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March 21, 2009
Spokane, Wash., trio Cyrus Fell Down stumbled its way into Cafe Coda Saturday night.
Opening solo act Fera was treated to an audience of four people when his set began. A couple sat and enjoyed their dinner on one side of the room, while two friends were on the other side watching him play.
This didn't get Fera down as he scratched rapidly on his guitar strings and wailed into the microphone.
"I think I chased some people out," he jokingly said, in regards to the small audience.
The audience marginally grew as his set continued.
"Are you feeling depressed?" he asked. "That's what I'm here for."
Fera closed his act with an original song that paid tribute to the television cartoon "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe."
While there weren't many people, those who attended enjoyed it, including Butte College sophomore Hannah Williford.
"His voice was mellow, but his music was energetic," she said. "His songs flowed together in a good way."
More people gathered into the restaurant as Stockton instrumental band Brassai followed.
Guitarist Leo Martinez kicked things off by knocking on his strings, which led into the rest of the band joining and smashing away on their instruments.
Lead guitarist Josei Hodges picked up a violin bow to create an eerie distortion during several of the band's songs.
Drummer Rick Combs was sweating profoundly while his drumsticks could be seen splitting down the middle. They were able to hold together, even if he was slamming hard on the drums.
Cyrus Fell Down was missing their lead singer David Plell due to illness.
His replacement was Mike Dane, a friend of the band.
Dane played one drum and a cymbal that was split in one section.
He was also in charge of the yellow and green lights for their set.
Whenever a pause came up, he would kill the lights, turn them back on when the song resumed and return to clobbering his drum.
The band played an instrumental set, instead of having one of the members take over as lead singer.
Bassist Aaron Anderberg slapped his bass, swaying his body back and forth, while his tongue touched his nose.
Drummer Cory Phipps had his base drum painted black with a red swirl. Several of his cymbals had missing pieces or were cracked, but that didn't bother him.
"Nobody be afraid to bring us beer," Phipps said after a song as sweat covering his face.
Despite Plell's absence, Cyrus Fell Down attracted the most amount of people, one being senior Cara Fox-Galassi.
"It was a very good show," she said. "The bass player was the best part."
Chico resident Devin McLaughlin wishes for Plell to recover soon.
"It's better with him, but they still did really good," he said.
David Wangberg can be reached at dwangberg@theorion.com
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