Material: Zealousy examines angst in a mature, empowered fashion a la Alanis Morissette. An interesting vocal approach is layered nicely over subtle heroin rock. "Wrong Man" and "Chemical Imbalance" are strong tunes illustrative of both the lyrical themes and the vocal prowess of Amarie Darvai, as well as the unobtrusive momentum of the band. "So I Am" is a fine self-affirmation while "Drop" with an intro akin to the Monkees "Daydream Believer", is a danceable indie-pop song reminiscent of a Blondie ditty, albeit a somewhat darker incarnation. Musicianship: Darvai has a bold, ambitious vocal style similar to that of Annie Lennox and Tori Amos. The band is subdued which is not to say without impact. Christopher Cody uses a smooth tone and solos for effect, not ego, adding to the music without compromising the vibe or distracting from the material. The spine of Babin's bass line is solid and (...) drumming is low-key but appropriate. Performance: Both the band and Darvai took time to warm up, but the energy increased song by song and by the second half of the performance the music possessed confidence and ambition. The crowd clearly enjoyed the act and some attendees were impressed with a band they didn't expect to like, which is always a good sign. Summary: Overall, Zealousy gave an excellent show. As a suggestion, they may want to consider introducing more instrumentation, percussion, strings, perhaps some creative woodwinds to add yet another layer and take some of the pressure off of Darvai who sometimes seems overworked. Suggestions aside, an indie label willing to take a chance would likely benefit from investing time, energy, and faith in this young act. With a little direction, Zealousy could produce big results for a small company with a future. - Joe James
The Players: Amarie Darvai / Vocals, Keyboards Christopher Cody / Guitar, Keyboards Chris Babin / Bass Bunny Brooks, Jr. / Drums
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