By Leslie Clements
It sometimes seems as though the local bands in Louisville leave a lot to be desired. Just check out about twenty seconds of undergroundlou.com, and this becomes painfully apparent. While I do support the concept of independent Internet radio stations, the all-too-familiar sounds of Korn-wannabe nu metal crunch guitar emanates from the site no matter the time of day. However, it would be unfair to judge the entire music scene in our town based solely upon these not-so-hardcore acts. Louisville has produced a few very talented indie bands that are worth some attention. Christiansen, who just released a new EP on Revelation Records entitled Forensics Brothers and Sisters!, is one of these bands. Formed in 1998, the quartet, which presently includes Brandon Bondehagen on guitar and vocals, Brad Magers on bass, Robby Scott on guitar, and Terry Campbell on drums, has since recorded a demo, an LP, and two EPs. Don’t be fooled by the name: Christiansen is not a Christian band. They have been compared by some critics to such acts as Fugazi, Thursday, At the Drive-In, and another of Louisville’s own, Elliot. Christiansen is not your average whiney emo band. Their sound progresses from beautiful melodies to intensely grinding punk. The drums produce ever-clever fills, while the guitars and bass blend their own distinct musical points to make one unbelievable sound. The vocals beckon you with their pop-catchiness without being too clichŽ.
I had the pleasure of seeing the band perform live at Aslans How Art Gallery on September 27. At what was the tiniest venue in which I’ve ever seen a show, Christiansen entertained the packed crowd with incredible energy, terrific sound, and awesome lighting. The drummer’s left foot, wearing only a sock, constantly pounded the rhythm on the floor during breaks from his high-hat, while the bassist and both guitars slung their instruments around like toys. The set was a little short, but surprisingly, they treated us to some of their old songs as well as new. The older music came from their first release from Eulogy Records, Emphasizing Function Over Design. Critics’ reviews from this spectacular record can be viewed at Christiansen’s website, www.christiansenonline.com.
Christiansen will be touring on the East Coast and in the Mid-West through the next two months; a list of dates is posted on their website.
