RUBBLEBUCKET - 2.20 @ The Middle East, Upstairs

Broken Social Scene is a rarity in these parts, but Rubblebucket is an unexpected substitution. "Unexpected," I say, only because of their lack of fame -- for now. But this 8 to 9 member group easily matches the energy and communication of BSS the moment they walk on stage.

Members consist of percussionists, horns, guitarists, bassists, keyboardists and vocalists -- two were formerly part of reggae group John Brown's Body but a far cry from the sound. Kalma Traver (vocals) compares to Feist in her presence but Zooey Deschanel in her textured voice; Alex Toth (Trumpet/Vocals/Whatever he feels like) compares to Kevin Drew but still has his own thing going on (and may be the only person I've seen pull off a mullet).

A Rubblebucket show is an experience. It's not the crowd enjoying a band, it's the crowd and band enjoying each other in a unified moment that many compare to a religious experience, especially when some of the members decided to dance join the crowd below the completely shatter the Berlin Wall of performer/audience.




There's so much dancing and power happening at the show that you don't even pay attention to the lyrics, although you can still I.D. a lovesong hidden within the busy, yet somehow totally comprehensible, indie funk experience. Listen to Kalma sing "We all hold hands/And sing and dance/And it sounds like this" in the song Phillips Van on their self-titled and you'll know what I mean.