By: Jeffrey Preis
On Friday night, I was dragged to see a free show at Farm 255. It was a night of low anticipation until the band started playing. They were called Cicada Rhythm and came from Atlanta and are, from what I can tell, fairly new to the music scene. I say this because I’m sure if they had been around, I would already know them because I loved their sound, their look, their instruments, and just about anything else about Cicada Rhythm.
Cicada Rhythm is made up of only two members—Andrea DeMarcus
on the Bass and David Kirslis on the Guitar. Both members sing lead vocals for
their few songs (they only played five songs at Farm and I can only find that
many on YouTube or their bandcamp site). The instruments are an unlikely
combination—a classical upright bass paired with an Appalachian guitar—but the
distinct sound works together. Their voices add to the acoustic, country-flavor
that complements their bluegrass/folksy sound. DeMarcus’ voice was soulful and
distinct—extremely similar to Billie Holiday’s (this in and of itself marks the
beginning of a great band). Adding the bass and guitar and another lead
vocalist marks a recipe for success.
Their name, Cicada Rhythm, evokes a certain emotion that
many southerners may be able to relate to—summer evenings on a porch listening
to the cicada’s sing in harmony. Their sound, like their name, stirs up the
same emotions. The twang of Kirslis’ guitar coupled with DeMarcus’ voice is
something unique that is relevant to the American south. Their songs form a link
with nature which makes these remembered summer nights even more nostalgic.
The show was inside with most of the tables moved and Cicada
Rhythm on the makeshift stage at the restaurant. It was fairly crowded for a
band at Farm, around 75 people. The audience, however, didn’t seem engaged
which was surprising since so many people came out to support them. There was a
lot of side chatter and the majority of the people were carrying on
conversations with their friends instead of listening to the band. This is bad
news for bands that play at Farm since it doesn’t have the best acoustics
(hard, stone floors; high, vaulted ceilings). This did not appear to interfere
with their playing or attentiveness to their music. They seemed to be in the
zone and just appreciative of the fact that this many people came out to see
them.
Three of their five songs are featured on their website
(www.cicadarhythm.org):
“Hands,” “Do Not Destroy,” and “Mouse Song.” Both vocalists
appear in all three songs. As the names of the songs may suggest, there’s
something very organic about their composition. “Do Not Destroy” is about a
desolate cabin in the woods that once stood free from the suburban sprawl:
“City walls have grown so close to what I need the most…Do not destroy. What is
mine, is also yours.”
DeMarcus lives in Athens and graduated from Julliard last
Spring. Kirslis is a student at Georgia Tech, so the duo plays the majority of
their shows in either Atlanta or Athens…for now. Their sound is stunning and
I’m sure that anyone who hears them will fall in love with the music they’re
making. They’re smooth and delightful and their songs will resonate with most
people, especially those who enjoy a unique blend of southern charm and
classical eloquence.
"When You're Down You're Blue" in Athens, Ga
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