by Noah Armstrong
Daily Lobo
Local music echoed off the walls of the Lobo Theater Saturday night when Jason Daniello, Evading Alastor and Boss Ordinance joined forces to give the crowd a taste of Albuquerque.
Daniello, who performed without his band, warmed up with his rendition of "Hell's Bells" behind the closed theater door. Balthrop made last-minute revisions to Evading Alastor's set list.
The noise from the crowd continued as Daniello entered the theater and stepped in front of a stage littered with guitars, microphones, speaker equipment, a drum set and water bottles. When the veteran Albuquerque performer took the stage wearing a short-sleeved plaid shirt and a faded pair of jeans, the audience erupted in applause. As he began to play, silence engulfed the entire theater, save one guitar.
Daniello immediately proved he knows his way around a guitar. He also displayed his vocal range and, further into the performance, his poetic ability in lyricism as well.
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His Dave Matthews-esque style of acoustic guitar-driven rock encompassed both the lighter and darker sides of love, loss and longing. In a song about running to New Orleans with a girlfriend, he used specifics when he needed to and left out just enough to keep the listener waiting for the end of the story. Daniello kept his songs moving, the reason his performance stands out among the poetic, acoustic-driven genre of the rock world he has worked so diligently to be a part of.
Boss Ordinance also performed. The band was fun, yet serious when necessary, with a pop-rock sound described by vocalist and guitarist Matt Jones as "comfortably in the vein of Matchbox 20 and John Mayer."
The band started with a solo guitar riff that was soon joined by the bass drum and vocals on the song "Think Twice." Jones scats in some of the tunes, and in combination with his falsetto choruses and playful conversation with the audience, made a performance that touched on many senses. Jones proved he can sing well, and also has a sense of humor.
Then it was time for Evading Alastor to take the stage. As a guitar began to play "Off Guard," a big yellow street sign appeared on the screen above the stage. The bands songs are catchy but not too predictable, with obvious influences from Stewart Copeland, of the Police, in the drumming and U2 influences in the guitars.
Just from hearing the music, it is hard to believe Evading Alastor has only been together since January. The band has a very professional sound that is apparent on songs like "Close Another Door" and "Suburbia." On stage Evading Alastor gives the impression the performers are having fun, which in return makes the show fun for the audience.
