Live review: Public Assembly
January 4, 2009
Article and Photo by: Lisette Johnson

Rating: 9/11

An impressive Sunday night crowd gathered in the back room of Public Assembly for Holler, Wild Rose’s debut at the venue since it changed hands. By the end of their first song, “She Sure Pony,” their signature energy had captivated the crowd and transformed the industrial black box into what felt like Holler’s living room, allowing for the intimacy of their music to touch each listener on a unique and personal level. Though six band members on a small stage can often perpetuate a distance between crowd and performers, lead singer John Mosloskie’s folksy introduction bridged the gap and invited listeners into the private world of Holler, where psychedelic rhythms meet a murky shoegaze rock without surrendering the captivating magic of unfettered musical talent.

The many layers of sound, produced by dreamy keys, four guitars, funky bass and dance-able drums, has often been called a “wall,” and this performance was no exception. They’re the kind of band that begins with a dedicated legion of fans who make the trek from all over the tri-state, and leave their shows with new dedication from listeners who stumbled upon the show. Their act has matured since the release of their debut album, Our Little Hymnal (available on iTunes), and as they move forward with their much anticipated EP, their show inevitably featured a good mix of old favorites (even newcomers couldn’t help but clap along with “Captive Train”) and new digs (there wasn’t a person who could resist swaying to the massive build of “Indian Summer,” featuring a cello bow drawn across the strings of Ryan Cheresnick’s guitar). Their oldest new song, “Peace Lily” had the crowd getting down, or at least nodding heads, with its groovy rock and roll roots that grew into the smooth fruits of Mosloskie’s seductive tone.

The band premiered its first video to song “Marylawn Hair” (also available on iTunes ) at the Smackmellon Gallery last December, and has continued to use projections to accompany their performance. Far from a distraction, the projections helped suck the crowd into the inescapable sway of their music. There’s little banter between songs, making the performance feel like a live version of the album, enabling easy transition between the concert and personal headphones. It’s perhaps this flexibility that led Filter Magazine to dub Holler their undiscovered artist of the month last March, and what keeps fans coming back. Be sure to check them out at their next NYC show, January 31 at Fontana’s (105 Eldridge St., Manhattan).