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Media Editor Doctor Q reviews the Dragon*Con 2011 Abney Park concert!
By DoctorQ on Sep 20 2011 Category:SpC  Returning to Dragon*Con this year was the eminent name of Steampunk Music, Abney Park. Now most all know of the band’s singer and songwriter, Captain Robert, but I was most looking forward to listening to the band’s newest addition, guitarist Josh Goering. With the band now a sextet, I was curious as to how it would sound. I was not disappointed.
Last time I saw Abney Park live, it was Dragon*Con 2009. What I heard and saw was a band constantly perfecting both their sound and stage presence in the two years that have passed. First of all, vocalist Jody Ellen was new to the band when I first heard her – as a matter of fact Dragon*Con 2009 was her audition (talk about being thrown in the deep end). This time around I was happy to see her be so comfortable with the songs and really belt it out with a passion.
Kristina Erickson on keyboard and Daniel Cederman on bass provided the backbone and rhythm of the band as always, and this time around I made it a point to note how well they keep the band together as Robert, Nathaniel, and Josh take it away. I sometimes forget that the band lacks a drummer since Kristina and Daniel more than keep the pace without one.
Speaking of which, the main aspect I was most looking forward to was how the dynamic of the band changed with the addition of Josh on guitar. The good Mr. Goering simply tore up the show with incredible skill. It gave the whole concert a hard edge from start to finish, and seriously filled out the sound of the band overall in an impressive way I didn’t even think was still possible. With him handling that instrument, it freed up Nathaniel to focus more on the crazy stringed instruments he loves so much – namely violin, banjo, mandolin and now a 5-string viola. I am always blown away by watching Nathaniel work an instrument, and this show was yet again a chance to see a master musician at play.
Speaking of odd instrumentation, I think I saw Captain Robert play more instruments that I could keep track off. I counted an accordion, harmonica, bouzouki, and darbuka. I may have missed some. Seriously. The man toggled between his musical arsenal as he assaulted our aural senses with salvo after salvo of savage tunes and singing his soul to the assembled masses.
And the crowd danced, screamed, and enjoyed every moment of it. If you all sit on the fence about coming to Dragon*Con, concerts like these should have you kicking yourself for missing out. The pop culture festival draws over 45,000 people for a reason – nowhere else would be able to see Abney Park in the Southeast, not to mention a slew of other musicians, guests, and stars of most any fandom you can imagine. And this year Abney Park represented Steampunk in a major way – by playing the premier spot in one of the largest ballrooms of the five host hotels (yes five). And they packed the house as always. It was a sight to see. Just take a look at it from as far back and as high up as I could manage:
As you can see, it was a sight unlike most anything else. To hell with Vegas, I tend to say “Only at Dragon*Con” far more often, as I saw girls in Dalek pinup dresses cutting a rug next to Harley Quinns, zombies, and all sorts of steampunks far as the eye could see.
If I had any note at all to say at all, it would be that all the songs of the set were songs I knew. I was hoping to hear some new songs the band has been working on, like the upcoming songs from Aether Shanties like we were able to hear last concert. However, with Josh so new to the band, I’m assuming it will only be a matter of time before the newer songs work their way into the live shows. And considering they tend to play the West Coast more of than not, I am sorely envious of all of the readers on that side of the nation.
In closing, the crew of the H.M.S. Ophelia rocked the Marriott and showed the assembled collection of cog and clockwork enthusiasts, along with the greater fandom of Dragon*Con at large, that Steampunk Music can blend Arabic, Blues, Metal, and pure old fashioned Rock into a sound that simply says Post Apocalyptic Punk. This reporter always enjoys their shows, and my thanks to Dragon*Con for treating us all to their brand of danceable delight.
Doctor Q is the Media Editor for Steampunk Chronicle. He fancies himself an acoustic arranger of music and founder of the Artifice Club.
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