Clavicle: a Sad Band To Have Fun To (By Aidan)

On Monday, July 29th, 2019, local band Clavicle opened for out-of-towners Downhaul at the Drunken Unicorn. I went specifically to see Clavicle.

Clavicle is an indie rock back whose inflections of shoegaze and math rock flesh out this band’s dreamy, melancholic sound. Their debut EP, Ghost Living, captures an early version of this sound that the band has since nearly perfected. They never fail at delivering performances you can feel, conveying a feeling that makes you want to dance and float away at the same time. And with audio clips from Scott Pilgrim vs the World and Twin Peaks slid in between songs, their live shows are not only an emotional experience but an atmospheric one too.

During this show, I found just how energetic and loud they’ve gotten. They jump about and throw themselves around the stage so much, I couldn’t get a still shot of them! Guitarist Wyatt Fritz’s use of compression amplifies his soloing, and his use of heavy reverb has added a heavier shoegaze quality to the band’s sound. They played a new song, to which I forgot the name of, showcasing Bena’s keyboard skills. And when she sang the line "I'm sick of writing sad songs," I believed it. The band/crowd shout-along during the song “Pale Ghost Feet” was fun, and they ended with my favorite song, “I Want To Believe.” I do believe in this band, and I wish them luck and hope they go far.
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Clavicle's performances and mixture of influences give this band a powerful and unique sound. I highly recommend listening to their music and seeing them live. I’ve seen them three fucking times in one year, and I will see them again, goddammit!

Clavicle is Brianna “Bena” Koser (vocals/keys/synth/glockenspiel), Wyatt Fritz (guitar/vocals), Campbell Jordan (drums/backing vocals), and Ian Joshua Riley (bass/backing vocals). You can check out Ghost Living at clavicle.bandcamp.com. Also, make sure to check out Ian’s other bands, Harm and Tenth Row, and Wyatt and Bena’s side project, Pillow Talk. And finally, support your local scene!!

​P.S.: Check out the cool photos I took of the band below ;)

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