KOLARS @ DC9 - 4/21/2019
KOLARS at DC9 (Photo by Mauricio Castro / @themauricio)
Rob Kolar and Lauren Brown, as it turns out, have rock and roll swagger for days. The husband-and-wife duo (formerly of the band He’s My Brother She’s My Sister) combine the foot-stomping glam rock of T. Rex and KISS with the rockabilly/blues guitar riffs of Chuck Berry and The Black Keys...and add a tap-dancing drummer. Yes, while Kolar tore it up on the guitar and gave his best Elvis twisting leg impression, Brown stood atop a kick drum with tap dance shoes and mallet drumsticks in hand. Yes, it’s hard to talk about KOLARS without discussing Brown’s drumming/tap dancing hybrid style, but it’s not a gimmick more than it is a unique tool in their two-person arsenal. They’ve honed in on a rousingly fun sound paired with a full-on charm offensive that makes them stand out from the pack.
KOLARS’ latest release is the single “Touch the Lightning” through their label KOLARecords.
Opening for KOLARS were Austin-based group Calliope Musicals, whose show can best be described as a kaleidoscopic interplanetary fever dream...in a very excellent way. Fans of the theatrical of Montreal will find a lot to love here, especially in the costumes, lighting, and the massive vocals of lead singer/guitarist Carrie Fussell. There aren’t many bands that revel in on-stage chaos as comfortably as Calliope Musicals, which makes their live show a can’t-miss item. Their latest release is the single “That’s Why We Dance” on Rhyme & Reason Records, and their next album Color/Sweat will release on June 14.
