Take the Cure after shock treatment and the Pixies with a minor electro-fetish, add a spoonful of sugar and a dash of salt and you have the Prids.
On a two-month tour, the Prids stopped at the Launchpad on Saturday night during the band's westward return to Portland.
Drummer Lee Zeman broke the bar's chatter with a simple and steady snare-driven beat, and the crowd quickly joined in the rhythm with pulsing movements and tilted heads. Bassist Mistina Keith played like a girl possessed, picking her bassline with punk-rock energy and jazz precision. She produced a sound that lived somewhere between melancholy and rage.
Eric Hold made his contribution on keyboards with a subtle, haunting melody. David Frederickson started in with an erratic guitar riff, finalizing the Prid sound that can only be described as unique among the rigid genres of punk, new wave and indie rock - all of which the band transcends.
The vocals of Frederickson and Keith complement each other well, a marriage of compromise where only one voice is dominant at any given time. The synth melodies sneak in between the penetrating basslines and driving guitar to provide an ambience that pushes the Prids toward a new wave sound, while keeping the punk-indie-pop influence at the forefront.
As with many bands, the strength of the performance lies in the band members' energy, which seemed to run out toward the end of their set. They managed to keep it together for an encore though, and the crowd ate it up.
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One can only imagine how much bigger they might become with longer sets and tours. In the meantime, their records will have to suffice. Like other musicians with faithful followings, it's only logical that their influence and fan base will grow.
Let's just hope their repertoire and releases will too, or it's likely the Prids will be remembered as a band with talent and distinction, but no legs.
Grade: B+
