“We like to leave our audiences melancholy but in a state of profound acceptance. Here we go. Here’s Horseshoe Crab” -Leah Wellbaum
Pulling into the unassuming dirt parking lot of the iconic Orpheum’s new Nebraska Avenue location, it would have been easy to underestimate the quality of music you were about to witness if you’d never heard of the band on the marquee. But anyone familiar with Slothrust’s dulcet, yet dynamic music, and their shockingly intricate-for-a-three-piece-band melodies, likely knows they put on a phenomenal live show.
Though they’ve been around since 2010, I have only recently succumbed to the genre-defying trio that is Leah Wellbaum (guitar/lead vocals), Will Gorin (drums), and Brooks Allison (bass). So, when I heard they were kicking off a week-long Florida tour in Tampa on December 1st, I was immediately on board for an hour-long trek to the university neighborhood to see them play.
Upon entering the lot, we were directed by a tattooed attendant to our parking spot near the back. We made our way toward the flat-roof building, with its classic Florida concrete block walls painted black to match the night sky. Once inside we were welcomed by a continuing commitment to the color scheme, accented modestly with neon beer signs, LED lights, and a brick wall hung with a prominent “In Lust We Trust” sign.
We exchanged customary greetings with the bouncer and made our way to the massive rectangular bar near the right of the entrance. The moderately-sized crowd gave no indication of the level of face-meltingly immaculate tunes awaiting us. After libating with the help of our friendly bartenders, we promptly found the merch booth and bought all the Slothgear™ we could get our little arboreal claws on, my bestie opting for an oversized graphic sweater and a print of a worried-looking dancing potato. The disco spud was one of several original illustrations by Leah available for purchase that night. Featured, was a used drum head adorned with a cartoon cat and signed by the band.
Wellbaum’s visual art is a bit like her musical style, deliberate yet slightly grungy, with captivating humor and glaring authenticity. I couldn’t choose which of her sad planets I liked best, so I opted for a vinyl of their 2014 LP Of Course You Do and a safety yellow T-shirt featuring a tropical frog.
The opening band, P.M. Tiger, played an upbeat alternative rock set, reminiscent of a Kirkland brand The Strokes. Though mostly unremarkable, they did their job of warming up the growing crowd, at one point sending an inflatable tiger surfing into the crowd. As the apex jungle predators broke down their set, we migrated outside to enjoy the courtyard and wait for the main event. Excitement gathered as we heard Leah’s voice mic check through the sound system. We moved to find a place near the stage, the moderate crowd having grown larger, but not filling the venue.
I took a moment to appreciate The Orpheum’s longstanding commitment to producing quality shows through three different location changes and prepared my ears (and soul) as the trio walked on stage to the Grease theme song. Will, Leah, and Brooks appeared to have a natural rapport, smiling and talking to each other as they took their spots on the intimately sized indoor stage. Each member displayed a unique, yet complementary style: Will (to my nerdy delight) in a Labyrinth T-shirt, Leah in a slick, black short-sleeved button-up with printed silver hearts, and Brooks in a camo shirt accented beautifully with a pearl necklace. Though the latter band member only joined the group about a year ago, his complicated bass lines and buoyant stage presence make him a perfect fit.
They ripped off the band-aid quickly, starting with the driving instrumental, Surf Goth, then transitioning beautifully into 7:30 AM. The band played over 15 songs in total, as Leah peppered the set with gratitude for their fans and a quirky sense of humor, making faces, robot dancing, and ending the night playing the final chord of Horseshoe Crab with her beautifully modified vintage Fender Jazzmaster balanced on top of her dyed-electric blue head.
The band chose a varied curation of their catalog and executed them perfectly. Among our group, Magnets, Pt.2, Cranium, Crockpot, and Horseshoe Crab were the favorites, though it was difficult to choose. Near the end of the set, Brooks and Will played a punk-rock Somewhere Over the Rainbow while Leah exited stage right, only to return mid-song armed, much to the delight of the crowd, with a bubble machine.
During the whole show, Leah seemed both acutely aware of the audience and at ease in their presence, allowing her talent and personality to shine. Throughout the hour-long set, there wasn’t a moment without the crowd, or the band, fully engaged. The informality and size of the venue paired with the energy and ability of the musicians easily lands this Slothrust show on my list of favorite concerts. If you have a chance, move much faster than a sloth’s pace to go see this phenomenal act.