Episode #12- Consider The Source at 5 Points Music Sanctuary

Considering All Sources (Acoustically and Electrically)

It had been a few years since I had been to 5 Points Music Sanctuary in Roanoke, Virginia due to many reasons, all of them just not a good enough excuse. I arrived at 5 Points as the band Root Lock took the stage and their quiet yet refreshingly sound carries me up the stairs and into the renovated church venue. It’s felt marvelous to be back home at 5 Points and the warm inviting vibes it always gives me. It just so happened to be Root Lock's first show ever and I was pleasantly surprised with their sound and mix of covers. Just a drummer, hand drums, flute, and bass. You can check out their cover of the Jackson 5 on my VLOG below. I think this band is quite capable of playing festivals and would be a great addition to most lineups.

Consider The Source came out swinging and delivered immediately on their Acoustic-Electric Hybrid show. Starting with the electric part of the show, which always gets the blood pumping. CTS would play their newest album front-to-back but with some bonus songs. The acoustic songs were very medieval-sounding with ancient beginnings. Speaking to some forgotten past, when music came from the soul or the heart, rather than through the mind. The music seems to call to these ancient times and transmogrify with our own modern raw, mechanical culture. This juxtaposition between ancient and new is what defines this Acoustic-Electric Hybrid Tour. The instrumentation itself is almost percussive but still quite different than anything we usually hear here in the states. The ballads reminded me of a Zappa compositionally, perhaps, "Watermelon In Easter Hay" but obviously with a twist. I am always impressed with Gabe's ability to stay in tune using the fret-less guitar. That is not an easy instrument to play and he plays it almost as flawlessly as one can, given the difficulty. I am transfixed at Jon's bass banjo, slapping it down like a frantic but cool demeanor. Jeff Mann is one of my favorite drummers and his aesthetic is on point. I can always expect to hear something interesting coming from the kit each show.

I couldn’t get enough of CTS and went to The Bright Box in Winchester for a double helping! While they played basically the same set, there was a noticeable difference in venue energy. The Bright Box was more of a sit-down, dinner show, which was great. While 5 Points got pretty wild. I am glad I got to check out both these performances and share them with you. Please check out my companion VLog on youtube below and let me know what you think. String Cheese coming soon!