Tonight, AppleJam brings Boston-area electro-rockers Matters & Dunaway and John Igaz to Tufts University. This duumvirate of electronic music groups will be playing at Hotung Caf?© at 9:30 p.m. Having spoken with both parties as well as AppleJam officials, this writer can safely say that it'd be a shame to miss this show.
For those of you unfamiliar with AppleJam, it is best described as Concert Board's indie-oriented alter-ego, a Tufts student organization that works to bring lesser-known independent and local artists to Tufts, as well as give student performers the opportunity to perform live.
AppleJam officials lusted after tonight's second act, Matters & Dunaway, after seeing their set with Prefuse 73 at the Middle East last September. Comprising Thomas Gallagher and Andr?© Obin, M&D have now been playing together for a decade after meeting at Wheaton College in Norton, MA in the mid-'90s.
The duo released three albums under the moniker Matters & Dunaway - "Lowtech" (2001), "Midtech" (2002), and "Hightech" (2004) - all of which reflect the band's "steadily improving production skills" and increasing musical aptitude, said Obin. M&D is well-received in the Boston-area music scene and has opened for such high-profile groups as fellow electrophiles Prefuse 73 and Nobody, as well as post-rockers Mice Parade.
Gallagher and Obin are currently working on some new material, half of which is under a different pseudonym. However, fans of their old designation can rest assured, since the release of a new EP under the M&D name is slated for the fall of 2006. Obin says that the new EP will have a pervasive shoegaze vibe in the way of influencers My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive and Primal Scream.
Tonight, M&D will share the stage with Mus-ok's John Igaz, a member of the self-proclaimed "downtempo electronic rock" outfit along with bandmate Ben Pacheco since Mus-ok's formation in Boston in 2002.
Igaz says his job is "primarily drum sampling and sequencing, but to also play sax and the odd keyboard part," and that he and Pacheco collaborate when it comes to songwriting. However, Igaz is more heavily involved in mixing, sound engineering and producing activities, and he admits bringing a hip-hop vibe to the group's sound through the drum samples and sequences that he provides with his MPC 2000.
Mus-ok has released one LP (2003's self-released "The Floppy Disc") and two EPs: "OK Music" and "I'm OK, Tom's OK," both in 2004. Currently, they are in the process of finishing a third EP for release later this year. With the recent addition of vocalist Rob Barbado to the band's roster, this upcoming release looks to be a departure from Mus-ok's electronic dynamic.
Indeed, as Igaz says, Barbado "brings a heavy psych-rock influence with him that translates into more riff-oriented rock songs." He added that Barbado pushes "us to be a little heavier and grittier than we were used to in the past."
Igaz will open for M&D with a DJ set. He plans to "stick to downtempo electronic stuff to fit better with Matters & Dunaway," but is willing to offer more dance and house music if the crowd is up to it. The audience may also expect a small tribute to hip-hop virtuoso Jay Dee who passed away last Friday from lupus.
As for M&D's set, they plan to include mostly "reinterpreted 'Hightech' material with more of a shoegaze foundation." Gallagher and Obin hope that their songs will remain recognizable, yet more polished. They also look forward to performing some new songs that have never been tracked.
The amplitude of eclecticism of both of these artists' sounds should be an indication of how the show will go. Igaz, with his hip-hop influences and developing rock penchant, will surely rev the crowd up with his DJ set. On the other hand, Matters & Dunaway's performance promises to be unique and intriguing in its own right for its integration of shoegaze elements with "moody, sometimes epic musical landscapes." Their appearance at Tufts marks an opportunity for students to see what will be a singularly rewarding show.
