Band Review

Wet Magenta at East End

Wet Magenta appeared at East End January 21, with special guests Little Beirut and Crystal Lines. Special guest Little Beirut played a short set of three favorites from their latest CD, and put on a stellar show as usual. Also as usual, Crystal Lines failed to deliver a set worth listening to, making most of the audience wonder why they are still a band.

Headliner Wet Magenta filled the recently refurbished East End with the fine indie rock sounds we have come to expect from this crowd pleaser. Front-man and lead vocalist Crank Bash continues to astonish with his virtuoso lute work, managing to seem both folk and rock at the same time. On their rendition of "This Song Always Changes", Crank's fingers were a whirlwind of musicality ably backing his rather rasping vocal gymnastics.  Another high point of Crank's lute performance occurred during "I am in Your Zone Baby", the band's latest foray into the not-so-soulful ballad. Vocals for "Zone" were provided by the keyboardist Ms. Clara T, who took a break from her racks of keyboards to tease the edges of her soaring voice with a softly strummed dulcimer. We were all very impressed with the talented Ms. T's latest musical offering. Someday we may find the limits of her instrumental repertoire, but it wasn't apparent here. Percussionist Wiley Wrangler seems to have found a new home behind a series of trash bins, which replaced most of his drum set for the evening. His affinity for the unusual reveals itself in the astounding assortment of bins, lids, bells, whistles and metal sculpture that he coaxes into providing most excellent beats for any manner of song the band performs. During the energetic "Ingredient Fun", Wiley played the stage and walls of the venue, even as Crank Bash danced through the nearly incomprehensible lyrics of this crowd favorite. East End has never seen a percussionist like this before. 

The show's set list contained an outstanding assortment of new and old, including:

"Play Me Now", "Why Baby Why", "My Atomizer is Ionized", Crank Bash on vocals

"Frost and Fire",  "Not Again", "Jackpot Crackpot", Ms Clara T providing voice

Wet Magenta delivers again