Lead by guitarist and vocalist Efrim Menuck, SMZ also features Jessica Moss and Sophie Trudeau on violins and vocals, Thierry Amar on bass (electric and double), and David Payant on drums. Their intense, mesmerizing sound, accented by the group’s vocal harmonies, is captivating. Their hour-and-a-half long set passed by much too quickly.
After a great opening performance by local duo Giraffes? Giraffes!, SMZ launched their set with “BlindBlindBlind” and “13 Blues for Thirteen Moons," both tracks from the 13 Blues album. Next up was "Horses in the Sky" (from the album of the same name) before returning to 13 Blues with “Engine Broke Blues.” Then they played “Take These Hands and Throw Them in the River” from Born Into Trouble as the Sparks Fly Upwards. They closed the set with a new song called “What We Loved Was Not Enough.” According to Efrim, tonight was the first time the band has performed “What We Loved” for an audience.
Curiously missing were songs from 2010’s Kollaps Tradixionales, the band’s most recent album.
Efrim kept the college-aged crowd entertained with his on-stage antics, coaxing them to call out questions. He shot out the answers:
What was the name of the song you just played?
"Whole Lotta Love". No actually, "Every Breath I Take."
What’s your favorite dinosaur?
The Stegosaurus.
What’s your favorite color?
Spring!
Diehard fans take note: if Efrim played D&D, he would be an elf. He also thinks you should read Zen & the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Catcher in the Rye, and The Electric Koolaid-Acid Test.
And finally...
When will Godspeed record another album?
I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about. Next question!
If you missed Thee Silver Mt. Zion folks this evening, you can catch them Wednesday, October 5, at the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford, CT. Tickets are $15 ($12 in advance) and are available here.
