Wednesday 4th February 1998
Chocolate Genius
The Knitting Factory

Review thanks to Pete

Chocolate Genus is made up of 4 members. Many of them switching instruments throughout the nite. The sound of the band was very raw. Lots of 2 and three chord vamps with some interesting lyrics What they lacked in technical Proficiency they made up with in emotion.
The one exception of intrument switching was with the bass player, the one and only Melvin Gibbs. Gibbs played with Vernon Back in Decoding Society, Eye and I, and he currently plays with the Henry Rollins band. Gibbs was very laid back here, in comparison to a Rollins gig. just sitting back and looking very relaxed.

The Main lead guitar player, tettered on the edge solo wise, sounding intentionally, slighlty sharp many times and hinting at the songs key. He reminded me at times, of a cross between Neil Young and The Cure. Searching and reaching for the notes, rather than relying on any set scale patterns or
cliches'
The lead singer, switched between acoustic guitar and piano. Hitting us with lyrics that were at times picuresque . laying down this scene in one song, that was almost Tom Waitslike . Other times, he got political, and improvized some lyrics about A recent capital Puishment victim put to death in Texas.
The Band was very loose and kept inviting others up to play with them. At one point John Medeski and Bill Martin, Of Medeski MArtin and WOod, came on and added some spice to the flavor. Medeski's rumbling, whirling organ sounds added nice atmosphere and weaved its way into the bands grooves. On the last song, a young kid who swears his name was , Justin TIme, came up and played Bongos along with the band.
I really enjoyed the bands loosenss and willingness to take chances. Most imprtantly, they had fun.