Red Void - Red Void

Red Void

​Red Void
self-released; 2017

​3.5 out of 5

By Jamie Funk

Apparently the songs off the self-titled EP Red Void by Red Void were made up on the spot according to their Bandcamp page. It seems hard to believe as the band knows exactly when to make changes. That being said these songs are more or less jam sessions of the band in their rehearsals. They recorded the demo quality release on a computer and that sounds about right from the quality. It’s nowhere close to pro-studio quality but gives you an idea of what the band is capable of. 

The thing that has always perturbed me about jam sessions is that the players are the ones who seem to be having the most fun and you get a sense the jams are about them. Have you jammed before? It can be a blast. Unfortunately, this practice is usually boring as hell and gets old extremely fast for an audience. There are exceptions in fact just ask all those neo-hippies who dance at Phish and Widespread Panic shows. Luckily, Red Void fall into the same category as Phish and Widespread Panic.

Red Void is like a classic rock version of a jam band which I felt was an interesting twist. Instead of being influenced by the Grateful Dead they feel more influenced by T-Rex. The end result is the same however. Long guitar solos that never seem to end with instruments that almost never amount to more than the sum of their parts. Comets on Fire have been doing a version of this for years.

The songs on Red Void have very little emotional resonance to me. I don’t get a feeling of joy, melancholy or anything else. The imagery in my mind just goes to people playing the music. I don’t say that with a negative or positive connotation but it definitely felt true. Wasn’t it Jon Cage who wanted you to appreciate sounds for sounds and nothing else? I found myself appreciating the musicianship rather then the feeling. 

The five songs on this EP might as well have been one song. I listened to the songs multiple times and they seemed to be woven with the same thread with enough guitar solos to fill up the next year. There is no way you can tell me this music will translate better in recorded format than an album. This music is meant to be heard live. Don’t believe me, just ask any fan of “jam bands.”

Red Void is good arguably great at their instruments and can jam. They have obvious talent and chemistry as well.

​The next step is to get a better recording into the world. Although I think the way they will gain an audience is by playing live and loud to a person who just wants to hop onto a crunchy grove until they want to get another beer.

bandcamp

Become A Fan

Tweet