 "Photo: Rykodisc records")
On Sept. 22, Vamps will be hosting Athens, Georgia's own Elf Power and their unique brand of psychedelic gypsy-folk.
This group is so dynamic it seems as if, album to album, they switch up their sound, constantly renewing themselves.
On their latest full-length album, Back To The Web, released on Rykodisk in April, Elf Power succeeded in creating an entirely different sound with heavy European and folk influences.
Where did this sudden shift in sound come from?
The Independent Collegian talked to Elf Power to find out.
"I have a friend that's really into world music, and he's made me a bunch of compilations of kind of middle-eastern as well as gypsy music ... I was listening to a lot of stuff like that, and I also bought a 12-string guitar," said vocalist and guitarist Andrew Reiger. "I think that led me to it because you can emulate those sounds on a 12-string."
Along with this altered sound came a rearranged line-up of members and instrumentation to cater to their ever-changing sound.
Those who follow Elf Power have noticed that the group's membership seems to be based on a revolving-door policy on which the following motto applies: "Come and go as you please."
Reiger prepares us as to who and what we should expect on this tour.
"It's going to be me, and then Laura Carter - the two of us have been at it since the beginning," he said. "We have Josh Lott playing drums, Jim Hugues on guitar, Heather McIntosh on cello, and Derek Almstead on bass.
But Elf Power has not abandoned and forgotten their indie-pop/rock roots.
"We're playing a lot of the songs off Back To The Web, but then we're also playing a couple of songs from each of the older albums; we've been playing a pretty long set, and we manage to fit in usually about 20 songs," Reiger said.
While listening to their album, it's hard to imagine how all of these songs will play out in a live setting considering the vast instrumentation and various elements of sound.
"We have a six-piece band right now, and we're pretty much all multi-instrumentalists," Reiger said.
Having been born in the center of indie-pop culture, Athens, Ga., Elf Power has been constantly surrounded by groundbreaking bands and serves as part of the Elephant Six Collective along with groups such as Neutral Milk Hotel, Olivia Tremor Control and The Apples In Stereo.
"It's basically just a group of friends who have collaborated together on each other's records over the years," Reiger explained. "Being a part of that community has definitely influenced me and influenced the music because it's from the collaboration of others; it's been a really positive thing."
Along for the ride on this leg of the tour is singer-songwriter Geoff Reacher, who plays in the record label conservation group Orange Twin, created by founding Elf Power members Laura Carter and Andrew Reiger.
"He's a really interesting hybrid of folk music and electronic music," Reiger said. "He's a one-man-band, and he plays the acoustic guitar but he has electronic samples he manipulates during the show."
All proceeds gained by Orange Twin are attributed towards the support of their conservation group which owns 150 acres of land in the outskirts of Athens, Ga.
Elf Power even has some advice for aspiring young artists.
"We would advise people to spend a lot of time writing songs and recording," the band said. "A lot of people think it's important to get out there and tour as much as you can, but I feel like if you don't have a really good album that is representative of what you sound like it's kind of pointless."
For a night filled of gypsy-folk and experimental psychedelic rock, Elf Power will be at Vamps, 910 Phillips Ave. on Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $8. For more information call, 419-476-0732.
Be the first to comment on this article!