The first time I heard this Bellingham band they were standing, actually performing, in front of me! A few months ago I happened to be at the Crocodile to see a friend’s band. But when I saw a walking pair of glasses and sideburns, a.k.a. lead singer Mark Heimer, and neck-tie donning Andrea Heimer set up their gear on the floor rather than the Croc’s “spacious” stage, I knew I needed to stay and watch. From their opening song, their high-energy, chant-along ditties kept me gawking in one place; that is until the lead singer grabbed the scruff of my neck and was singing to me, forehead to forehead.

With mic in hand, Heimer channeled the spirit of front men like Les Savy Fav’s Tim Harrington, the Make up’s Ian Svenonius and even Andre 3000 from Outkast. On anthems like, “You Say Dumb, I Sing Dum” and “We Used to Look Good” it was impossible not to sing, yell, or nod along.

The Varitable Rainbow of Song is a great representation of what you’d see at a No-Fi Soul Rebellion show. Almost every song is an amalgamation of 80’s punk intensity, danceable hip-hop beats, and catchy, Beck-like rhymes. On the refrain of the Modest Mouse-y “Too Mean,” Heimer sings, “It is painfully clear we are nuthin’/ Without a scab to pick on/ Without a rock to kick on.” It’s something I could see myself lip-syncing into a comb while looking at a mirror.

This band’s live act is unforgettable and The Varitable Rainbow of Song is an album that seamlessly crosses over from indie punk to hip-hop and soul. The songs jump from punch-in-the-face intensity to smooth soul, sometimes all at once. It’s a definite must-have for anyone who’s been waiting for a fist-in-the-air, yell-along album. – (9/10) (0) Comments