I’ve been following DC’s alt. art-rockers The Chance ever since I picked up their s/t debut EP in the local punk section at Tower Records (RIP!) years ago. I’ve heard their sound progress from DIY punk to epic arena rock, and after several line-up changes over the years, it now appears that Joshua Padgett (vocals/guitar) and Viraj DeSilva (drummer) have found their bass niche in Christian Baldo (Death by Sexy), all of whom totally brought it in a powerful way to Black Cat’s mainstage last Friday.
Their set kicked off with the title track off their upcoming release "New York City Girls", a ridiculously catchy anthem about high-heeled chicks in said metropolis that combines elements of pop rock and fuzz, complete with a memorable chant along chorus, a danceable rhythm section, and guitar licks that remain in your subconscious and emerge again at the sight of a skyscraper. To say the least, it set the pace for the rest of their set featuring tracks that harped on a vast spectrum of genre, including noise, shoegaze, 80’s metal, alternative, and even a bit of goth as Padgett’s falsetto reached Siouxsie-like quality tinged with, I’m going there, a Latino octave-changing yodel, which was very apparent during "The Abyss of Love."
Also apparent during "Abyss" was the near mimicked moves throughout the crowd following the swaying onstage from Padgett and Baldo. DeSilva’s gargantuan pounding beat was spot on as keys swirled over layers of intensified loops that continued to grow until its fulfilling climax, proving it to be their most dance-friendly track to date. Following soon after was their ballad "Lapdance in Heaven" that went from beautiful string plucks and synths to a beyond awesome guitar solo from Padgett that was the most Frank Zappa/Stevie Ray Vaughan thing I’ve ever witnessed at the Cat, and something I’d only expect to hear/see at a 100,000 capacity stadium. At one point during the epic battle of the pick, some staff got onto the house’s light board and turned the stage into a complementary light show- enhancing the journey up and down the fretboard, and thusly validating the arena potential The Chance has grown into. And based on the crowd’s reaction, we heard it too. (Gif by Chris B. Pic by Binh Ngo.) –Dawn