Originally posted at Radio Free Silver Lake on January 12, 2010:
Friday, January 8, was the clincher. I was really looking forward to returning to The Viper Room for the first time in about a year, and to see two of my local favorites The Happy Hollows and Gangi. After getting a ticket for this show, Matt Gangi (seen above) contacted me to let me know his drummer, Lyle Nesse, had moved back east and he was performing with a new line up. I didn’t know what to expect and, frankly, couldn’t imagine what the music would be like now. As usual, Gangi began with the familiar sound sample that announces “Gangi” “Gangi” ..”and now, Gangi”, but once the music kicked in, I noticed an immediate difference. Accompanied by Eric Chramosta on drums and Oliver Hild on Moog and bass, the sound is still like a wall of vibration, fed by sound samples and effects, but there was a real focus on Matt’s vocals, which sounded richer and more varied than I’d ever heard before. They opened with a completely new song which showed off this new musical direction and proceeded with new arrangements for “Waiting On the Line”, “Animals” and “Subject Positions” from the CD, A. “Gun Show” has been given a makeover that made for the best version of that song I’ve heard and they played even more new material that blew my mind. I don’t know if Gangi ever sounded more beautiful. I brought someone who had never heard the band before and she was as overwhelmed as I was, so I was able to believe what I was hearing.