Rhinosaur is the new project from Mick Srivastava who was last seen as the singer/drummer of The Atomic Ravens: a space-rock outfit that is best described as “the best damn band you’ve never heard of.” For the first time, however, Srivastava is taking on guitar duties and singing from the front of the stage instead of his usual spot in the back. The trio is rounded out by ex-Cold Dead Hands members Robin Deyong (bass) and Rob Kisler (drums). While they’ve existed as a studio band for quite some time, I had a chance to check out their first live performance last Friday.
It was one of those early shows at The Mod Club where they have a couple bands perform before it transforms into nightclub mode around midnight. What ends up happening is half the people in the room are there to see the band while the other half are just waiting for the DJ.
Faced with a potentially hostile environment, Rhinosaur kept the breaks between songs loose and their music full of riffs and bangers. The set was highlighted by ragers like “The Dreth” and the dystopic “2174”. Also included was a cover of Queens of the Stone Age’s “How to Handle a Rope.” Between songs a sweaty Srivastava proclaimed “there are millions of songs out there. We are going to play you just one of them.” He intended it as deadpan humour, but it got me thinking about how much great music goes completely unnoticed and how the cream doesn’t always rise to the top. Good things come to those who are willing to dig.
Set list
- Constructor
- Bloodstoned
- Devilman
- The End
- The Dreth
- 2174
- How To Handle a Rope (Queens of the Stone Age)
- Dirty High