“What are you all doing here?” a startled Jason Singh told a near-capacity Wednesday night crowd, as he walked out on to the stage. It was Singh’s first unveiling with his band of his long awaited solo album Humannequin. It’s his first since the Taxiride days. It took three years to make with producer Charles Fisher, and it shows. The songs were radio-friendly melodically strong with soaring choruses, including the opening Deal With It; Speakers – about a girl who’d dance to bands with her head on the speakers to feel their vibrations; Eye For Me; and the poignant I Can Dream about the death of his father. Midway through the set, he admitted, “If I got my eyes closed, it’s because I’m in my own world up here. After all this time, I can’t believe I’m playing these songs onstage.”
After Taxiride’s split (officially: extended hiatus), Singh found himself by returning to his original inspirations Prince and Michael Jackson, and wrapped himself up in the modern atmospherics of Bjork and French electronic acts. So within the guitar-pop attack, the music touched on the funky (Good Times, during which he hopped around the stage like a charge is going through his body), the dream-like (Save You) and the fists-in-the-air stomper Hold On Forever which received an extra loud cheer as it was used in the ad for Channel 7’s Million Dollar Minute.
There was precious little of the harmonies that were Taxiride’s trademark. A handful of those hit songs were brought out. Get Set got a darker, more psychedelia treatment, while Stronger saw guitarist Brett Wood pull out some gritty wah-wah. As Singh strapped on a guitar for Afterglow he declared, “My proudest moment with Taxiride.” Creeping Up Slowly, the best selling single in 2002, was kept for the encore, after which he yelled, “We’re going to own this city next year!”
BY CHRISTIE ELIEZER
Loved: A huge turnout for a mid-week gig.
Hated: Packed out smoker’s balcony.
Drank: Cascade beer.