Chris Padgett of the Stereofidelics at John and Peters in New Hope

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Date/Time
Date(s) - 05/01/2014
9:30 pm

Location
John and Peter's

Category(ies)


Chris
Padgett
of the
Stereofidelics

Four instruments, two dynamic voices, and a record of relentless touring have earned virtuosic, funky indie rock duo the StereoFidelics their reputation as a superb, high-energy live act.

Melissa McGinley – Drums, Lead Vocals, Harmony Vocals, Electric Violin
Chris Padgett – Vocals, Electric Guitar, Foot-operated synth-bass

The StereoFidelics (photo credit: David Shults)

Imagine you’re back in time enjoying the groove and virtuosity of a 70’s art-rock band, then hurled decades forward, colliding with the energy and intensity of today’s indie rock scene. There’s unexpectedly powerful jazzy female vocals intertwined with a strong, satin-smooth male voice. Thumping synth basslines and popping, funky drumbeats drive the skillfully intricate guitar playing and explosions of electric violin string-shredding. Reflecting their influences of past and present (including Frank Zappa, Led Zeppelin, the Talking Heads, Arcade Fire, and the White Stripes), the StereoFidelics avoid performing with loops, computers, and digital effects in favor of the more organic approach of using Moog Taurus pedals, scat vocal solos, and multi-instrumentalism. You see, the fast-fingered guitar player (Chris Padgett) keeps the basslines pounding through a one-octave floor keyboard, the tiny female vocalist (Melissa McGinley) is also the drummer; he sings too, and she plays violin. They perform with a natural passion and synchronicity that not only dispels any association with the herky-jerky one-man-band cliché, but post-performance, leaves their audience sympathetically exhausted and dripping with sweat.

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