Sir Q, the Imposter, Bacchus King, The Honors

Church of Boston

Boston, MA

July 17, 2008

Sir Q, Bacchus King and The Honors rocked out at Church, arestaurant and bar hidden in the shadows of Fenway Park.Though it was a Thursday evening, the crowd was sparse enoughfor The Honors' singer to jokingly say, "Back off the stage! Get out of my bubble."

The show openers were Sir Q, the Imposter, a Haverhill, MA band with a hard, loud sound. Layering guitar over guitar over bass, they produced some unique alternative rock. Whether the fault of the sound system or the mic volume, the vocals were a bit indistinct, but the sound produced by Gene Fontaine and Co. was melodic and anguished. The songs alternated between slower, brooding, wailing numbers and more aggressive songs with screaming guitars and clashing drums, producing a sonic assault on the ears that might have been exactly what the audience wanted.

Following Sir Q, Bacchus King took the stage, dancing and flailing and nearly toppling each other with their enthusiasm.The three-piece Allston band (guitar, bass, drums) brought lots of energy and volume to the stage, undeterred by the small audience. With a diverse sound, they touched on different genres

branching out from their rock roots, sampling some blues, some ska and a lot of grunge.

The Honors may be a new Boston band (formed in January 2008), but they have a mature, distinctive sound. They're more comfortable on the stage than a new band ought to be, bursting out with indie, Brit rock inspired songs. Lead vocalist

Brandon Heisler has a clear, strong voice that carried the show well, sharing the stage properly with the instruments of JayTrikakis (drums), Andrew Bayardi (electric guitar) and Roland Nicol (bass). Their live show was very polished, with one song transitioning into another seamlessly, or with Heisler making poker-faced quips about the audience, the weather, etc. The unusual melodic combinations and unexpected changes in pitch distinguished each song and hinted at influences like British bands Muse and Maxïmo Park and American indie rock bands like The Bravery and Interpol. In fact, they played a very competent cover of The Bravery's "Public Service Announcement." Their

strength is their own compositions with catchy hooks, complex melodies and a strong stage presence. This is a band to watch for their style and originality.

-Review and photo by Priyanka Boghani