Solace with Cave Cricket
*Older article written for Gaining Ground Media
In a rapidly evolving music scene, the ability for a band to correctly classify their genre has now become a form of poetry. Descriptions like “rock,” “alternative” and “folk” just don’t seem to leave a strong enough impact on today’s youthful listeners. For North Bronx band Cave Cricket, devising genres is as remarkable as crafting songs.
“We invented some genres to describe our music as ‘feminvironmentalist drone folk’ or ‘doom/hope folk,’” explained singer and multi-instrumentalist Kira Sassano. Compared to artists such as Nico, Joanna Newsom, Regina Spektor and Bjork, Sassano’s flattery is slightly hindered by insufficiency. “I don’t think any of them adequately can describe our sound. The musician that most influenced me is Daniel Higgs because he was the only person I’ve ever seen play a shruti box,” remarked Sassano. “I personally tend to not think about the music I am making in terms of influences; this is because I am not trying to sound like anyone but myself. Whatever comes out, comes out.”
Accompanied by band members Kevin Yankou, Steve Yankou and the recent addition of long-time friend Natasha Jacobs, Cave Cricket first hit the local scene in January of 2011. Residing in their Bronx home, Cave Cricket performs live in the house’s basement often, where shows are held on a bi-monthly schedule. The housemates take turns contributing by booking shows and having their bands play. “We are all creative people who love DIY, supporting artists/musicians who we love and making connections through our art,” described Sassano. “If there is a touring band, we cook them food and try our best to show them a good time, in hopes that we can have a similar experience in their town.”
One of the most defining aspects of Cave Cricket is the intimate ambiance of their live performances. The band prefers to rather play on a floor than a stage, supporting the idea of how being close to the audience allows for a greater connection towards listeners. Attendees may show up literally empty handed at a show, but Cave Cricket has found a clever device for encouraging crowd participation. The band is exceptionally known for passing around instruments to the audience, securing the beloved presences of an intimate setting. “It is an essential part of the set, when we play percussion songs and have people join in,” commented Sassano. “My mom bought me a bunch of hand percussion instruments many years ago and I found great use for them.”
Playing diverse instruments such as a shruti box, ukulele, glockenspiel and cello, the band features almost hardly anything electric. Catering towards a more acoustic and stripped down style, Sassano believes how people tend to be quiet and attentive when there is a band playing all acoustic. Through a considerate crowd, Sassano was able to find confidence while traveling and playing shows. “Going on tour was really good for me,” stated Sassano. “It sounds contrary, but being in front of a new crowd in a different town every night was the best thing for getting rid of my stage fright.”
Embarking soon on a short east coast tour with “legendary Westchester weird-punk band No One and the Somebodies,” the band plans on playing it “pretty safe” after dealing with a dead car last year and losing money while venturing to the pacific North West. Cave Cricket may emit a compelling spirit while playing, but their overall message resides predominantly in their lyrics. “You should never stop listening to your mind. Just trust in your decisions and they will be fine,” resonates in the track ‘Song for the Mind.’ For the minds of music enthusiasts, the best possible decision this summer could be seeing Cave Cricket live.
