If you’ve ever seen a TV On the Radio performance you will know that Kyp Malone is the rock. While frontman Tunde Adebimpe flails, howls and sweats and guitar guru David Sitek shakes himself and his instrument into another universe, the bearded and bespectacled Malone stands like a mountain of a man, stage right, a point of focus amongst the chaos happening around him.
The news of Malone’s solo project, Rain Machine, seemed to manifest suddenly: first the CD and then the performance. But while Malone played almost every instrument on the stellar new disc, which mixed twitchy TVOTR vibes with stately folk leanings stirred with political ire, Rain Machine took the stage as a five piece band that evening before a very small and appreciative Portland audience.
The 10 song set drew almost exclusively on Malone’s new album and began with the pastoral “oohs” of “Driftwood Heart,” a slowly building piece that wouldn’t sound out of place on a Fairport Convention album. Next followed “Leave the Lights On” and the more upbeat “Smiling Black Faces.” Malone stood motionless for most of the performance, a slight sway in his hips betraying his stoicism. Under his giant glasses and Santa’s beard, it seemed improbable that such a rich voice hurled from that hidden mouth. “I’ve been up for too long today,” he mentioned between songs, weary only by admission. He also wondered aloud, “Are you one of those people who have too much to say when they are supposed to be playing music?” The one-two punch of “New Last Name” and “Hold You Holy,” which sounded much better live, certainly made up for any tardy music.
The highlight of the set came when the band left the stage. “This is where we mix it up a little because variety is king,” Malone deadpanned. Then came a wallop of a song where Malone moaned “Holy shit!” and “Great Satan’s got the A-bomb” over and over, each word rising and crashing over the previous one.
The band then returned for “Give Blood,” the most TVOTR sounding tune on Rain Machine. The audience danced and sang along, something pretty amazing for an album that just came out a week prior. The set finished with “Desperate Bitch,” “Free Ride” and the 10 minute plus “Winter Songs.” After an intense crescendo, Malone bid goodnight and did not return for an encore. All for the best, as it would have been impossible to top the intensity of “Winter Songs.”
A year ago, I had the chance to interview Sitek when TVOTR played Portland. I was sitting with him on the bus when Malone walked in and we nodded. After the show, I approached Malone and said we had met before. To my surprise, he remembered me and my publication at the time. When I asked him how he remembered that brief moment he replied, “You were in my home!” Welcome to mine, Kyp. You are welcome back anytime.
by David Harris
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