Peter Matthew Bauer Finds Freedom at Holy Mountain: Live Review

Photo by Carlos J. Matos

Saturday night, former Walkmen bassist, Peter Matthew Bauer, came to the Holy Mountain with a troupe of psychedelic supporters. The band was an excellent model of strong backing talent. Dirty guitars and a duo of lady backing singers rounded out the stellar songwriting of PMB.  The band was cohesive, united in performance, becoming isolated from the listeners as we watched in reverent understanding. Strong songs are affecting.  There’s little that can come between a listener and a good song. They burn true.

Skyler Skjelset opened the evening. Playing only a white Fender Duosonic and commanding an array of pedals and aural enhancers/multipliers/finaglers/manipulators/and transmogrifiers, Skjelset created large-scale waves of noise, cascading and interacting with the modes of the room.  Epitomizing the shoegazing genre, Skjelset took it a step further with instrumental drones of slightly tonal pieces. He has been touring with PMB.

Photo by Carlos J. Matos

Next was Little Lo, an Austin act who has crafted a score of serious indie rock.  Two guitars, a Wurlitzer, Moog, bass, drums and a handful of singers gives the band a grand presentation, going hand in hand with the large-scale production of the songs themselves. Each song holds weight and is considered a treasure for lead singer Ryan James McGill.

Photo by Carlos J. Matos

Peter Matthew Bauer followed and proceeded to enchant the mostly filled Holy Mountain room, most likely peppered with first timers; this is PMB’s first solo album after his seven album stint with the Walkmen where he proved his musical prowess.  The album is titled Liberation!, signaling his readiness to jump into the lead position, to carry the singer-songwriter badge, to prove to himself that his potential can be actualized.

Photo by Carlos J. Matos

Familiar faces appear on the album, including Walkmen drummer Matt Barrick.  After a few listens from available online content to inform my live experience, I can say PMB injects an acoustic exoticism into these songs, clearly separating himself from the Walkmen class, though not out of the entire Walkmen school of thought.  Driving rhythms and noisy flourishes will call earlier material to mind, but it’s PMB’s Costello/Petty inflected lead vocals that give the tunes a been-there-done-that-now-I’m-gonna-show-you-the-truth kind of attitude.  Liberation is unshackling.  Chains have been removed and wings are spread.  Fly on, Mr. Bauer.

Check out a gallery of photos from the night below. All images &copy Carlos J. Matos & Pop Press International; all rights reserved. Click any image to open in slideshow viewer.