Show Case: Film School & The Depreciation Guild at The Mercury Lounge
On Friday night (10/1), shoegaze specialists Film School played to a mostly packed house at The Mercury Lounge. Providing opening support for the indie veterans was Brooklyn based dream-pop quartet, The Depreciation Guild.
The Depreciation Guild bassist/keyboardist Raphael Radna at his Kontrol 49 / Nintendo rig.
Incorporating a variety of pedal boards, Nintendo-synth effects, and an accompanying laptop for support, The Depreciation Guild played an overpowering set largely from their spring 2010 release, Spirit Youth.
With bassist Raphael Radna pulling double duty on his Korg Kontrol 49, the band fused their attacking instrumental builds with supplemental sounds from their backing laptop and Nintendo gaming system, wired to the Korg for added effects.
The various manipulations resulted in the live set producing a grittier, less refined sound compared to the dreamier content heard on their album.
On tour for their late summer release, Fission, San Francisco natives Film School expertly sprinkled in new tracks with some classics from the rest of their catalog.
The group’s psychedelic instrumentals translated well from the record, especially notable on tracks “Time To Listen” and “Sunny Day,” which featured a strong female vocal presence from bassist Lorelei Plotcyzk, reminiscent of early Belle & Sebastian. After collectively downing shots of tequila and toasting the crowd, the band continued on with their frenetic pace, matching the audience’s energy. As the night progressed, frontman Greg Bertens, in particular, seemed to pick up steam as the instrumental interludes lengthened and the laptop effects became more distinguishable.
FIlm School frontman Greg Bertens
Through a combination of heavy guitar contamination and a discernible keyboard presence, the group displayed why they are still at the forefront of any shoegaze/psychedelic indie genre discussion.
Film School’s Fission was mixed and mastered by the now LA-based, former co-owner of Headgear Recording in Brooklyn, Dan Long (The Jealous Girlfriends, Ferraby Lionheart) and produced by singer and songwriter Greg Bertens. It’s out on San Diego-based Hi-Speed Soul Records.
The Depreciation Guild is on Brooklyn-based Kanine Records. Check out their record Spirit Youth, recorded with Telefon Tel Aviv’s Joshua Eustis in Chicago, HERE.
— Alex Edelstein