Deja Voodoo came to Weare, New Hampshire last night and played their special blend of 90s rock, power trio style. There is nothing like three tight players pumping out an endless salvo of driving music. This Manchester-based trio kept their sound compact, accessible, and chunky. Even when they slowed things down a bit, you could still feel their electrical charge. Their performance marked the final evening of farewell celebrations for owner MaryEllen Robinson-Montplaisir who is relocating to Maine to complete her dream of living in her childhood hometown.
Deja Voodoo remained super tight even as they swung around the twisty grooves of “Harder To Breathe.” Next up, “Breathe In, Breathe Out” found guitarist David Thorndike slapping out feisty guitar chords as the trio’s rhythm section pounded the song home. Lead vocalist Eric Gagne had a hefty timbre that lent itself well to this hard rock material.
The trio built up Tom Petty’s “American Girl” with their rangy guitar work, strident groove, and Gagne’s ability as lead vocalist to belt with muscular authority. The three performed Three Doors Down’s “Kryponite” as the solid modern hard rock song it is, with Gagne applying his smooth, silvery timbre to the song’s curious lyrics. Gagne’s bass runs put much of the motion into the song as subtle touches from Thorndike complimented things well.
The trio played Free’s “All Right Now” with solid authority to keep people interested in this song that just about every cover band plays. Bursts of lead guitar and knobby bass runs kept it above average, much above average.
Pearl Jam’s “Jeremy” was another fine choice for this trio to cover. They carried the song through its twists and turns, bringing that solid tuft of sound with them. Suddenly, things took a turn towards the funky when the trio hopped into Sublime’s “Santeria.” They made one feel the groove, the easeful guitar riffs, and the sweet delivery of the poetic lyrics. The trio also went into ”The Middle” by Jimmy Eat World with a compact groove, ,compressed guitar, and playful vocal approach.
The trio handled Collective Soul’s “Shinedown” with marked edginess in the guitar, thumpy groove, and Gagne’s ability to widen his timbre briskly for the chorus. Drummer Tony LasCola, who also plays in New Hampshire originals band Carolina Burn, punctuated every number last night with a knowledgeable skin smacking authority. Just when you thought he might have used up all of his adept moves, he’d come up with another one. LasCola shifted the trio easily into The Goo Goo Dolls’ “Slide.” His big Ludwig drums never got a rest. The front skin of his big bass drum vibrated so much last night, I thought it was going to disappear, disintegrate into thin air.
Talk about a band that can freshen up a bar band cliché song with their own personal style. “Sex On Fire” was one of guitarist Thorndike’s highlights. He made his guitar scream out the notes. The music was on fire as well as the sex. The trio managed “My Own Worst Enemy” by Lit with its jumpy groove and chirpy guitar chords making the most of the youthful anthem.
“She Fucking Hates Me” was a hoot that went over big with the farewell crowd that packed the room. Robinson-Montplaisir must have been proud of all the fun her patrons were having at the bar-restaurant-music venue she created out of a local bar just two and a half years ago. Gagne, before launching into another song, stated that Boondocks “is the coolest bar on this side of the Mississippi, and that’s a huge area.”
The trio, again, got everybody into Finger Eleven’s “Paralyzer” with fiery guitar picking in what is probably the most aggressive come on song ever recorded. “Crazy Bitch,” too, was a crowd pleaser. The trio got particularly rangy in their delivery of Billy Idol’s “Rebel Yell.” It didn’t feel like a rock song, It felt like an anthem. Gagne got to show off his belt. He howled out the chorus after barking out the punky lyrics like a madman. Thorndike gave off the sprawling guitar line that helped define this song back in the day.
The boys played their own version of “Word Up,” one that lured more chicks onto the dance floor. Something in the groove of that song has its ways with female hips and Deja Voodoo had the motion down pat. Thorndike’s icy cool guitar work added another touch of excitement to it all. Their hard rock version of Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground” was done in a style that Wonder himself probably didn’t imagine when he had written this tune back in the 1970s.
Needless to say, Big & Rich’s “Save A Horse, Ride A Cowboy” was another crowd pleaser that the trio got right, especially its sizzling hot lead guitar break. The time ran out and the boys closed it with some Velvet Revolver.
Deja Voodoo were a hard rocking band, the kind needed to close out the final weekend Robinson-Montplaisir had likely envisioned when she planned her farewell party for herself and her boyfriend J.J. Christman. While there was a celebratory vibe throughout the evening, and the best damn cake this side of the Mississippi and the Mason Dixon line, the evening was also mixed with a touch of sadness. Robinson-Monstplasisir is a lovable person who will surely be missed. She also brought a needed charge of high voltage to the local blues and rock scenes during her brief tenure running Boondocks Tavern & Country Grill.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Boondocks-Tavern-Country-Grill/103779173059056?fref=ts
[…] Deja Voodoo rock Boondocks Tavern, help say goodbye to … http://www.billcopelandmusicnews.com/Next up, “Breathe In, Breathe Out” found guitarist David Thorndike slapping out feisty guitar chords as the trio's rhythm section pounded the song home. Lead vocalist Eric Gagne had a hefty timbre that lent itself well to this hard rock material. The trio built up Tom … Suddenly, things took a turn towards the funky when the trio hopped into Sublime's “Santeria.” They made one feel the groove, the easeful guitar riffs, and the sweet delivery of the poetic lyrics. The trio also … […]