The finale of the show was Kent-based Full Blown Kirk. The group is comprised of Alison Scola and Krista Tortora on vocals, Joe Minadeo on bass and keyboards, Jack Randall on guitar, and Dave Braun on drums. Their uninhibited electronica is a mix of Music for Airports era Brian Eno, Garbage, and new school U2. The Vocals and dissonant coupled with the bands occasional drones have a distinct style that lends itself to Indian Raga music. On stage FBK draws you in with its hypnotic grooves that blend hip hop, techno, and creative alternative pop. Scola has a very charismatic presence on stage. She is constantly grooving and using props such as gloves with claws on fingers to demonstrate the songs weight. Tortora is no slouch though; her quiet confidence and sweet vocal stylings give the group a fluidity that is well appreciated.
    FBK's musicians are very talented, and should not be dismissed. At one point in the show they brought in their ex-drummer who was effective but not as adept to FBK's sound as Dave Braun. This demonstrates the band is most impressive in their present lineup. Their show was well perceived and well performed considering the technical problems they experienced and the fact that the sound quality at the venue is poor. The bands monitors went erie more than once during the evening, but the band seemed not to be disturbed by this fact and continued to play in their usual form.
    Their style is very unique to the Cleveland music scene. FBK is one of the best bands in Cleveland because they do things most bands in the area never attempted. Their combinations of light vocal harmonies, heavy guitar and vicious beats make them stand out. FBK draw the audience in with their danceable grooves and stage antics and keeps it interesting with the incredible quality and time put into their sounds. They seem to be greatly overlooked but also greatly gifted, which always seems to be the equation They are a group of musicians that should be acknowledged for displaying such a great concept of craft. If you have the chance, I highly recommend checking them out at their next gig on May 15 at the Odeon in the flats of Cleveland. After all - nothing ventured - nothing gained.

-Michele Lenni - STAFF WRITER


Images/Design © Teresa Kiplinger, 1997.