I went to Nicolas’ Cage on Friday to support the local scene and see some bands I hadn’t really heard of before. One band in particular stood out to me. 10,000 Blades is a trio (now officially) from New Haven, CT. They describe themselves as, “A confusing jumble of swaggering cockiness, crippling self-doubt and downright ambivalence delivered over big riffs and little sparkly parts and some medium stuff in between. Baritone vox, three people, word-centric, party time.” So, I knew I was in for something new. Something about them really intrigued me and from the moment they picked up their instruments and began playing, I was sucked in.
The charismatic frontman, Jon Stone, has a phenomenal voice. Sometimes it sounds a bit like Brandon Flowers, which is wonderful. It’s smooth and clean and unique, and blew me away. I found myself so intently focused on his singing that I wasn’t giving the flawless musicianship the attention it deserved. The simplicity of just having bass, guitar, and drums is way underrated because bands like 10k Blades can make it so much more complex than most could.
“I Disagree With Randy Newman” is my favorite song of theirs. The guitars are fast and sharp, the drumming is staccato and it compliments the lull of Jon’s voice, complimenting just how soft it is. Seeing is live was awesome- it turned into a dance party, and the lyrics, “The farther I get from Los Angeles, the happier I’ll get, the closer I get to Connecticut, the happier I’l get, the happier I’ll get” really stuck with me. Their musical talent gave me chills, clearly very experienced and they gave it their all, playing their homecoming show with passion and excitement.
“(The Cult Of The) Red Berries” was another song that stood out to me. A slower ballad, it filled the room and though more laid-back and calm, still was captivating and beautiful. It really showed their versatility, and how they aren’t always quick and fast and loud. It was a nice dynamic, and made me appreciate them even more.
I was so glad I got to see these guys, and I’m so proud to say that they’re a local band.
Check ’em out here.