Rogue Wave w/ Hey Marseilles at Turf Club, St. Paul (25 May 2016)

Hey Marseilles

Seattle’s Hey Marseilles opened the evening, to warm support of their blend of indie-chamber pop, promoting their self-titled third studio album (on Shanachie Entertainment).  W♥M’s Vu got to hear a lot of the new songs last year when the band opened for Mates of State, but the additional road-testing and finishing them for the album, has refined them even further.



Songs like ‘West Coast’ show a real maturation for a band eager to introduce themselves to a broader audience (thus the self-titled album too) and the elegance the Anderson brothers (Samuel on cello,  Jacob on viola) add to their songs, is truly unique.  The band even found time to work in their cover of David Bowie’s ‘Heroes’ into their short set.

Zach Rogue

Rogue Wave began their 73 min. headlining set in near darkness, with the opening track from the new Delusions of Grand Fur (on LA’s Easy Sound Records), ‘Take it Slow’, but a series of six thin, vertical lighted poles behind them soon illuminated to give definition to the band members on stage.



The lights are a new addition to the usually no-frills band, lit in solid colors that often ebbed with the beat, looking like pixie stix or even French fries when they were lit solid yellow.  The core duo of Zach Rogue- vocals/guitar and Pat Spurgeon- drums/keyboard were joined by Masanori Christianson- bass, glockenspiel; Jon Monahan-  guitar; and Nyles Lennon (of Film School )on synths/backing vocals.



“We have a new album out… we’re just glad to be here, people”, Rogue deadpanned before the new ‘Look at Me’. The additional playing members add further depth to the band’s West Coast indie-rock sound (think a less electronic Death Cab for Cutie) and even older songs, like ‘Eyes’ from the Just Friends soundtrack, sounded refreshed and new again.



Playing eight songs from the new Delusions, even fans in the devoted crowd that hadn’t yet picked up the album, were awarded a healthy taste of the new songs. The crowd at the Turf can often be rowdy and beer-swilling, but Rogue Wave had obviously gained their prior respect, with polite clapping (and some occasional cat-calling) between songs, as their devoted reception.



Zach Rogue’s voice was in fine form, both for the new songs and the far earliest like ‘Nourishment Nation’, rising over the glockenspiel bell sounds and Sub Pop-era back beat.  Drummer Spurgeon dutifully kept time in the back, his large hair swaying to and fro with the beat,  below the lighted towers.

Setlist

Old favorites ‘Lake Michigan’ and Harmonium’ ended their hour-long main set, the former getting everyone clapping along in rhythm with the band. They then re-emerged to begin their encore with the gentle ‘Curious Me’ and Rogue apologizing (needlessly) after, “sorry folks, I don’t really know how to play the piano… I’m learning!”



2005’s jangly ‘Publish My Love’ was sweeping in its scope and the band ended with 2007’s ‘Like I Needed’ which may be the only song that inserts the Star Wars classic dialogue line, “these aren’t the droids you’re looking for”.  “It’s been so great to be with you tonight… much love” Rogue exclaimed as the band left the stage.



With no delusions of grandeur (or “grand fur”, for that matter); honest, seemingly simple and hard-working bands like Rogue Wave are getting harder and harder to find, so you owe to yourself to catch them when they play your town.