Richmond’s Dumb Waiter is not the usual math-rock band and they’re not simply a jammy fusion group either. Where most math bands aim to excite (or confuse) with surprising changes, Dumb Waiter adds an unexpected element of sound. The saxophone is central to their sound, and gives every track a jazzy vibe. On their debut, Is This Chocolate, they switch from sing-songy, to dancy, to epic, often within the same song, and fans of metal or fusion or inventive and proficient indie combos will find a lot to like throughout the album. You can see their instrumental acrobatics live on February 16th at Gallery 5 in Richmond, VA, as they, and fellow Richmond band Night Idea, send of drum and bass duo New Turks on their tour of the east coast. –Natan Press
