Wussy, June 14 @ Main Street Music

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Wussy, June 14 @ Main Street Music

POSTED: Monday, June 15, 2009, 5:47 PM

Filed Under: Music Show

photos by Mike Pelusi

Gleeful pogoers vs. tomato pie.

Do not disrespect the in-store. Sure, it may not be the same as a sweaty club filled to capacity with gleeful pogoers. But free beer, chips, pretzels and tomato pie at 3 p.m. sounds pretty swell too, doesn't it?

Gratis snacks and brew were just the icing, though. The real reason to show up in Manayunk on this bright Sunday afternoon was Cincinnati quartet Wussy. This was their only Philly appearance in support of their third album, self-titled and, wouldn't you know, their finest work yet.

Despite amassing a remarkably assured discography, Wussy have remained on the fringes of indie-rock, the places that Coachella and Pitchfork generally bypass. I think it's because they specialize in what I call 'small rock.' Their music feels provincial, all about people and places that you can tell are important to them. They emphasize their inherent musical chemistry, rather than buff up the sound with ear-bending production. And while they may not be revolutionaries, their music hits a sweet spot that more overtly ambitious acts rarely reach.

All this was clearly apparent at Main Street Music on Sunday. The lead duo of Lisa Walker and Chuck Cleaver (former main man for the Ass Ponys) dominated with their tough guitars and pleading vocals. And they made for compelling, contrasting frontpersons: She, lithe, red-haired and tattooed; he, burly, grey-beaded and also tattooed. Meanwhile, bassist Mark Messerly and drummer Joe Klug kept things moving without stealing the spotlight. Still, you couldn't help but recognize Klug's enthusiastic beat-pushing and Messerly's ingeniously melodic bass lines.

Their brief set emphasized the Walker-led songs from the new album, including 'Muscle Cars' and 'Maglite.' Cleaver sang 'Death by Misadventure.' Like all their best songs, these are catchy, driving and haunting all at once.

And because it's an in-store, there are moments of genial intimacy you don't get at most other shows. My girlfriend served as de facto band photographer when Messerly handed his digital camera to her early in the set. And they closed with my song request, the title track from their debut, 2006's Funeral Dress. This is perhaps their quintessential song, where queasy dread and something like joy come together, united by the riff from 'Teenage Kicks.' 'Counting every second you're alive/Knowing it'll never come again.'

Jesse D

Posted 2009-06-16 09:59:19

This show was awesome! And it was a perfect day for a bike ride to Manayunk. Thanks for the tip, Pelusi.

Posted by mike pelusi @ 5:47 PM Permalink | Post a comment

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Featuring everything from event roundups to concert reviews and sex talk, City Paper's Critical Mass is a space for off-the-wall coverage of Philly's A&E scene.

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