The Eyedrum in Atlanta recently hosted one of the most appropriate evenings for its name, mixing the senses of sight and sound with a mixture of performers who don't always fit neatly into a niche. "What may at first seem dissonant or at odds is actually quite harmonious...hence, PseudoDiscord," says Nadia Lelutia of the Moon and Pluto productions, who promoted the event along with Performer. The show started with Damon Moon and had an intriguing ukelele performance by Naomi Lavender between the two headlining acts, Before the Solstice and Stokeswood.

Before the Solstice may be a small band with only a bassist, guitarist and drummer, but the intensity and thoughtfulness which showed on singer Clint Bussey's face as he played kept the audience intrigued. Songs like "Petty John" and "No One Escapes the Sun" allowed all to get lost in the blank stare and trance-like state of Bussey as he sang about themes of drinking away misery, abuse, neglect, regret and the repentance that Before the Solstice made musically as it bled catharsis on its listeners.

Naomi Lavender was introduced by Bussey and she shyly took the stage wearing a lovely black dress with an almost Russian-looking fur collar. She plugged in her electric-acoustic Oscar Schmidt ukelele and announced her recent return from Hawaii as the reason for this transcendent performance. Her voice truly sailed high above her nerves as she soothed the angst and discontent left by Before the Solstice.

Stokeswood, an Atlanta favorite, closed the evening and warmed the cool air pouring in through the door. The nine members took the stage, half without shoes, feeling the floor as they played. Singer Adam Patterson reminded the audience that dancing warms the blood and before the third song of the set finished, the entire front row filled with dancing fans twirling and bouncing to the beats. To call Stokeswood a techno band or a hippie band would have some truth, while still not fully explaining the sound that includes percussion player Craig Gendreau on djembe, maracas and digital steel drums, a set drummer and a Korg M-50 resounding with dance beats. Truly a fun show that warmed all who attended.

www.myspace.com/beforethesolstice
www.myspace.com/naomilavendermusic
www.myspace.com/stokeswood




Photographer: Ellen Eldridge (Before the Solstice)