I have seen Writer perform more times than I can count. Usually, I know what to expect: a predictable, but solid set. However, these three chillers really took me by surprise on Saturday night at The Casbah.

There was a notable veracity from an inside-out tee-shirted Andy Ralph that night that undoubtedly bled into his musical performance. It then transferred to his brother Jayme on the drums, and then guitarist David MacAdam. All of the songs felt more visceral, and more urgent, more honest than I have ever remembered hearing them before, and more polished. It seemed as if each member of Writer played with a certain raw individuality that night but were also able to maintain that delicate balance of playing as a cohesive, in tune, unit. Andy hunched over his guitar with unrestrained spirit, Jayme let down his hair literally and metaphorically, digging into the drums and smiling broadly at his brother, and David, long, lean, and knocked kneed, attacked his guitar with acumen and fervor, while his hair covered his face nearly the whole set (a typically good indicator of “into- it- ness”).

They played a new dreamy, slower and more melodic version of an old favorite “Four Letters” and really showcased their range and their punch with their newest song “Load Up.” “Start a War” seemed more smooth and velvety than ever with subtle but noted touches from David on guitar.

So, maybe it was Andy’s surliness at not having enough room on the guess list for his family that spurred this certain intensity, or maybe this energy and synergy is just what happens after you have been touring, as well as playing multiple shows a week and practicing longs hours after your day job.  I’m not really sure what it is that makes these boys tick, but whatever it is, it’s working. Long live Writer.

When Calico Horse front woman, Emily Neveu sings with her heavyset eyes and tight mouth, and the dusty fans from the Casbah blow stale air through her dark hair, it almost looks as if she is possessed. However, this is where her potency lies, and I realize this is one girl I’d probably tolerate haunting me. Her opening moans, that she sampled and looped 3 times with a few simple taps on a pedal from her black, high heeled clad foot, set the feel for the rest of the set: dark and layered, dissonant, but melodic.

Calico Horse’s sound can be somewhat repetitive but definitely holds merit and intent, similar to those inevitable conversations with Grandparents.  Talking with Gram can be somewhat heavy, a little monotonous and a bit uncomfortable at times, but ultimately satisfactory. After you sit with Calico Horse a while they really begin to grow on you and you can start picking up some nuance in Neveu’s fraught, throaty range which sometimes sounds like Fiona Apple or Jolie Holland with a little bit of My Brightest Diamond thrown in.

A definite highlight of the night was Calico’s rendition of The Rolling Stone’s Play With Fire, which ironically was less haunting than the original 1971 version and sounded more like a bouncy, synth infused, dare I say “dub” version that was truly appealing and intriguing. It’s little musical quirks and curiosities like this coupled with the all around eerie sounds of Calico Horse that will likely keep them on the horizon for quite some time and slinking around in the back of my haunted head.

Whenever I hear the four, sparse, driving, opening chords of Menomena’s “The Pelican”, my body trembles in anticipation. The simple strokes of the keyboard. The slow build up of sound and weight, the perfectly crafted yelp of Justin Harris annunciating the words “Take it, when I’m not looking”, everything intensifying and growing and expanding…“Don’t you feeeeeeeeeeeel it when I start reeling?” …gradually it grows more and more and then the rapid pounding of drums and the dazzling discordance of guitars erupt and it’s beautiful, controlled chaos and I’m swirling smack dab in the middle of Menomena.  And to think, all of this hits me when I’m merely listening to this siphoned through my MacBook speakers!

Imagine how much more alive all of this music is when you are hearing this and watching it live!  This is precisely my experience with Menomena on Saturday night..well almost…at least the second time around. Menomena was all set to open with “The Pelican” but only got about six notes and two words into it before a technical difficulty arose. One would think that this would be disappointing for everyone, but actually, there was nothing disappointing about it at all, and their reaction proved to be incredibly endearing. Menomena graciously embraced the blunder and while it was being remedied, Justin Harris cheerily handed out drink tickets to a welcoming audience. An adoring girl in the crowd even claimed that she “loved technical difficulties” whom Harris playfully imitated claiming it was “somehow mildly erotic.” This attitude just cemented my already abundant amount of respect for Menomena as musicians as well as people.

Anyhow, Menomena more than plowed through the brief technical difficulties, as well as through “The Pelican”, playing well after midnight to a packed and pleased house at The Casbah. Nothing would stop them. At one point during the set, drummer Danny Seim cut himself while tearing into the drums (this guy is absolutely rabid and incredible to watch) and when a requested band aid from someone in the crowd didn’t suffice, he just rubbed the blood from his all over his face, adding to the fierceness of the circumstances and the rawness of the set.

Menomena, like their music, are talented and innovative, unassuming yet incredibly impactful, uxepected and addictive, and a delightful mix of nerdiness and cool.

These are guys you just want to hang out with all day (And you could have! Earlier they competed in a foosball tournament at M-Theory Records in Mission Hills) and then you want to listen to them all night (At least I got that part covered).

In closing, I say to you, Menomena: Thank you for your incredible, sweaty, bloody and captivating set. Thank you for not being too cool, thereby making you completely cool. I anxiously await your return and all of your Muslce’n Flo and your not so difficult technical difficulties.