In a music world full of pathetic teen pop singers like Ryan Cabrera, we sometimes need to look to our elders to teach us a lesson about good rock n' roll.
As the Music is Art series continues at the Center for the Arts, middle-aged Buffalo area bands Nancyscandy and Anatara rocked to a different beat Tuesday night. This wasn't a typical concert of young rocker boys and scantily clad girls. It was more like something that would interest your parents.
Nancyscandy took the stage first with a mix of grungy punk and classic rock. Lead singer Mai Lien and songwriter-guitarist Dean Gionis front the guitar-based group, who resemble a band from Wayne's World. Amidst the ragged middle-aged guitarists was a powerful female lead singer who drew most of the attention.
The band had a hard time getting into their songs and played as if they were conducting a dress rehearsal. The audience was left waiting for the punch line, and it didn't help that the band looked bored the entire set.
Their hard-rocking attempts were softened by Mai Lien's voice, although at times its tone seemed more appropriate for a Broadway musical than a rock band.
Towards the end of their 45-minute set, the band finally started to warm up. Their most popular song "Indian Summer" was a crowd hit. This was their strongest and most confident song.
Nancyscandy hasn't truly made their mark yet on the live scene, and after a few botches in timing and sound issues, it was obvious that they needed a little more time to rehearse their act.
After a brief set change, a total 180-degree change took place.
Female-based contemporary rock group Anatara stormed the stage. It was like the Dixie Chicks met the Indigo Girls and Melissa Etheridge all at once. Thereafter, the stage was bursting with musical talent.
Bass guitarist Winnie Bergner and 12-string guitarist Donna Andreeff commanded the audience with their charged vocals and skilled guitar strumming. Special guest violinist Mary Ramsey from 10,000 Maniacs played the first three songs, putting the icing on the cake.
Anatara made the most out of the scene. Extended jams, strong rock songs and even the occasional ballad filled their set list. Their most noteworthy song was "A Little Love," which kicked off with spectacular drum intro. Organ and bass fleshed out the melodies and it was a truly spectacular moment.
Despite the sparsely packed stage, the show was enjoyable for the few in attendance. After each song, they thanked the audience and UB countless times.
It's nice to see some older talent come alive in a college atmosphere. Playing for a packed house, they received a very strong response from the audience. The soft lighting toned things down a bit but didn't stop them from playing hard.
Photo: Courtesy of Matthew Messina, from the RMBERS' Instagram page
