There is something satisfying about watching a one-man band, especially when the one man sounds like four or five. Casey Chisholm can thank modern technology and tons of guitar pedals for this, but seeing him play Wednesday night at Streetlight Records wasn’t like watching a novelty act. When the Finches and Key Losers canceled, the fate of the show—with just locals Jubliant Low remaining—seemed a little precarious. But thankfully Chisholm jumped in. He joined Jubliant Low on drums, which made for a louder rocking set for the duo of Rosalie Rivera and Leslie Hampton.
Then he went on solo. Seeing him create music was a treat, something that managed to blend synthetic rhythms with teenage awkwardness and keep the audience engaged the whole set.
He layered the instruments live, playing each part and recording loops out of them, like it was some strange studio project we were getting to sit in on.. I particularly enjoyed watching him singing a chorus during one of the songs, and then harmonizing with himself over the next several lines. It was a testament to how technology is changing rock music, and will continue to do so in the forthcoming decade.
The songs themselves were like tiny sunrises, the way they slowly repeated and quietly opened up. Picture Brian Wilson singing Velvet Underground songs alone on his back porch. The opening lyrics were fitting, “Sometime the sun shines, and you have to go outside.” You get the feeling that Casey Chisholm has created hundreds of these songs in the safety of his bedroom, and has hundreds left still waiting to be written.
