Results tagged “pontiak”

The brothers Carney, better known as Pontiak, line The Mohawk’s walls with sludgy psychedelic soundscapes this Saturday evening. Prior to that, at 5 p.m., the trio will supply the patrons of End of an Ear with ample drone as well. Lain, Van, and Jennings were born in Virginia and moved away to Maryland where they first started playing together, only to return to their farm in Virginia to build themselves a studio. After self-releasing their early efforts, they signed on with Thrill Jockey Records in 2008. The label re-released 2007’s Sun on Sun and Pontiak followed that up with a split record (with Arbouretum) containing new material along with John Cale covers.

In studying the history of metal, we constantly learn that the sinister sounds prevalent in the genre tend to be a product of their environment. The blue-collar culture and gloomy backdrop of Birmingham’s factories inspired Tony Iommi’s frightening guitar riffs (although that accident played its part as well). Pontiak might not fall directly into the same category as Black Sabbath but with thunderous riffs, eerie soundscapes, and miles and miles of slow burning psychedelic sludge, the Virginia based three-piece has carved a place for itself in Sabbath’s expansive family tree. Pontiak recorded its second full-length Sun on Sun in four days in a log cabin in Charlottesville, Virginia, and the raw texture and rumbling drone that marks record may well have been inspired by the landscape outside. The album’s aural aesthetic also reflects the unique acoustics of the makeshift studio and the result is an earth-shattering soundtrack to a day in the wild.

Curiously, there aren't ten bands playing before Baltimore's indie-darling duo Wye Oak takes the stage this evening. Maybe Emo's is paring down their marathon line-ups. Probably not. There's one, actually, and it's The Cocker Spaniels (a.k.a. Sean Padilla) whose brand of "New Power Emo" will put a smile inside your mouth and a sparkle in your step for days to come. Wye Oak will too, for that matter.