Pedro the Lion, Starflyer 59 & Seldom

Wednesday night’s Pedro the Lion show was, in retrospect, a rather significant affair. This was mainly due, of course, to the presence of said Pedro the Lion, who, at least in the snug confines of the indie world, are about as big as they come. But more indirectly, this show showed that there is ample room for indie-rock in Chico, even without its former maison de chanson, The Blue Room.

The listing for the show on www.chicolist.com had warned, “this show will probably sell out, so buy your tickets early,” but I figured this to be mere pre-show hyperbole. But much to my pleasant surprise, as I approached the venue, I saw a sign on the door that read “Sold Out.” This fact was all the more apparent to me upon entering; from wall to wall people were situated in a most condensed manner. Watching from the street through the windows were more people than those who come to most shows. Needless to say, excitement was exceedingly evident.

The first band, a dapper unit named Seldom, began their set. My eyes may have been fooling me, but I swear that David Bazan (who for all intents and purposes is Pedro the Lion) was manning the bass. The vocalist split time between a Wurlitzer electric piano and a guitar, with another member alternating between guitar, keyboards and Wurlitzer. Rounding out the unit was a rather well trained drummer, a trait that seemed to be shared equally by all the members of Seldom. This talent was certainly showcased in their music, though typically mellow, but also seemed to have unique characteristics, not the least of which being the presence of the keyboards, which surprisingly dominated the soundscape. I was impressed.

Up next was Starflyer 59. Consisting of your basic power trio (guitar, bass, drums), Starflyer 59 continued on much as Seldom had left off — on a somewhat somber note. But Starflyer 59 had a significantly less appealing demeanor and sound than Seldom. During their more introspective moments, they sounded vaguely similar to a stripped down Juno, and at their more peppy moments, they hinted at a dark Brit-pop influence. Not that there was necessarily anything horrible lacking in the music of Starflyer 59 — they were a fairly pleasing listening experience—but there was also not much to feel inspired about.

This was not the case, however, with the final band of the evening, Pedro the Lion. Also sporting a traditional power trio, Bazan and his cohorts nevertheless succeeded in presenting an all-encompassing and surprisingly tight sound. His face freshly shaved, Bazan delivered his trademark brand of slightly Christian emo, much to the delight of many of those in the audience who obviously had seen him many times before (Ryan from Isabel told me that this was his seventh time) as well as those, such as myself, who were seeing their first show.

Playing both older and newer material, Pedro the Lion showcased their older, more seasoned musicality; which often meant the ability to underplay. Simple, yet beautiful guitar lines over the top of rudimentary drumbeats offered a striking counterbalance to moments of more complexity. Joined by the vocalist of Seldom on keyboards for a couple of the newer songs, the sound became even denser, yet maintained its clarity and separation. People peered from over shoulders and around bodies in hopes to gain a better view of the band.

Finally opting to try the view from outside, I found those who had been present at that post for the duration had outfoxed the lot; aside from the indignation of being outside, they had one of the best vantages of anyone there. As the show came to a close, I found myself filled with a happy feeling. Not only were all of the bands better than I had imagined, but I felt an almost paternal contentment with those in attendance; as the number of venues in this town continues to shrink, shows such as this go a long way towards preserving what we have left.

– Daniel Taylor     
– Photo by Myles Stenger

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