Elf Power flex their talent, influences
Story and Photos
by Robert Fleming
Assistant Encore Editor
Elf Power's dreams in sound were hardly anything you could
sleep through Saturday night. The band, based in Athens, Ga. en
tertained fans and friends alike with a phenomenal performance at
the New Brookland Tavem, closing out the week long tour of the
East Coast that had started March 4.
The short tour along the coast was to promote the re-release of
their first album, Vainly Clutching at Phantom Limbs, due out April
4, as well a new album due in the near future. This marks the sec
ond appearance of the psychedelic pop rockers here in less than a
year’s time.
Their appearance in Columbia also included an on-air interview
at WUSC-FM, where the band talked in great detail about their ear
ly beginnings and the history of their first album.
According to lead siriger/guitarist Andrew Rieger, the band record
ed a demo for the first album that was distributed among friends. Be
cause of the local success, friends from Olivia Tremor Control of
fered them a spot on the Elephant 6 Collective alongside bands
like The Apples In Stereo, Neutral Milk Hotel and the Minders.
Bassist Bryan Helium listed among their influences T-Rex, David
Bowie and the Velvet Underground. Apparently, Elf Power were
one of the 500,000 fans that purchased Andy Warhol and started a
band soon after.
In the interview, Elf Power praised the achievements of open
ing band Summer Hymns, which would provide an appropriate open
ing for the show’s headliner.
Taking the stage to close out the tour, the band kicked off with
one their newer songs, “Embrace the Crimson Tide,” in which they
enlisted help from Summer Hymns to augment their sound with
multiple drums and percussion. From there, the band drifted back
into more familiar songs like “The Separating Fault” off of their 1997
album When the Red King Comes and “Jane” from 1998’s A Dream
in Sound The cast of players for the night’s show would waver be
tween five and eight, which is pretty normal for a band that is a
part of the Elephant 6 Collective of musicians.
For fans like me, it was a great opportunity to hear songs that
have never been heard before. After seeing “All Your Experiments"
and “Finally Free” from Vainly Clutching at Phantom Limbs per
formed live, it makes its arrival for the first time to CD all the more
anticipated.
Elf Power was in a definite rock mood, though. Rieger even
taunted the fans and told them that they were going to rock the club
out. He then asked his dad, who was present, for a beer.
“Old Tyme Waves” and “Noble Experiment” were
performed with outstanding energy and excitement. Kieger
was in perfect form, his voice as powerful as
his guitar was loud. Helium matched Rieger
in all respects. Organist Laura Carted added
in all the elements that provided a sound that
was more than an average rock ’n’ roll band,
and drummer Aaron Wegelin was outstand
ing. His skill as a drummer is almost unpar
alleled today. It was easy to see that the band
was really glad to be performing live again
and passed that joy onto the crowd, which
enjoyed every minute of it.
More new songs were played through
out the night. “The Sun Is Forever,” “The
Skeleton” and a song about a giant psychic
fly were all introduced to the crowd, which
seemed to take to the new material nicely.
But the show would end with an incredible
version of “Icy Hands Will Never Melt Away”
from When The Red King Conies.
Most of the fans left at the show’s initial
end, but those who remained cheered them
on the stage for an encore. Helium asked,
“You guys want to hear one more song?,”
and the crowd’s remnants enthusiastically re
sponded.
One song turned into two as Elf Power
treated fans to “High Atop the Silver Branches” from A Dream In
Sound The show’s closer was a request by most of the fans there,
and when the band kicked into an all-out version of Brian Eno’s
“Needles in the Camel’s Eyes,” the show reached a powerful and
unforgettable end. Once the feedback ended, the band mingled with
the group of old and new friends that had ventured out in the rainy
night to see them play. Elf Power proved once again that rock mu
sic isn’t dead, but in a state of hibernation. And with bands like it
continuing to make fantastic music, it is hoped awaken from its slum
ber soon,
Elf Power perform at the New Brookland Tavern on Saturday in support of their upcoming April releases. The band
will be re-releasing its first album, Vainly Clutching at Phantom Limbs, in addition to releasing a newer album later
this year. This performance was the final show in a seven-day East Coast tour in support of the upcoming releas
es.