that we loved Dr. Dre's The Chronic, we decided to form a rap group. Though we were inspired by Dr. Dre, we were both pretty religious, and decided to make a Christian hip-hop album. Years later, and with Jesus-inspired lyrics behind us, we are now in a band 15 years later.
Bostonist: Originally Pattern Is Movement was a five piece band. What made you and Andrew decide to focus on it being just a duo? How did your sound change from that experience?
CW: The other members kept checking themselves out of the band for different reasons and we decided to keep the band going for one reason or another. We never intended to be a two piece and honestly did not want to be referred to as a two piece, but as the years have gone by, it has turned out to be the best decision we've made so far. It's a natural fit for the both as we have so much history, both personally and musically and it reflects the music we are currently making.
Bostonist: You took your band name from a T.S. Eliot poem ("Burnt Norton"). Aside from the descriptive nature of that prosaic fragment from which you derived your name, does Eliot's writing play any other significant role in the band? Are there any other poets that have had an influence over you guys?
CW: Not really, but I am an admirer of John Keats.
Bostonist: As a two-piece band with just keys and drums, your sound is very minimalist, bordering on the point of where the silences that punctuate your playing is an instrument in and of itself. How do you manage to creatively imbue these aspects of seemingly-endless space that encapsulates the periods between your drumming and Andrew's singing and keyboard work into your sound collage?
CW: Interestingly enough, I am surprised that you, as well as many other journalists, find our music so minimalist. I personally find our music very expansive and full of depth. Personally, I feel like Andrew's arrangements fit much more within the camp of say, Debussy, then Reich or Glass.
Bostonist: Although it isn't immediately noticeable, hip-hop has had a major influence on you and Andrew, which concert-goers can pick up after witnessing your hilarious and heartfelt stage banter. How has hip-hop bled into your music in a way that it seems more of a cultural touchstone than an overbearing influence on your sound?
CW: For me personally, I've been doing what a lot of people do in the late 20's and early thirties, namely, digging back into my past. I have been listening to a lot of hip-hop from when I was a child and I just find it to be so inspiring. The creativity of the tracks that people like Pete Rock and CL Smooth or EPMD made is just mind-blowing. I also have gained a serious appreciation of Jay-Z as of late. The type of swagger and confidence that is reflected in his music is quite inspiring and completely what I try to channel when I'm on the drums.
Bostonist: One would be hard-pressed to find a band that appears as happy to perform and as happy to perform with one another on stage as Pattern Is Movement. Considering you and Andrew have been touring consistently over the past year, how do you manage to keep such a friendly stage presence?
CW: We feel completely and utterly lucky to be performing for a semi-living at this point in our lives. Also, to have such wonderful and dedicated fans come out to see you and say such nice things about the music and to then turnaround and be coy about how it makes one feel is just unnatural for both Andrew and I. We love what we do with all of our hearts.
Bostonist: Your stage persona is reminiscent of a drummer right out of a hardcore act. Has punk as a genre played an influential role in your style of drumming or your decision to pick up drum sticks in the first place?
CW: I have no influence from hardcore or rock n' roll as a drummer. I personally am not a drummer's drummer, in that I do not know much about the culture of drumming. My style of drumming I believe comes more from my emotional personality and less from my musical influence.
Bostonist: You guys are known to perform an interesting array of covers. What's been your favorite song to cover live?
CW: I love performing D'Angelo's "How Does it Feel?"
Bostonist: Your hometown of Philadelphia has been steadily churning out some great bands in recent years. Is there anyone in particular that Boston residents should keep an eye (and ear) out for?
CW: I'm in love with Papertrigger, Arc in Round (formerly Relay), The Extraordinaries, Buffalo Stance and Whales and Cops.
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