Results tagged “caverns”

We’re not at this very moment, we just finished our record. And then we’re sort of taking it slightly easy this summer. We’re not playing a lot of tour dates. That’s just too crazy.

Back in 2005 when Seattle-based quartet These Arms Are Snakes unleashed Oxeneers or The Lion Sleeps When Its Antelope Go Home onto the unsuspecting college radio airwaves, the executive staff at our college radio station came up with a drunken continuum, with “tipsy” on one end and “These Arms Are Snakes” at the other. Reason being, their live show provided a rather impressive interpretation of their high-energy studio recordings, but singer Steve Snere’s antics (which included standing on the monitors and wrapping the microphone cord around his neck) were overshadowed with a sense of impending doom. The guy could barely stand up as it was. It was hard not to think, "This guy is going to die. He's going to die here, onstage, and I'm going to be here watching as he does."

We've seen the guitar, piano, drums trio before in DC but Caverns take that combination into a territory so far removed from the tightly crafted pop songs or gritty garage rock that sounds a little more familiar. The intricate melodies of pianist Patrick Taylor and the dissonant shrieks from Kevin Hillard's guitar make for strange bedfellows, but the somewhat harsh juxtaposition, especially when backed by drummer Ross Hurt is not only memorable but highly enjoyable. It's clear upon repeated listens that they're just as influenced by classical and jazz music as post-rock and punk. Never has such a complete sonic assault sounded so sweet.

The local music community has come together several times over the past year and a half to support Callum Robbins, the son of local music mainstay J. Robbins and Janet Morgan. Cal was diagnosed with a genetic motor neuron disease called Type 1 SMA, or Spinal Muscular Atrophy. As explained on the DeSoto records page supporting Cal,

The disease affects the brain's ability to communicate with the voluntary muscles that are used for activities such as crawling, walking, head and neck control, breathing, and swallowing. Type 1 SMA is usually fatal; most Type 1 babies will die before their second birthday. Those infants who survive into childhood are in for a long road of occupational therapy, wheelchairs, and assistive devices. Despite years of work on its treatment and "ongoing promising research," it has no cure.

In addition to being incredibly difficult to deal with, it's also an incredibly expensive condition to treat and manage. Cal has surpassed the odds and is past the two year mark, which is amazing news. But he still needs some help! Deleted Scenes (former Three Stars subject and Unbuckled band), Caverns, The Bakerton Group and Hammer No More the Fingers are getting together tonight to hold another benefit show at the Black Cat to raise money for Cal's continued care. Here's what Kevin from Caverns had to say about Cal's current condition:

Cal is doing very well for the moment. J., like any proud parent, is always relating stories of amazing things Cal does and how resilient he has been throughout his young life. According to the literature on SMA, a huge milestone for an afflicted child is his or her second birthday. The mortality rate is very high prior to that time, so the fact that Cal has passed that age is a huge deal. However, even during relative "good times" life with SMA is extremely difficult due to the limited mobility it creates, the need for constant assistance supervision for the child, and the amount of physical therapy involved to keep the child's muscle strength and motor skills from declining. This is why doing a benefit show like the one on Friday can actually make a difference, because the day to day cost of care for a child like Cal really piles on top the normal expenses any family must endure. Every little bit friends can do to help offset that expense helps Cal lead a healthier and happier life.

Because you all have hearts, you're probably convinced at this point to come to the Black Cat tonight, or at least to make a donation. But if you're not, a lighthearted band-on-band interview between a couple guys from Deleted Scenes and Caverns is after the jump.