Local Progressive Sludge band Marriage have played in some form for nearly seven years. Led by frontman Josh Wootton, they have consistently featured Ted on bass and Brent Blalock on drums. Over the summer they added local guitar virtuoso Bryan Aiken of Lazer/Wulf and 'Powers to make them a four piece. Their sound has evolved much to becoming less acoustic and more riff based. Live, the songs are much more distorted and intense than on the bands previous three recordings. The show they put on in the Lamar Dodd Art School's main foyer on the UGA Campus was a short term farewell performance. "The band will take some time off," Josh said, "for around three months or so after this."
After a small but dedicated crowd of people had formed, Bryan began playing a dissonant chord rhythm on a twelve string acoustic as he followed Josh who was singing a soulful melody. They strolled up the stairs directly behind where the band was set up and continued to play through the halls of the Art School. Soon there after, Ted emerged with a big blue upright bass which he started to slap an accompanying rhythm on. Brent joined in with brushes on his snare. Ted began to wander as well, and both groups of musicians came and went from the main performance area a couple times. After about five minutes, they came together in the foyer to finish the song.
Their electric set began with an unrecognizable number, probably a new song or a old one that'd been rewritten. Despite the inaudibility of most vocals due to an underpowered PA, their performance was gripping and strong. The riffs seemed especially heavy and I especially enjoyed the song which included the lyrics "land, beast, food!!" screamed multiple times and followed by a slick descending riff. Bryan Aiken did his typical poses and other stage mannerisms as Ted fell to the floor multiple times from the heaviness of the music. Brent's facial expressions as he slammed groove's was like a possessed demon of otherworldly fascination. Josh's performance too was a highlight, as always. He screamed his soulful howl and yet delicately moved the audience with his passion.
The performance was particularly "artsy"- befitting of the venue. The band performed on a large mat of Flagpole Magazines which were taped together at the seams. Most notably were the three square plywood platforms which held clusters of seven receptacles for light bulbs to screw into. One was positioned in front, and the others lined the sides of their Flagpole mat. Between songs they gave bulbs to audience members who screwed them in to light up. By the last song all the bulbs shone in unison like small burning fires. As the set ended, Josh sang into the microphone that same haunting melody and lyric which he'd sang as they were roaming the halls an hour earlier. Then the members of the band took hammers and began smashing the light bulbs. In the final act of their set, Brent smashed a bulb affixed next to his cymbal with a drum stick.
Marriage are great performers with good song writing skills- thats a hard combo to find. Unfortunately, they have not received the attention of other local acts such as Reptar or Venice Is Sinking. A somewhat erratic schedule of shows and unsolidified membership has until now prevented them from gaining notoriety, but I believe that in their current line-up they have the potential to create even more great music and to explore new sonic realms not before discovered.
