Olympus Mons at 93 Feet East

Olympus Mons at 93 Feet East

25 September, 2008
by: Evolmike

Support act Guardians Of The Ancient Wisdom are interesting. It makes you wonder: Why do you not see many rappers with guitars? Is it because the coordination is difficult? Apparently not – they manage it competently. It's more to do with the mis en scene, if you will. To engage with an audience, one needs to fill the available space by engaging in movement. GOTAW make it impossible for themselves. As rappers they are bound by their instruments. As instrumentalists they are bound by their microphones. Good on them for trying to bridge this logistical gap, but it reminds you of the fact that there is a gap in the first place.

This brings me neatly onto the subject of Olympus Mons. They have an exceptionally full sound for a three-piece, and have no problems filling the stage with their antics. Aaron McIntosh, sporting his largest, fluffiest hair, at first shows a reluctance to engage in banter but soon warms up to reveal a calm, reserved tenor than belies the involved, insistent push of both his lyrics and vocal flair. Bassist Norbert Roth seems even more adorably timid. Both periodically swigging from their complimentary Carlings (always good to see such rock and roll in the face of professionalism and vice versa) they have a stage presence that relies on the scattered licks of their songs rather than associated personality, and they convey it with ease and vim.

Samey as their sound eventually gets, they continue to surprise, with a dropped beat here and there, or a blistering arpeggio even more fast and jiggly than the last. If you couldn't see the stage, you would swear there were at least five people up there, aligning each chippy riff together with maximum care and attention. Despite their growing, devoted fan base they are adorned tonight by a largely unresponsive crowd (physically at least) which was a shame. This is music to skank to and no mistake. Sounds that make you want to spin on the spot while headbanging and maybe throwing in a pogo or two if ballistically possible. Songs that make you shake the malaise from your face and never fail to coax a smile.

All the elements are there, but there's one thing that always bugs me – the subject of insular progression. Olympus Mons are very much 'of their time'. That is, you can recognize all kinds of modern bands in them (my first reaction, as much as I'm reluctant to use the 'cross-between’ analogy, was to notice their resemblance to Arctic Monkeys and Bloc Party) and although they possess multiple similarities, they remain equally stretched between them. Whether this is a happy coincidence of the result of direct influence is irrelevant. Modern music seems to be evolving this way – looking further into the box rather than outside it. Is this a good thing? Discuss.

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Evolmike