Don Giovanni Records fall tour, which slated Screaming Females, Waxahatchee and Tenement together, made its final stop at First Unitarian Church Sunday night. The tenacious twosome of Katy Otto and Diane Foglizzo, a.k.a. Trophy Wife, kicked off the show with a quick intense set demonstrating the duo’s raw power while setting the bar for the rest of evening. Amos Pitsch-fronted Wisconsin punk outfit Tenement were next. The set included moments of guitar flourishes and Pitsch glistened with effort; however, the set seemed to flash with the blink of an eye.
Hometown favorite Waxahatchee, a.k.a. Katie Crutchfield, wasted little time putting the crowd underneath her thumb with songs primarily from her latest critically acclaimed LP Cerulean Salt, a steady combination of emotive intimacy and controlled aggression. The delicate nature of “Bathtub” transitioned into the energetic pop vibe of “Coast to Coast” with its bursting percussion, and then Waxahatchee displayed a different side with the darkened edge of “Misery Over Dispute.” The subdued “Lively” preceded a fitting cover of “Make Your Own Kind of Music,” which was written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil and made famous by Cass Elliot. Closing with “Peace and Quiet,” Waxahatchee delivered a multifaceted set, pulling the audience in close as Crutchfield held them with every word.
Screaming Females had the final word on this night. The trio led by blistering guitarist/singer Marissa Paternoster enthralled the audience with a litany of in-synch heavy grooves with thick smashing drums and impassioned vocals, piling riff after riff on Ugly staples such as “Leave It All Up to Me” and “It All Means Nothing,” demonstrating her chops through a series of finely executed solos. The crowd bounced along to “Sheep,” and fell in line on “Baby Jesus.” By the time the band appropriately closed out the show/tour with an explosive take on “Expire,” there was no doubt the audience had digested the message loud and clear. (Photos by Rachel Barrish) – Michael Colavita