Buffalo Rising Online

Jun 1st 2007, 11:24am By WJWright

This Sunday, Chicago-based Califone bring their experimental-trance-blues-folk music to Mohawk and there is no place on earth I would rather be than front row.

This is a band whose style is so different from anything else out there, their sound can only be described with ridiculous polar opposite combinations. Like Brian Eno coving Ruddy Guthrie, or AIR playing a Pete Seeger tune. Seriously, I think it's folk music from the future.

The thing about Califone is, they combine these two seemingly contrasting styles almost effortlessly. As if these two musical styles were long lost brothers, waiting for just this type of band to emerge so that they could finally be reunited. Never have acoustic guitar-driven folk music and electronic synthesizer riffs sounded so perfect together. Why, they go better together than peas and carrots.

But maybe this is just the natural progression for folk music to take. After all, first came folk-rock in the 60s(Bob Dylan, The Byrds, Donovan) then came punk-folk in the 80‘s (Phranc, The Knitters) -- it's only natural that folk music would wonder into the realm of ambient techno.

Like most folk music, the vocals are quiet and comforting. Front man Tim Rutili might actually have the softest voice ever, located somewhere between a whisper and what your mom would call your ‘inside voice’. And despite the loud reverb effects and echoes from the ambient techno-folk, Rutili’s voice always comes in crystal clear and never seems forced.

In the long hall, Califone isn’t all just techno-folk stoner music. It's a lot of other things too. Their newest album, Roots and Crowns, has a touch of everything in it. From the tribal beat, foot stomping, didgeridoo sounding “Pink & Sour” to the laid back, grunge rock anthem “Black Metal Valentine”. Techno-folk might be the anchor of their sound, but it doesn’t weigh them down from exploring other ideas.

If you have any interest in seeing something new/catchy/pleasing to the ear; or if Umphrey's McGee just didn’t do the trick for your music fix this weekend, go to Mohawk on Sunday and listen carefully.

Califone is the loudest quiet band out there and shouldn't be missed.

Sunday, June 3, Door at 8 PM $10 Mohawk Place 47 East Mohawk 14203, 716.855.3931