Roses and Abandoned Buildings: The Musical Performances Of Rose West and Eli August
Before leaving for Dragon*Con I was invited to check out The Rose West as well as Eli August and the Abandoned Buildings at the Way Station, a steampunk bar in Brooklyn, New York. Before talking about the show I need to say that everyone needs to check out The Way Station. It is a very charming and very Steampunky bar. Everything from their Victoriana inspired ceiling fans, to their wall mounted props and fan-made posters, to their bathroom… which if you haven’t heard is a Tardis. Not only is it a Tardis, it actually is much bigger on the inside than it appears on the outside.
While we don’t go to shows because of decor, it really added to the flavor and the showitself was lovely. The Rose West opened and they have a sound very similar to our musically-inclined Steampunk family in the south. I say this because for a New York City Steampunk band they are deeply rooted in classic rock much like Southern Steampunk bands like The Extraordinary Contraptions or the Aeronauts. What makes The Rose West’s sound strong is that it could fit in just about any occassion. It is that combination of fun and artistry that makes sense in a Steampunk setting but would still have legs at any other bar in New York City.
After Rose West left the stage we were greeted by Eli August and the Abandoned Buildings. In a genre that is stereotypically filled with wonderment, discovery, and optimism we see Eli and his music. His is a very soulful dark folk sound that the average onlooker wouldn’t expect in Steampunk… but they REALLY should. His music is absolutely raw, and “Steady As She Goes,” is probably one of the top five the greatest song to come out of any artist calling themselves Steampunk. Obviously that’s pretty subjective but I say this because “Steady As She Goes,” unlike any other song in Steampunk combines a very dark and sad sound with such a beautiful metaphor for handling a ship and keeping your emotions in check. It deeply soulful and at times masterfully painful, but there is still an element of optimism, if it doesn’t make you cry you have no soul.
One of the aspects of Eli’s performance that isn’t always picked up from his music is Eli’s own sense of comedy. In the middle of one of his songs an audience member had a fairly loud conversation with her friend from across the room, which without missing a beat Eli incorporated directly into his song.
If you are in New York City make sure to check out The Rose West, and if you get the chance to see Eli solo or with The Abandonded Buildings, it is well worth the money.
