The Heard

        
Tweet

Email

Print
Share

Friday, March 13, 2015

The Heard

This Little Underground: Murder by Death & O'Death (The Social)

Posted By Bao Le-Huu on Fri, Mar 13, 2015 at 3:04 PM

click to enlarge

Murder by Death at the Social - MICHAEL LOTHROP

Michael Lothrop
Murder by Death at the Social

The recent Murder by Death/O’Death bill (Mar. 11, The Social) was a double dose of death and not a metal band in sight. Life is weird like that sometimes.

In widening their palette, the rootsy rock of headliner Murder by Death has migrated afield from their signature Southern Gothic rumble and the mixed results in recent years have sometimes threatened to fade the distinction they’ve earned. The good news is that this uneven sonic searching seems to be confined to their recordings. Live, they still come with the full heft, fire and drama that built them.

click to enlarge

Michael Lothrop
O'Death at the Social

But perhaps more momentous was the return of New York’s O’Death. When I first saw - no, experienced - them at the original Will’s Pub back in 2006, their gypsy punk revival clutched me by the neck and put me in a spell. They were just emerging then but were already one of the most feral indie folk acts around. They got signed soon after and went on to release on notable indie labels like Ernest Jenning and Kemado.

Since that first splash, however, their punk nerve had gradually, sadly ebbed. But on their latest album – Out of Hands We Go on interesting and upward Brooklyn label Northern Spy Records – some of those wild, virile vines have crept their way back into the grave to awaken the skeletons. There’s not enough of their early bloodthirst, and quite possibly never could be for me, but O’Death has recaptured some of their original ability to cut to the bone. In fact, not all of it has to do with stomping the porch either. The atmosphere they’ve been chasing for a long time now is something they’re finally beginning to master with incision.

click to enlarge

Michael Lothrop
O'Death at the Social

Considering all this, and the fact that they haven’t played here in many years, O’Death was thankfully given major respect for an opener with a generous hour-long set. In it, they proved that, even with more discipline now, they can still shake the shack like few can. But the cumulative effect was more complete and resonant than that. This was a reclaiming of folk music.

click to enlarge

Michael Lothrop
O'Death at the Social

O’Death has nothing to do with the cherubic folk-pop that’s hot right now or even down-home country comfort. Their inspiration is the kind of deep, dark folk that’s steeped in dirt and mystery, the kind that rattles with the power of superstition. It’s a gnarled sound that’s ancient, remote and fringe. And, live, it casts a mighty hex. This crowd was theirs within 10 minutes. Welcome back, O’Death.

click to enlarge

Michael Lothrop
O'Death at the Social

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

This Little Underground is Orlando Weekly's music column providing perspective, live reviews and news on the city's music scene.

Follow Bao on Twitter (@baolehuu)
Email Bao: baolehuu@orlandoweekly.com

Tags: this little underground, orlando music news, orlando concerts, orlando shows, orlando music, bao le-huu, michael lothrop, o'death, northern spy records, murder by death, the social, Image

We welcome readers to submit letters regarding articles and content in Orlando Weekly. Letters should be a minimum of 150 words, refer to content that has appeared on Orlando Weekly, and must include the writer's full name, address, and phone number for verification purposes. No attachments will be considered. Writers of letters selected for publication will be notified via email. Letters may be edited and shortened for space.

Email us at feedback@orlandoweekly.com.

Orlando Weekly works for you, and your support is essential.

Our small but mighty local team works tirelessly to bring you high-quality, uncensored news and cultural coverage of Central Florida.

Unlike many newspapers, ours is free – and we'd like to keep it that way, because we believe, now more than ever, everyone deserves access to accurate, independent coverage of their community.

Whether it's a one-time acknowledgement of this article or an ongoing pledge, your support helps keep Orlando’s true free press free.