Written and photos by Craig McGreggor
Following up eccentric collective like Fragile Rock on an odd November night is a challenge. Calliope Musicals brand of infectiously fun music and psych/trance like visuals was an easily counterpart. It’s hard to brand these group as anything other than just great. Not quite electronic, obviously indie, a little bit of psych, a little bit of folk, rocking out all over the stage, they are a go to local act for a show you won’t forget, nor want to end. Carrie Fussell leads the group vocally through swirling and entrancing dances moves, and a voice that echoes through the venue and soul. Support from the band is a beautiful chaos of reckless abandon with stage jumps, slides, a small choreographed dance moves. Finally, it isn’t a Calliope Musicals show without tons of random, happy shit like giant smiley faces on sticks, positive messages, a “space alien with an iPad mouth around its neck,” and whatever the heck a Jerry Bomb is. The set ended with ab explosive, dance cover of Nena’s “99 Luftballons” complete with….99 red balloons being thrown into the crowd and a massive dance party on stage.
