By: David de Young
 Casanatra performs at the Uptown Bar Friday night July 18th - Photo by Anna Lee |
Members: Dennis Asher (Vocals/Guitar) Lance Reed (Drums/Vocals) Jer Fink (Guitar/Vocals) Josh Burke (Bass) Related links: http://www.casanatra.com http://www.bluewormrecords.com |
Shortly after the release of their 4 song EP "Is This Tonight?" in October of 2002, Travis Shope of poppunk.com wrote, "I'm sure a full-length would be enough to really showcase something fantastic." Though Shope was one of many who misspelled Casanatra's name last year (his review calls them "Casanatara" at one point) his prediction about something fantastic came true Friday night as Casanatra celebrated the release of their new full-length album "Wood and Glass" (Blue Worm Records, July 15th, 2003) at the Uptown Bar, rounding out a night of frenzied, loud and high energy music that was one of the tastier examples of the rock-till-you drop opportunities enhanced by the new 2 a.m. bar time.
Although I missed openers Vulvox, I caught a good bit of Zebulon Pike who also pulled out all the stops for an over-the-top lyric free set of quality metal. I was impressed in spite of myself with the musical assault from the moment I walked in the door. My new musicians plugs which had enhanced my Iron Maiden, QOTSA and Fu Manchu experiences a few weeks before at the Roskilde Festival were again put to the test and worked wonderfully, quieting things down without muffling critical frequencies.
I've seen Casanatra maybe 3 or 4 times now, and each time they get better. Friday's CD Release show was the best I've seen them live. The band continues to incorporate its already technically-honed heavy guitar rock and charismatic vocals into a show that had a more relaxed feel to it than past shows. (You can read that as they're getting easier and easier to listen to and enjoy, if you like.) Front man Dennis Asher appears more comfortable with his dual front man/guitar role than he did 9 months ago. And the whole band now seems to move as a single unit. Bassist, Josh Burke's mohawk (which I understand was just a temporary hair-style for him) made both its debut and exit at this show. It was also good to see him wearing a t-shirt advertising The Dames, another loud rock heavyweight we apparently both share a taste for. The 10 songs on "Wood and Glass" are powerful, varied, sensitive, and honest at the same time, exhibiting both emotional breadth and depth. And if I haven't used enough adjectives yet, how about if I say these songs are just plain interesting? (You can pick up the CD from http://www.cdstreet.com/cgi-bin/artisthome_db.cgi?717758 or from the band's merch stand at any of their shows.)
If in the past this reviewer has been supportive if not unequivocally complimentary about Casanatra, I can now say they are well on their way to joining the ranks of some of the finer loud rock offerings in the Twin Cities. For now the best thing Casanatra can do is just keep on doing what they're doing. Assuming they just continue to get better by doing just that, look out.
Location Info:
Uptown Bar and Café
Artist Info: Casanatra
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