Prince Rama!

I don't think I was even aware of Prince Rama as late as November. I found out about them when I was looking up the Schubas calendar. It really fascinates me how late these bands hit my radar because it means I could have missed them entirely. Even once I'm aware of them I could drop the ball by being late to the show. But I was not going to let this one go like that after missing so many gigs already. A migraine took the want out of seeing Lightfoils at Whistler. I was already recovering but I did not wish to risk its return, so I did not go. Then I missed the 8MM/I:scintilla show the following Wednesday at Ultra Lounge. I was just late to that. Then I missed Sabrina Chap on Thursday. And I've missed Angel Olsen at least three times.

   I was hungry to see something and Prince Rama barely appeared on my dim and saddened radar. This one gig has to make up for it.. Right now as I tear through Trust Now,  it enshrines and corrupts the memory of the actual show. Most of what played was from World. The songs on Trust are longer like 6 minutes many of them and they still hold attention. I got in front, right near the drummer, Nimai Larson I believe.  A medium tight crowd formed behind me, attentive and not casual. It felt like people that have seen them before. Well...that belief is instinct and baked into my experience of seeing a band. I usually think that anyway. But I've been to shows where the audience seems thin or indifferent even to the headliners, but not this time. They seemed to know who they came to see. I kinda didn't. I knew I would like what I came to see....that's it.
  Unguarded, open joy Nimai seemed to have in performing. Her drums felt immediate..... joyous and with conviction. I understand she trained in African and Indian styles. Nimai stands because she likes to dance. I got this one show to extract many impressions from the memory. Across from her is sister Taraka Larson on keyboard, main vocal and occasionally guitar. I'd like to say that her clothes betrayed a fondness for 80's aerobics, as does the second track of World. The look is completely delivered with her beautiful...80's hair....hmm, that could be just be how she naturally has it. There was a bass player between them.  Visually is the two sisters. They came in support of Top Ten Hits Of The End Of The World, most of the live material I saw. Wow, I made it this long without calling them.....psychedelic. There is no way around it. But you also have the club worthiness of Telepathe to push you through the fog. The drums that....are like say, Changelings or This Ascension, goth club friendly right there.  When I hear that word "psychedelic" part of what defines that for me is a willingness to drift away from you into a mist, almost allowing attention spans to wander and check calls on cell phones. Dance floor weirdness from Blades to We Will Fall In Love Again.  I haven't liked them like that front to back since Warpaint. Right now I'm cramming in both CD's. They are bricks falling on top of me. Each song eventually will leave it's individual imprint. Trust suspends you in the fog of chant until the middle then the electronic gears kick. But I can't be asked to pick a favorite either. Live they did not stay distant and mysterious. Taraka Larson had the audience carry her front to back. Both would carry on enthusiastically sharing the space with their audience. The last song they did right there on the floor. Perhaps I will have more to say about Prince Rama as the dense layers reveal. At this moment I am too in the middle of appreciating it's initial impact.
Zig