POSTED: Thursday, February 17, 2011, 6:00 PM
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Make no mistake: Tritone is a rock bar. The venue at 15th and South had Zeppelin blasting on the jukebox when I entered. The walls are red, the bathroom was covered with graffiti and black-and-white bumper stickers for angry unknown bands, and the stage was littered with guitar amps as a man assembled a drum kit. This might sound like criticism, but it's not: it's just to point out that this is a venue quite different from those I've covered up to now. This one caters mainly to full bands, not singer-songwriters. That said, performances varied widely, from keyboards to harps to horns.
The night was scheduled to begin at 8 p.m., but open-mikers be warned: it didn't get going until about 9:30. Still, the bands on stage Tuesday put on a rollicking good show — I haven't seen so many extended guitar solos in quite a while, and it reminded me of why jam bands are so much fun. The band that hosted the night, called the PBR Band ( it stands for Philadelphia Brothers Reunion, not the beer), sounded like a cross between the Grateful Dead and the Allman Brothers — two bands they later covered. The guitarist played deft, modal solos reminiscent of Jerry Garcia's, but the overall sound was more stripped-down and punchy than either band. The keyboardist easily transitioned to bass as the night went on. These guys were technically proficient, and had plenty of energy — worth dropping by on a Tuesday night to see.
As for the other performers: we each got 15-minute, 3-song slots. I was impressed by David Bowden, a solo Irish harpist who confidently took the stage wedged between louder acts. His Celtic tunes were followed by Gray Fox, another standout act — and not just because their drummer busted the bass drum head. They were a two-piece band, just guitar and drums, but there was no need for a bass: the guitarist filled the room with his metal-inflected blues riffs even while we waited for the drum kit to be repaired. The electric guitar, with its thin sound, has never struck me as a good solo instrument; you rarely see singer-songwriters come onstage with one. But Gray Fox pulled it off: it was Delta blues on speed.
While we listened, we ate fried pickles and drank what's been called the "citywide special": PBR and a shot of whiskey for three bucks. No beers on tap, but a good selection of bottles and cans.
Tritone is an upbeat, rocker's night—bands should check this one out, while singer-songwriters might prefer just to listen.
The nitty-gritty for performers: Tuesdays, Tritone, 1508 South St. Scheduled for 8, but don't show up until 9. Three songs apiece, but it's flexible.
For a comprehensive list of other open-mic nights in the city, check our event listings database.
