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Rising Stars [Issue
#10]
Slow Motion Reign w/ Maimou:
By
Mandana Beigi
(
)
Going to the Viper Room (especially on a Thursday night) always has its own surprises.
I have seen many good bands perform in the infamous black and green room on Sunset,
and I have seen many not-so-good bands wasting their 45 minutes of fame at the
Viper Room, too.
What I hadn’t seen for a long time was two amazing acts in a row and on a
weeknight, no less. Not knowing what to expect from Maimou (the Greek word for
“monkey,”) I was prepared for anything from a possible dated metal sound
to a lame poppy rock band. But instead, what I got was a fantastic performance
by an experimental Texan group with an outstanding female vocalist: a hybrid of
Bjork and Sarah Vaughan.
Maimou set the perfect mood for L.A.’s own Slow Motion Reign to go on and
add another fantastic show to their string of local gigs. Opening with the melodramatic
“Habits,” they moved on to take the audience on a roller coaster ride
of melodies and lyrics. From the subtle yet catchy “Life Simulator”
and the melodic “Shining Days” to the more up-listing “Dance of
Creation,” the band had something to play for everyone.
The first perceptible crowd reaction came with “Via Satellite,” as the
band nailed the high energy tune, which is as close to pure rock as they get.
On the softer side, “Get Out Of Here” will make you hum along even if
you are just hearing it for the very first time.
Overall, the band sounded tight and seemed very enthusiastic to play at the local
venue.
With Pogosyan and Babayan both on vocals and the occasional barter of the bass
and the keyboards between Pogosyan and Khachikian, Slow Motion Reign is definitely
not a one-man-show type of band and with this show they once again proved to be
a very promising act. This is a band that’s been around for only about three
years, has a huge local following, and already holds a record deal with a major
label.
Slow Motion Reign’s sound resembles, perhaps, the most desirable elements
of bands like Pink Floyd and the Beatles, but with an edgier twist that puts them
somewhere alongside Radiohead and Coldplay. They inject this incredible bittersweet
feeling that is half nostalgic and half futuristic. In a world where music is
becoming more and more about the appearance and polished digitalized recordings
and much less about the music itself, it is certainly refreshing to see a band
that can put on a live show with absolutely no musicianship shortcomings.
Slow Motion Reign’s first EP, produced by Serj Tankian of System of a Down
is due out on September 21st (Serjical Strike/Columbia).
Slow Motion
Reign is Narek Pogosyan (vocals/bass), Sam Babayan (vocals/guitar), Erwin Khachikian
(keyboards) and Vigen Sayadian (drums).
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