[Review] Tobacco @ Glasslands Gallery 6/2/2010

Tobacco performed in front of a packed crowd at Glasslands Gallery the Tuesday night before last to celebrate his recent release Maniac Meat. With a little assistance from Maux Boyle of The Seven Fields of Aphelion, the two threw down some heavy beats that kept the crowd dancing till the very end. The stage at Glasslands was an excellent setting to enjoy some funky 8-bit bleeps and bloops, complete with what appeared to be big puffy clouds made of garbage bags on the back wall curving up above their heads. 

I was impressed with just how much Tobacco was able to manipulate the instruments he had in front of him. I've seen plenty of people rock omnichords and other various tools of the electronic trade, but never have I seen someone so easily manipulate sounds that it almost made me feel like a failure for not being able to pick up the craft so carelessly myself. I was a little disappointed that I couldn't make out what he was projecting into the clouds above him to accompany the music, but I was honestly so wrapped up watching him and Maux do what they do best that I didn't mind. 

You would be a fool to not catch Tobacco when he tours this fall. Seriously. Or for not picking up Maniac Meat. It's seriously such an addictive record it should almost be illegal. 

Check out my photos from the night here.

Tour dates and bottle rating after the jump!

Bottle rating:

4 out of 5 

Thursday,  Sept. 9 - Washingon, DC @ DC9 w/ Junk Culture, Dreamend

Friday, Sept. 10 -  Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church w/ Junk Culture, Dreamend

Saturday, Sept. 11 -  Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar w/ Junk Culture, Dreamend

Thursday,  Sept. 16 - Northampton, MA @ Iron Horse w/ Junk Culture, Dreamend

Friday, Sept. 17 - South, VT @ Higher Ground w/ Junk Culture, Dreamend

Saturday,  Sept. 18 - Boston, MA @ Middle East w/ Junk Culture, Dreamend

Thursday, Sept. 23 - Toledo, OH @ Mickey Finn's w/ Junk Culture, Dreamend

Friday, Sept. 24 -  Ann Arbor, MI @ Blind Pig w/ Junk Culture, Dreamend

Saturday, Sept. 25 - Kalamazoo, MI @ The Strutt w/ Junk Culture, Dreamend

Wednesday, Sept. 29 - Greensboro, NC @ Artisika on UNCG Campus w/ Dreamend

Thursday, Sept. 30 -  Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506 w/ Dreamend

Friday, Oct. 1 - Knoxville, TN @ Square Room w/ Dreamend

Saturday,  Oct. 2 - Morgantown, WV @ 123 Pleasant Street w/ Dreamend