the Prids & Fenix Down

Following one of the spookiest sound checks I've ever heard, Fenix Down broke into a trance-like, hypnotic set, highlighted by Adam Scarborough and Eric Danielli on guitars. Though their playing was saturated with effects, the guitarists handled the technology well and were able to create interesting textures. Spacey, ethereal melodies were grounded by heavier, static guitar distortion. Frontman Mathew Petyo looked like he might be sick at the mic, but his awkward presence and shaky, nervous energy gave reverence to his pained vocals. Some of their longer, sprawling songs kind of lost me, but the band finished their set strong with "Angel in Blue Jeans," a spare, warm tune that emphasized Petyo's potent voice, and "From the Chaos," which started off quiet and built into a wailing fury. The contrast between these last two songs encapsulated the versatility Fenix Down showed throughout their performance.
Next to take the stage were The Prids. Their stop in Chico was their last on a tour of California before heading back to their hometown of Portland, Oregon. I thought their first two songs came off a bit disjointed and scattered, but they recovered by their third, "Love 0," and they took off from there. Heavy synthesizers played by Jairus Smith with punk rock intensity charged their big sound, and David Fredrickson balanced out the band's theatrical appearance with his unselfish guitar playing and stark lead vocals. But it was the pounding rhythms that drove The Prids' set. Mistina Keith thumped heavily on her bass while thrashing about and adding some vicious vocals, and drummer Lee Zeman was phenomenal. He mixed in electronic percussion, but he tore his acoustic kit up, especially on "Atrophy," where the band's variety of musical influences meshed into a thundering, synth-pop explosion. Accompanying The Prids' musical performance was a pretty elaborate light design provided by Nate Wedergren. He washed the band in bold colors, peppered them with strobes and transformed the subdued coffee shop into a wild '80s nightclub. I felt like I was in that place from The Terminator. Tech Noir. Remember that scene? Except it wasn't all pink, and Schwarzenegger wasn't out to cap my ass.
The crowd was really into it when The Prids brought their set to an abrupt, wilting end. I think their sound and stage show was too big for the venue, but I definitely would like to hear them again. Judging from the line of people clamoring for their CD, I wasn't the only one.
- James Barone
- Photo by Jeff Shaner

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