When Hot Blood's Mat Kiley told me that his band was working on a compilation with The Shady Street Show band on which each band would cover the other's songs, I was a little dubious. I'd seen and heard both bands, and they appear to have very little in common. Hot Blood play pretty traditional hardcore -- super short, super fast songs, lots of stabbing guitars, and Kiley sounding like he's about to blow out his vocal chords. The Shady Street Show Band play a kind of soulful rock -- intricate arrangements, male and female vocals, keys, sometimes a horn section.
But as I thought more about it, I remembered thinking that I always heard something more musical in Hot Blood's songs than typical hardcore. The crowds I'd seen at Shady Street shows all seemed to be rocking out just as much as those at Hot Blood shows. There has always been considerable overlap in the bands' audiences. On Saturday night, both bands showed that their collaboration -- rather than being some weird one-off curiosity -- produced some really excellent music.
Things got started with the proggy, experimental duo, Bone & Marrow. Formerly of Elevator Art, Daimon and Jen Santa Maria create loops on the spot and use homemade props to create something bigger and weirder than two people have any right to do. I'm definitely not what you'd call a Doors fan, but Bone & Marrow put their own spin on a couple of Doors covers that breathed some interesting life into those songs.
Things took a turn toward country as our friends in Lowlight took the stage. Even as more of a rock and punk guy, I've always had a soft spot for the darker side of country and Americana. Lowlight do a great take on that sound, and they've quickly become one of the local bands I'll make a special point to get out and see. In keeping with the covers theme of the evening, they gave us a rendition of Bob Dylan's "The Man in Me."
When the "Shady Blood" portion of the evening began, The Saint was pretty well packed out. Hot Blood led things off, and I joked with Kiley later that they turned in the most organized Hot Blood set I'd ever seen. Usually the band mix a planned set with requests and whatever happens to strike them as the show progresses. This time, they played Together at Last front to back, in its entirety. The crowd reacted to Hot Blood doing Hot Blood as they always do, screaming along and bouncing off one another (always respectfully). During the songs by The Shady Street Show Band, people continued dancing and singing along. Kiley showed a pretty good singing voice on "Home." Even people you may have expected to see hovering around the edges at another Hot Blood show were right up front. The band brought out the Together at Last horns for a couple of songs.
The Shady Street Show band took their turn and played Together at Last back to front. They did amazing renditions of "Don't Be a Dick" and "Chloe (with Cole Ragsdale on vocals)" that gave those songs a whole new spin while showing how strong Kiley's lyrics can be. People embraced, danced, and sang with the band as they did their own compositions, the Together at Last horns blaring from the stage.
To end the show, various members of both bands switched off with one another for a few covers that ranged from Dead Kennedys to Jerry Reed. It was a hugely fun and eclectic evening that showcased a pretty wide range of what Asbury Park has to offer musically. I'm not sure if we'll ever see Shady Blood again, but we can hope.
I sweated through all the sets and got lots of pictures. You can click through the links below to check those all out at Flickr.
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| Bone & Marrow |
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| Lowlight |
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| Shady Blood |
