It was 8:30 p.m. when Mason Proper took the stage to an audience of about 10 at the Black Cat Monday night. In the typical fashion of an opening band, lead singer Jonathan Visger - clad in a simple T-shirt and Buddy Holly-esque glasses - leaned timidly into the microphone and quietly announced the name of his band before launching shyly into their first song, "Fog."
Not only the opener of their set, "Fog" is also the first track off of Mason Proper's latest album "Olly Oxen Free." The track listing served as the band's set for the night. Known for a dark sound rich with minor chords and muted drum beats, Mason Proper consists of Visger, keyboardist Matt Thompson, bassist Zac Fineberg, guitarist Brian Konicek and drummer Garrett Jones. Although the band's performance was apt - Visger's vocals ranged from whispers to near shouting while the rest of the band supported him cleanly and precisely - the beginning of the performance lacked personality. The five members gave something of a nervous, stoic appearance on the stage, Visger hiding behind the mic, moving only to grasp his purple and green skull-shaped maracas.
A turning point occurred during the fourth song of the set, "Only A Moment." Opening with low piano chords and dissonant guitars, the song seemed to have a different attitude than the preceding pieces. The band displayed a quiet confidence as the song built up to the chorus. The band's energy rose when Jones hit a series of downbeats and every member of the band bobbed their heads in sync, launching into the interlude between verses, during which Visger dropped to his knees for what may have been the most intense tambourine solo the Black Cat's stage has ever seen. Upon raising himself up again, the lead singer, clutching the mic stand in one hand and snapping with the other, seemed to display the swaggering confidence of an old-school glam singer.
From this point on the band's new energy translated to the audience, whose prior participation was limited to polite clapping at the end of each song. Now they found themselves cheering and clapping, as those seated at the bar and on the couches rose to join those in front of the stage.
The band's performance displayed an impressive diversity. "In the Mirror" featured somber guitar picking from Konicek while Visger whispered his vocals with his hands behind his back and his eyes pointed down. Faster-paced tracks had the band struggling to control their energy, as Visger beat his hips with his fists and Konicek was absorbed in his own groove, concentrating on his numerous distortion pedals; "Downpour" put a focus on Fineberg, whose syncopated bassline drove the piece, along with an unusual drum pattern from Jones. "Shiny" featured a punk rock drum opening that seemed to energize Visger, who, in between jumping and kicking around, dragged the mic stand around stage, shouting his lyrics enthusiastically.
In performing their set with such gusto, Mason Proper put a new spin on their latest album. Though the tracks still retained their dark, haunting qualities, the band's energy and vibrancy brought loudness and excitement that one may not have expected from the timid band that first took the stage.
You can reach this writer at thescene@theeagleonline.com.
