Review: Friend Roulette @ The Gutter (10/18)
With two drummers, a violin and an electronic didgeridoo (I believe the technical term for that is “electronic wind instrument”), Friend Roulette is hardly your typical four-piece garage band setup. With all six members of the ensemble making extravagant executions on their ragtag collection of instruments, the overall effect is “jam band with a Deerhoof influence” – a discordant panoply that, for the most part, manages to keep it together. At times weird for weird’s sake, but often unexpected and cerebral, they were certainly among the more adventurous acts showcased at CMJ. With a little more restraint, Friend Roulette could be poised to carve out a large and loyal following within New York’s experimental music scene.
