Tranquility Bass Takes Off Running

Six months ago, the buzzword in the music biz was electronica. With bands like Prodigy and The Chemical Brothers, industry execs thought the sound that has swept through Europe would also clean up on this side of the Atlantic. Something they forgot, however, was that the kids in the States were raised on bands like| Aerosmith, Nirvana and other such guitar-laden rock. But now things are starting to change. Thursday night's debut performance by Tranquility Bass at Chicago's Double Door showed that America may have found an answer to Europe's question -- would techno ever catch on over here?

Mike Kandel, a.k.a. Tranquility Bass, spent the last two years holed up in Washington State's San Juan Islands putting together what can be deemed a trip-hop dance album. But during the show Kandel brought his musical roots to life. Backed by a nine-piece band, including guitar, bass, keyboards, percussion and a DJ, Kandel, sporting a thick, full beard and looking like a hippie, spent close to two hours whipping the crowded bar into a frenzy playing bass-driven techno jams.

The show was supported by a full light and video display, which was all put together by Kandel himself, according to Dan Cohen, Tranquility Bass' spokesman at Caroline. Projected on the backdrop of an upside-down patchwork American flag, it describes Kandel's theme of life -- "Let The Freak Flag Fly" -- which is also the title of his Caroline Records debut. At different points during the show, Tranquility Bass pulled out a cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Freebird" as well as Janis Joplin's "Piece Of My Heart," showing the world that even though his music is described as trip hop, it is doused in funk, psychedelia, blues, folk and rock.

Tranquility Bass makes a jaunt to Europe to headline a small club tour during late October and early November, but before that they may join up with David Byrne to open his shows throughout the month of October. Also, there's a good chance that the band may open some of the shows on the upcoming Chemical Brothers' tour that JAMTV reported about on Friday. Further, New Yorkers will get a chance to catch the Bass sometime in early November when they headline a "Timothy Leary celebration of LSD acid festival" with Monster Magnet at the Knitting Factory.

Look for Tranquility Bass' Let The Freak Flag Fly in record stores all over the U.S., England and very soon in France. (AB)
(photo courtesy of Caroline Records)