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Dark Meat: First Timer's Blog (PopFest, 40 Watt, 8/14/08)

Though I call Athens my home, both geographically and spiritually, I had yet to see local band Dark Meat.  I can’t count how many times I’ve walked past a venue in town that’s been advertising “Dark Meat,” often playing either before or after somebody I find to be really keen, but I’d never witnessed the show for myself.  All of this is changed now.  Watching Dark Meat set up, even if it does take over 30 minutes to do, is like watching the circus roll into town.  I couldn’t tell if they were all in the band, or if Kesey’s bus had broken down in front of the 40 Watt and the crazies had wandered on stage.  In fact, they were all in the band. 

I counted 20 musicians, which took me a few tries since no one seemed to enjoy standing still, but I’m almost positive that’s an accurate figure.  With dueling drummers, multiple musicians on guitar, bass, and violin, as well as a healthy horn section, various other stringed instruments, a chorus line shaking tambourines and somebody twisting the dial on a little box referred to as the Raga-Master, Dark Meat’s sound is similar to a mariachi-Mars Volta candy-flipping (that’s where you take acid and ecstasy together, or so I’ve been told) on Ike & Tina Turner’s riverboat rollin’ on the river.  Yeah, it didn’t make sense in person, either, but I think that’s what I like about Dark Meat; it’s juicy, flavorful, and everybody’s fighting for the drumstick.  I’ll even go so far as to call them my new favorite band in Athens.

Dark Meat photo by Waites Laseter.