Alabama favourites Remy Zero float effortlessly between alternative and experimental rock – it’s no surprise then that Radiohead championed them during the US tour for The Bends in the late 90s. The relentless energy of drummer Gregory Slay was a magnetic accompaniment to the moody yet ethereal nature of front man Cinjun Tate, who produced the kind of vocal prowess typified by the era. There are few shows I’ve witnessed where I’ve felt as hypnotised by a singer. Tate’s ability to command the attention of an audience is sublime, with singles such as "Gramarye" quite wonderfully conveying perpetual angst. This was clearly relatable to the audience who had their eyes closed and arms punching the air throughout the performance. The rendition of "Save Me" from last album 'The Golden Hum' (2001) was the standout for me though. It featured as the opening song for series Smallville, and is perhaps their most well-known and goosebump-inspiring singles to date, with the whole of the Spaceland venue screaming “somebody save me” in perfect unison. Following the unfortunate death of drummer Gregory Slay in 2010, the band cemented their camaraderie as a band, performing tribute shows in Slay’s hometown of New Orleans. The subsequent shows between October 7 – 12 at Dante’s (Portland, Oregon) The Crocodile Café (Seattle, Washington) Café Du Nord (San Francisco) and Spaceland (Los Angeles, California) were confirmed as their last via the band’s Twitter page.
You can see Cinjun Tate perform today in alternative rock duo Spartan Fidelity.
Mack Keane
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