Slint played The Wick

There might have been something in the water when four teenagers gathered in a basement in Louisville, KY to produce a sound so jarring. The legend of Slint is rather unique and it's important to note just how difficult it can be to pin down Slint. From their mysterious beginnings to their sudden demise, very little was documented about this band until they recent return to a new found spotlight. You could say they were a hardcore band that somehow invented post-rock. Or a slowcore band that could instantly become sadistically loud. Perhaps their influence over indie rock throughout the past twenty years is even more prolific since their initial run was so short (rumored at less than thirty live shows) that they didn't even live to see the release of their landmark record Spiderland. The group reformed twice before (once to perform that album in it's entirety) and this time around they're back to celebrate the release of an epic box set. Taking the stage in near darkness, the band's set was equally divided between their two records showcasing their jaw-dropping talent of building high tension before releasing it to utter chaos. The guitars were sharp as knives and cut like razors as drums pounded like falling boulders. The vocals ranged from gravel-like spoken words to violent shouts that echoed throughout the cavernous venue. The Wick is an old industrial factory composed of rustic exposed brick walls which allowed the band to get satanically loud without a moment's notice. Considering the lack of activity over the past two and a half decades, the band was remarkably tight. Their meticulous and calculated song structures were impeccably translated to the live setting. Even in this indie reunion renaissance we've come to experience as of late, Slint still keep a somewhat low profile. Even on stage, there was practically no dialogue spoken from the band. It's as if they appear out of the murky quarry waters that adorn their infamous cover art. They're unassuming in their approach, but the mark they leave behind is unlike anything that has come before or after. Perhaps there is still something deep in that water.