Siberian Front sends chills with their debut performance

Feb. 27, 2014, 11:57 p.m.
Courtesy of Rahim Ullah.
Courtesy of Rahim Ullah.

In Siberia, it gets cold. Real cold. I bore this in mind as I made sure to slip on my trusty pair of corduroys before heading over to Siberian Front’s first live performance at Sigma Chi Saturday night. By the end of the show I wished I had worn shorts, and not just because of all the spilled beer.

The indie group, composed of five Stanford undergraduates, seamlessly transplanted the energy they had harvested in their practice sessions, instantly heating up the room. From the opening chords, it was obvious that this band was meant to perform.

Not only did they feature a flashy freshman front man and a gifted guitarist, but Siberian Front also came with strong supporting players on bass, drums and rhythm guitar. Each instrument featured a very different personality, creating an enticing chemistry within the band itself as well as for the audience. Their sound reflected this harmonious blend of characters. Lovably ostentatious, the band clearly felt free to rid themselves of all inhibitions as well as pretenses. They were their own unit, blending personal experience with common musical interest all in the name of a good time.

“I feel like, for us, the primary thing that’s been driving a lot of this is having fun, having a good time,” said drummer Shamik Mascharak ’15. “We’re not trying to change society with our music, but what I really hope we can do is transmit that same positivity and happiness that we get from our music to people.”

Anyone in attendance would have to agree that they accomplished that goal. By the end of the first song, an original called “Seattle”, all underlying tension in the room had melted away amidst the driving riffs and passionate vocals.

After playing two more originals, the group performed a cover of “Champagne Supernova” by Oasis, with the crowd offering backup vocals during the chorus. Between this and their next original song, “Bottles and Cans” (strikingly appropriate for the given venue), the show reached its climax. Chants of “Gio’s house, Gio’s house, Gio’s house,” filled the room, culminating in a melodramatic ripping off of lead guitarist Gio Jacuzzi’s ’16 shirt.

An extended drum solo provided an intermission between “Bottles and Cans” and the final song of the night, “Freedom”— or at least what was supposed to be the last song of the night. Following calls for an encore, the whole room bounced back and forth from one foot to the other, keeping in rhythm with the heavy bass of the Strokes.

“We’re in it for people to listen to it and have fun with it,” commented bassist Damian McGlothlin ’15.

As I slipped out the door I could see they had succeeded. It was smiles all around, and the tone had been set for a good night ahead.

 

Contact Ryan Hoaglund at rhoaglun “at” stanford.edu.

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