Forget the tribulations of hump day this week. No one ever ends up humping anyway. And what better way to forego your reproductive duties than to indulge in a psych-pop haze at Rotture this Wednesday? I’m willing to bet the guys from Wax Fingers would support you zipping it up for one goddamn night.
With one foot planted firmly in an experimental psychedelic stew, and the other tippy-toed on a tight wire of spastic instrumental noodling, Wax Fingers succeed in injecting their plunky pop with depth, but without the pretension. Case in point would be "Sticky Bees," the band’s single off of their debut EP Ones and Threes (available for free download here). The tune emerges cleanly, steeped in bright chords, tinkly piano, lots of guitar effects, and reverb-washed vocals during the lengthy intro and first verse, only to bust open into a tantrum-laced chorus. The surprises don’t end there, and you’d be foolish to listen to only a snippet to decide if their worth your tutelage.
The Portland trio will be holed up in the Southeast Industrial District this Wednesday at Rotture along with math-y PDX dudes Duck, Little Brother, Duck! and Yeah Great Fine. 9 p.m. $5 at the door.
– Ryan J. Prado