| Blisstripp: The good kind of trippy
By Grant Stoye
Saff Writer
As some clichणd television Indian once said, “Keep your ear to the ground to hear the oncoming stampede,” so I have kept my ear to the streets for terrific yet obscure bands. My latest find hails from the great white plains of the sleepy town of Traverse City. Have you ever noticed how some hip cat will catch the promise of a young band on the rise before anyone else? Well, pass the kitty litter because Blisstripp has made me one hip cat.
If the name sounds somewhat familiar to you Grand Rapidites, it’s because these young gentlemen cleaned house several months ago at a couple “Battle of the Bands” at the Intersection. Their high-octane stage show is only rivaled by the snazzy sonic candy found in the 2 CD package I am about to review.
The first disc is their first release, “Time to Shine.” This is the CD where they get all the pieces to their puzzle. Their sound is an eclectic mix of funk, rock, punk, and a pinch of sugar, with driving bass lines, furious guitars, scintillating scratching, tommy-gun drums, and power-packed vocals.
The 7-track CD starts with the track “Bring It,” and by golly, it has been brought. This song inspires you to get up and bang your head, and it doesn’t stop with the next track, “My Way Down” (whose opening guitar sounds as if it were dialing a phone number). The other tracks on this disc are hot, but two others really stand out.
The highlights of this CD have got to be “Breathe” and “Italian Mudslide.” “Breathe” is a mournful plea of emotion, whose acoustic guitar pieces are only emphasized by lead singer Jeff Linsell’s smooth, crooneresque voice. “Mudslide,” my favorite track off this album, starts off with an adrenaline-pumping hook that is impossible to ignore. However good the guitars sound in this song, they fail to convey the talent of guitarist Adam Percy, a guitar wizard who would beat the wand out of any riff Harry Potter could conjure up. The lyrics are heartbreaking, and this truly deserves to be on the next “NOW That’s What I Call Dumping Someone!” compilation.
If they found the pieces in their first CD, their next one puts those pieces into place. Their 5-track sophomore EP, “Scattered,” truly shows their maturity right off the bat with “Ounces.” This track really showcases DJ Kpow’s (aka Matt Mann) flowing ability.
Since I first started following these guys I’ve seen DJ KPow’s metamorphosis from lead vocals and rhythm guitar to DJ and turntables, and his progress is nothing short of impressive. “Ounces” does what it guarantees to do: it gets you bouncin’. Seriously. It was like my head was on a swivel.
The Incubus comparisons arise with the next track, “Carousel.” The bounce-ocity is beyond infectious when the chorus flares up, showcasing Linsell’s heartfelt vocals. Jon Stoye provides a bass solo worthy of a George Clinton tune in the bridge. His bass playing is a five-string sundae for any bass guitar enthusiast. My favorite track on this disc is the next song, “Try Again.” Linsell’s vocals, a potpourri of Brandon Boyd and Nick Hexum, are stirring, blending in seamlessly with the angst-funk rock sound, and Kpow’s performance mixed with the laid-back gear switch gives one the desire to hop in a convertible and cruise down a palm tree-laden southern boulevard. BAM! This is one hot track.
This EP ends with the frantic title track, “Scattered.” I regret to say that I’m just now bringing up drummer Seth Goodman and his skills with the sticks. Goodman is, and I say this honestly, one of the better drummers I’ve heard. Listen carefully to any track of theirs on either CD, “Scattered” for instance, and notice that he bears a resemblance to Carter Beauford.
One has to wonder how he can smack the skins and cymbals so quickly. His rapid fire drums help get this song a-rockin’, and it will leave you belting out the catchy chorus: “So fine I take it back for what it’s for/(these pages ripped flipped skipped bent and tore)/Nothing will come out if from not my core/(and nothing will come little cuz I need some more).”
As I’ve said before, these guys are good. Their age betrays their talent, and they’re a hilarious group of guys. I highly recommend catching their show when they come to your town, if not for the music then for Stoye’s emphatic dancing (which is worth the price of admission alone).
They have songs available on various MP3 downloading sites, but if that doesn’t work or you’d like to purchase a CD (which is a good idea), check their official site, www.blisstripp.com, or email them at blisstripp@hotmail.com. If you like Incubus, Hoobastank and 311, then hop on these guys’ bandwagon. Now please, bounce with me.
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