REVIEW: Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra at One Eyed Jacks 2/14/12

Me: “So it starts as it begins.”
Efrim: “It usually does.”

Speaking to Efrim in front of One Eyed Jacks after the show, I got a good sense he was pretty keen on the venue, in part due to the crowd. He stated on stage in one of his Q and A segments between songs that he’d rather be playing here than a corporate giant like HoB or Hard Rock. This pretty well sums up the mentality of the band and its relationship to its fans. Not here to dazzle you, just play straight up powerful music.

Efrim has never been a fan of the term Post-Rock when describing his music, which I can see to a point. But the musical structures of his songs tend to take you on an epic roller coaster ride, harkening almost unavoidable similarities with the standard formula of a well thought out Post-Rock tune. Nevertheless, the thing that sets his band apart from the Post-Rock monocle is lyrics and violins.

Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra @ One Eyed Jacks - 2/14/12 || Photo by Joshua Brasted

A Silver Mt Zion graced the stage of One Eyed Jacks on Valentine’s Day, supposedly the foremost of love celebrations (according to Hallmark). The music was in no part a reflection of said holiday. In fact it is quite the opposite. They played 7 songs and to an outsider that may seem like a rather shot set, but in all actuality when each song averages around 12 minutes, you end up getting a lot for your buck.

Efron and company were touring in support of their release The West Will Rise Again (2 × Vinyl 7″, 45 RPM, Limited Edition, Numbered /1000), playing each track on the record. In between songs Efron took questions from the audience and was all too happy to field each one, even if dodging some of the questions. “What’s up with the Godspeed reunion?” Efron, “Who is the Godspeed you talk about?” or “I don’t know?” are his general responses to that question. While talking with him after the show he told me that obviously that is the one question he gets asked the most and he really enjoys dodging the answer. I believe he want the two bands to exist separately, because he has more creative control over the outcome of Zion as appose to just being a part a giant collaboration like Godspeed.

To drive home the point that Zion’s music isn’t exactly a flowery export or product of something like Valentine’s Day, the band arrived back on-stage and played what could easily be one of the most depressing Zion songs ever, “Horses in the Sky,” a fitting end to an amazing set.

Setlist:
13 Blues for Thirteen Moons
There Is a Light
What We Loved Was Not Enough
Black Waters Blowed / Engine Broke Blues
Take Away These Early Grave Blues
Psalms99
Blind, Blind, Blind

ENCORE
Horses in the Sky

More photos from Joshua Brasted