For Huntington, W. Va.-based Qiet, performing isn’t just about the music — it’s about fully engaging all the senses.
“You have to break (the audience) in with the energy,” said Christopher Harris, front man and general manager for the band. “We blindfolded them … we misted the whole crowd for a storm effect and rain sticks and crackling for fire, then for earth we would touch everybody. As soon as we started touching everybody that has these blind folds on we just gently touched and caressed them and they started touching each other.”
Qiet will bring their peculiar act to Jackie O’s Pub & Brewery, 24 W. Union St., Saturday at 10 p.m., with opening act Tofujitsu.
Tofujitsu has been opening for Qiet in a series of recent shows because of the two bands’ fancy for the bizarre.
“They make me laugh; we need to laugh more,” said Sean Richardson, guitarist for Tofujitsu. “They can be light and strange but fun and make you want to step outside your persona for just a little while in a really cool way.”
Richardson started on the drums, but when he met his wife and band mate, Karen Allen, who played guitar, the two switched instruments to change the dynamic of the band.
A new music video for Tofujitsu’s song, “Darjeeling,” about a bad landlord, is now on YouTube, said Richardson.
Both bands share a philosophy on music that says it should be fun for the audience and themselves, and the bands go to extreme lengths to accomplish that goal.
“We want to make this our job, but we don’t want it to be too serious. In the past, we took it too serious and it loses its flavor,” Harris said. “The culture is filled with people with their walls up and their doors closed so we break those down with fun and laughter.”
Qiet will be missing their drummer for Saturday’s performance, but Harris said that they are going to make up for it with their consistently rhythmic instrumentals.
The band plays with guest friends, performs with a wide array of instruments and is open to every style of music from hip hop to classical Baroque.
“I don’t identify with any genre,” Harris said. “We are trying to do every single conceivable style of music; we’re not indie rock, we’re independent rock.”
wh092010@ohiou.edu
