Grand Progressive Music Accommodations: Thank You Scientist’s Prolific and Grand Headlining Performance
June 10th, 2022
Feeling the dazzling, energetic energy, and a packed Glasshouse venue this Friday night, Thank You Scientist received a warm welcome back as now headliners, supporting Devin Townsend in this building 5 years ago. “Gigglebutton” from their latest, and harder-hitting music than previous, EP, Plague Accommodations, opened the floodgates of Thank You Scientist’s magnifying talents, and imaginative musical traits. For the casual fan getting into Progressive Rock/Metal, it can be a little bombarding, especially with roughly 8 instruments on-stage, being used almost simultaneously, but once you can sing to their flowering melodies, and follow the dynamic moving parts, the music translates easier over time.
Hearing the radiant, colourful intro to “FXMLDR”, had this delighted crowd dancing, literally, as the wonderful work from the trumpet and saxophone, courtesy of Joe Gullace and Alex Blade Silver, matched the flowing, ascending riffing from Tom Monda, the ‘conductor’, if you will. I wasn’t quite sure, now familiar with the band’s work, how one guitar would work with their live setup, and the number of songs performed. However, there wasn’t any empty space during the softer passages, or raging choruses either, feeling Big Band in the 1940s vein, a damn good time for this writer. The equal balance of everybody performing, in terms of volume, was powerful, not too distorted, and could be heard at each area of the Glasshouse. In fact, a few in the front barricade were delightfully yelling at Joe and Alex, to turn UP their volume! Just from the sheer enjoyment of their abilities, engaging with the crowd, and overall importance, and uniqueness, they give to Thank You Scientist, the excellent work from this duo was certainly one of the brightest spots of their set.
You would think with the number of musical volleys and sanitating guitar from Monda, that the vocals would either have the same level of fury, yet the delicate, passionate, outstanding range of voice from Sal Marrano, acted as a superb chemical reaction to how swift, and interchanging the music is. From their 2016 classic Stranger Heads Prevail, “Mr. Invisible” represent the personal aspects of Sal’s lyrical writings, and sung to an almost funky beat from Cody McCorry, creating a throwback to early 80s pop/soul catchiness and uplifting harmonies. Clean vocals can range from self-taught, not comfortable but willing, choir teachings/lessons, and many more in the more Extreme side of music. I haven’t quite heard such an influence to the 70s era of Soul and R&B, into a style of Progressive music like this, and Sal’s unbelievable range of soft-sounding clear diction, to bellows of inspiring octave notes, would have had prime Michael Jackson blush. Not to mention humourous between songs, joining the crowd while the rest of the group preforming the instrumental interlude and solo in “Terraformer”, Sal Marrano embraces the front man role quite well.
The advantage Thank You Scientist has over many bands, I feel, is the range of their songwriting. Having Ben Karas, the electric violinist, either lead several counterpoints, or open a section for Tom’s mastery fretboard skills, is an example of each type of sound, speed, and knowing what works best. I was told there’s other projects/bands that some of the bandmates play together in, and you can see how well the music flows. “Plague Accommodations” had some of Tom’s more aggressive picking, showing some of the more ‘vibrant’ side of Thank You Scientist. Personally speaking, the EP, though only 4 songs long, is a proper introduction to the group for Metal fans, dipping their toes in the Progressive music with various jazz elements, colourful water. The amount of festive fun and joy with the band, to the crowd, and for the crowd themselves, from tapping your toes, to many in the center dancing to the music, capped off their set with a grand rendition of Britney Spears medley. Performed excellently, yet not taking it too seriously, was quite the surprise and laughing matter to enjoy.
Bummed about the Glasshouse’s seemingly strict 11 PM curfew, as I’m sure another song would have been played. Nevertheless, Thank You Scientist’s headlining set was beautifully chaotic, filled with wonderous singing, and musically varied. Progressive music, is better for it.
1. Gigglebutton
2. FXMLDR
3. Soul Diver
4. Plague Accommodations
5. Mr. Invisible
6. Rube Goldberg Variations
7. Carnival
8. Terraformer
9. Britney Spears ‘Classic medley’
