Artist Spotlight: Jesta
Written by Michael Garfield Saturday, 23 May 2009 02:04
I've spent a lot of time on this blog looking at technologies and philosophies that are reshaping our relationship to music...but little time on the musicians putting it all into practice. And so I'd like to take a moment to spotlight a group I think has a lot of potential.
(It just so happens they'll be coming through Colorado on tour this summer, so keep an ear to the ground...)
Ultimately, I have to admit that for all of my futurist rantings, ours is an age when the truest innovation comes from skillful reassembly of existing parts – when the frothy edge of novelty is in the playful exploration of what we already had and then deconstructed for the hell of it, finding new ways to put it back together. And so most of the bands I consider visionary (Ween, Radiohead, Tool) started by squarely and solidly conquering the familiar, learning the idioms of what we know. You can't leap into outer space without first planting your feet firmly on Earth. But once you do, you can really own your sound, pushing it in new directions, steering the traditions in new directions from the inside.
And that's why I'm so curious about self-described "new age space circus" Jesta (pronounced "yes-tah") a lively new electronic-jam-rock quartet hailing from Portland, Oregon. Exuding a strongly positive and upbeat attitude reminiscent of dance engines like Lotus and Particle, spooling out confident and competent shredfests like Phish or The Allman Brothers, these guys have the language of the summer festival circuit down pat. I wouldn't be so impressed, except that they seem to have sprung fully-formed out of nowhere, instantly ready to forgo all of adolescent fumbling and immediately delve into the experimental phase of groups five years their senior. As tasty as they are now, the most interesting thing about Jesta is what they will become – and swiftly, if their evolution to date is any indication.
In the meantime, we're in for an enjoyable ride. It takes approximately two seconds for drummer Nick Wagner to cast me back to the starry nights I've spent grooving in front of outdoor soundstages. Sitting here typing this with my headphones on, I can feel my heart rate going up. This band, in spite of its newness, already knows how to work the energy dynamics of a ten-minute song: "Maurin Quina" ramps up and then pulls back, offering each player their moment to shine while keeping the whole thing anchored in a casual uptempo. Riding on sturdy accompaniment from keyboardist Eric Treusch and bassist Maxx Williams, Nick Agorgianitis's lead guitar weaves easygoing fragments into an incandescent blur – suddenly, the cymbals keen into delicious off-time abstraction, the whole thing unfolding for a few bars before twisting back to a stable platform and high-energy finale.
Appropriate to their name, Jesta has a shade of the trickster in them...every once in a while, their boisterous jams wrap up into a tidy package of clavier-driven funk, or angle into a few bars of techno, before leaning back into more familiar jamrock realms. Keys and guitar trade wild but comfortable licks, and then out of nowhere the rhythms all shift into something altogether proggy. "Laranga" opens with a latin keyboard motif and Dead-esque red-light-green-light drumming, only to warp into a swirling synth solo my brain synesthetically translates into the billowing tentacles of a fog machine and angular explosions of laser light.
If this band falls short anywhere, it's in areas where they hardly deserve the criticism. No line-up with only two shows under their belt deserves to be this tight. Their greatest challenge will be to stop trying to find an original sound and simply grow into one...but right now, their ability to conjure the concert atmosphere of some of my favorite 21st Century ensembles speaks less about a lack of vision and more about an exciting and immediate chemistry between band members. I look forward to seeing where they take their music, now that they've clearly locked in such strong foundations.
I managed to wedge myself into the band's apparently intense rehearsal schedule to ask founders Treusch and Agorgianitis a few questions:
MG: Eric, this band is technically a lot older than it actually is. How'd you get your start?
Eric: Nick and I started Jesta officially in 2005 in Marquette, Michigan with Shay Simmons on kit and Steve Miller on bass. I had just finished a basic music theory course, and other than that, had no experience with a piano. We practiced a lot of material and eventually ended up playing all over Michigan during the next few years. After working with a couple different lineups and taking a substantial hiatus for college, we began to talk about starting the project again last fall. I recently relocated to Portland with Nick Wagner to jump-start the project with new talent and a fresh perspective.
MG: Nick, as part of the new line-up what do you find most fulfilling about your participation?
Nick: I find it fascinating how we all go through experiencing our lives and the musical output seems to evolve and shape-shift in response to that. I think culture and art is a big determinant of the future of our race; it sets up expectations for what’s possible in the social and political realms. It also determines how deep and far we can all go in our dreams. This project really promotes what I believe in and what direction I want to take at this point of my life. It’s the catalyst for my existence.
MG: What's your vision for this band, now and in the next few years?
Nick: Creatively we are pushing to create music that one could imagine hearing 5-10 years from now while continually adhering to our roots in American classic rock, funk, hip hop and jazz. We also talk a lot about playing in other countries and getting in to the club scene rather than the bar scene; so that dictates how we write, what songs we choose, and how we execute them. We are working alongside a slew of incredibly creative people in conjunction with this project (photographers, graphic designers, web designers, writers, artists, etc.). This is a cooperative project and we are trying to get as many talented people on board so we can continue to evolve with our creative ideas.
Eric: In the long run, i'm anticipating exponential expansion on all fronts. But for now, we need to think mechanically and concentrate on perfecting our live game. Our music is inherently a live experience.
MG: What players do you consider most inspirational, and what have you tried to carry from their playing into your own?
Nick: Eric Clapton, Trey Anastasio, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, Phil Collins, Eric Johnson, Eddie Van Halen, Paul McCartney, Herbie Hancock, Steve Vai and Duane Allman. I dig how these guys can really step back and become a strong rhythmic element and rip up the microphone too. Herbie brings the funk and all the technological elements of synthesis…which I really try to incorporate more these days. All these guys played with a ton of emotion and that to me is probably the most important thing.
Eric: I try to keep my inspirations diverse and many. It seems that any little thing can reveal connection to the music. A nice walk, a wicked storm, or an honest moment with a complete stranger could all trigger brilliantly different song ideas.
MG: Out of the two shows you've played so far – or out of all the shows you have played independently before this band – which was the best, and what made it so great?
Nick: I really get off playing in the outdoor festival atmosphere. There’s just something about looking out past the stars and being able to create an environment with the music that feels magical. My favorite show has yet to come.
Eric: Definitely – our best show is still coming up!
