When Jesus Palomino opened their set on a recent Wednesday night at
the Hard Rock Café, the band’s first song contained the two elements of
current, mainstream hard rock that I most disapprove of. First, the song was
slow and heavy. I’m of the belief that if you’re going to play hard you
should also play fast or at least have some extreme dynamics in the song. But
music that sounds like a Tyrannosaurus Rex stomping puts me to sleep every
time. Second, the lead singer employed the same affected, over-emotive vocals
that have been destroying mainstream rock for almost a decade now. But that’s
criticism of a genre, not a band. Besides, people who have grown up on that
vocal style without much exposure to older mainstream rock or non-mainstream
alternatives think that’s the way you’re supposed to sing.

That said, Jesus Palomino had a good command of their sound, even
though I disapprove of the sound, and displayed a more varied style than their
conventional hard-rock opener suggested. Despite my qualms, this four-piece
rock band has a lot going for it. Musically, the band was anchored by its two
newest members, lead guitarist Geoff Blair and a lanky, long-haired bassist
whose name I didn’t catch. The bassist contributed a dexterous, rumbling low
end to most songs that was quite effective, and Blair may be the most talented
guitarist I’ve encountered through this column, albeit in a techie, Guitar
World sort of way. Both of those players occasionally contributed vocals,
sometimes joining lead singer Chris Wilhite for a three-vocalist approach,
which made for a nice contrast. And the band’s overall sound was very
clean.

In addition to the standard commercial hard rock, the band played
a few Pink Floydish numbers (which may well have been Pink Floyd covers — I’m
not sure) and ended with a melodic song in a more standard mainstream rock
vein. Other than the change in styles, no individual songs really stood out,
which may have partly been the result of a sound mix at the Hard Rock that
made Wilhite’s vocals unintelligible.

The Hard Rock Café made good on its name on this “up-
and-comers night” sponsored by new local rock station 94.1 The Buzz
(which was giving away free tanning time as a promotional prize), but I must
say that it’s a really weird place to see live music. All the lights were on,
everyone was noshing on burgers, and the sound was way too loud for the
relatively tiny room, all of which made for an oddly disconcerting experience.
— Chris Herrington

The Memphis Flyer reviews local bands on demand. To schedule
your group’s Moment of Truth, call Chris Herrington at 575-9428 or e-mail him
at herrington@memphisflyer.com.