Review in VenusZine magazine:
This wasn’t supposed to be happening at a rock show. Onstage, a man was summoning beautiful, syrupy notes from his trumpet —a haunting and trippy yet reflective vibe straight from Miles Davis, Bitches Brew–era (Columbia), with massive concert hall reverb. The notes were played legato, long and slow, smooth and soaring, delicate and distant, minimalist and massively sexy.
With the glimmer of his trumpet, the bugle boy — a tall, slim looker — appeared even more dapper than he did before the show. His horn produced timeless magic with its inherent sophistication, worldly and regal like the earliest kinds found in King Tut’s grave.
More magic unfolded as a second trumpeter joined in later and harmonized gorgeously with a slightly dissonant line. No, this wasn’t supposed to be happening at an indie rock show. This was the crossroads where pop delectability and high art met up for coffee and became the best of friends, a combo as perfect as PB&J.
The band was As Tall As Lions, an indie rock outfit from Long Island so entirely marketable in the pop music industry with euphonious, Pink Floyd–derived vocal harmonies, that teenage boy band fans everywhere could swoon upon a first listen. At the same time, however, As Tall As Lions are also a pop band so technically gifted and faintly experimental enough to attract even the most severe and picky of music Nazis.
As Tall As Lions are an anomaly with Radiohead’s almost singular ability to craft both the catchiest radio hits as well as ambient, experimental material that might seem like it comes from another artist altogether. It is the definition of musical brilliance and genius — being innovative and different but not so different that you lose the ears of 99% of the population.
These are rock masters who can empower you with a sense of adventure and endless possibilities. At the Bowery Ballroom, singer Dan Nigro channeled Bono and Muse frontman Matt Bellamy at his most operatic; The Mars Volta’s Cedric Bixler-Zavala at his whiniest,; and Justin Timberlake in perfect falsetto while he belted out choruses and melodies that would require a hairdryer to unglue from your brain.
Bassist Julio Tavarez churned out powerful, distorted bass lines all night long—everything from disco octave–playing style to long, supple slides. Tavarez managed to do all of this while he also danced manically with a cocky smirk on his face, pursed lips, or a grimace. An aggressive groovemaster, his rhythms along with gifted drummer Cliff Sarcona drove songs forward with lightning-quick flourishes and dexterity underneath the heavenly quality of Nigro’s voice and guitarist Saen Fitzgerald’s spare, spacey, and delay-drenched arpeggios.
The adolescent audience moshed, danced, and hopped for several hours in delight as the band segued flawlessly from song to song in their heart-pumping set.
Watch out because this band means business, and seeing as how they left the crowd in this packed venue wanting more even after a generous encore, it looks like it’s going to be a very lucrative career.
By Angela Lu for VenusZine magazine---------------
Duncan is a 20 year old trumpeter/pianist/composer from England. He plays trumpet and keys in the New York band As Tall As Lions. Duncan has toured and played trumpet with bands RX Bandits, Dredg, Band Marino to name a few. And has toured extensively in the US, playing the venues: The Fillmore, Irving Plaza, El Rey, Bowery Ballroom, Williamsburg Hall Of Music, and many more. Duncan does session work in NYC, but is currently on tour with MuteMath. Contact: duncan@astallaslions.com
hey duncan? data doggies told me you were in and out of purchase, but i never got to see you yet. :/ i might need you for recording sometime soon! i will let you know when i find out about that.. hope all is well. :)
Duncan! you were so amazing the other day. You totally made "Pearl" sound so good!! Hope you'll have a wonderful summer.. and plz stick around and play with me next year too. :) <3 hee*
hey dude cheers for that kurt rosenwinkel link on facebook. hows it going with you? iv finally just started my new band man! only had a couple of rehearsals so far but all is good. Cya
Hey Duncan, Finally got a chance to listen to your new tracks...they really sound wonderful! Hope to see you again soon and keep up the great writing and playing.
Hey, thanks for the invitation- incredible music you have here, and talent...justification for reincarnation i think...you been here before!! Let me know if ever you'd like a fiddle player to grace a few of your notes! Peace to you from Boston -
By Angela Lu for VenusZine magazine---------------
Duncan is a 20 year old trumpeter/pianist/composer from England. He plays trumpet and keys in the New York band As Tall As Lions. Duncan has toured and played trumpet with bands RX Bandits, Dredg, Band Marino to name a few. And has toured extensively in the US, playing the venues: The Fillmore, Irving Plaza, El Rey, Bowery Ballroom, Williamsburg Hall Of Music, and many more. Duncan does session work in NYC, but is currently on tour with MuteMath. Contact: duncan@astallaslions.com
