Whoa…I mean seriously, what can you expect from a band with a gas tank bassist? Yes that is correct, the dude made a stand up bass out of an old long gas tank and proceeded to blow away the roof at The Viper Room. The band, Split Lip Rayfield went a long way in making many new fans during this nights electrifying performance.
Split Lip is a trio from Kansas with three of the baddest musicians I have ever seen. Their strings, like their energy seemed to be bouncing and leaving long filled sound bubbles of purely joyous music emanating through the Viper Room with every note. And as the band played, it seemed as if they got stronger and more intense with every song, as evident by the gas tank bassist needing to re-tape his hands. At one point, the band was playing so intensely in such a beautiful synergy of guitar, banjo and gas tank bass, I actually thought the instruments would burst apart from being worked too hard. Hell Yeah!
When I was a kid and tried getting into shows on the Sunset Strip, I could never have imagined seeing a band like Split Lip. Their music, the perfect blending of bluegrass, country-billish folk is just thunderous. With every note the band plays, it seems like they enjoy themselves that much more. Split Lip’s music is good enough for every dam occasion, no matter your mood because it will uplift, kick you in the pants, and be sure to make you stomp your feet. They are currently on tour so give yourself an early holiday present and go see them. You will not regret it! Their upcoming shows:
Dec 3, 2009, The Rickshaw Stop, San Francisco, CA
Dec 4, 2009, Harlow’s, Sacramento, CA
Dec 5, 2009, The Crystal Bay Club/Crown Room, Kings Beach, CA
Dec 6, 2009, John Henry”s, Eugene, OR
Dec 8, 2009, Ash St. Saloon, Portland, OR
Dec 9, 2009, Tractor Tavern, Seattle, WA
Dec 11, 2009, Neurolux, Boise, ID
Dec 12, 2009, Club Vegas, Salt Lake City, UT
Dec 26, 2009, The Cotillion, Wichita, KS
Dec 31, 2009, The Bottleneck, Lawrence, KS
Tags: Split Lip Rayfield
