Members of the Bronzed Chorus perform as Rocket to a full house,

By Chris Nafekh, Staff Writer

Published in print Nov. 5, 2014

On the day after Halloween, two of Greensboro’s favorite local bands joined forces to celebrate. Black Santa, under the alias Cowboy Dan, played their favorite Modest Mouse songs.  The Bronzed Chorus and Friends spread fantastic sounds of Smashing Pumpkins and their classic ‘90s alternative rock.

The first night of November always has a cool, biting wind. But inside Glenwood Books and Coffee, the smell of incense welcomed a large audience. In a sizable, dark-lit garage, the stage stood full of cables, guitars and an impressive drum set. Behind the stage, Christmas lights lined a wall of wooden floorboards. 

Black Santa, a band of brilliant young students, released their first full emo-punk album earlier this year. Their music is often heard on WUAG 103.1, UNCG’s own student radio station. The band is often told they sound like Modest Mouse; the comparison is undeniable.

As Cowboy Dan walked on stage, the audience murmured with anticipation. A number of attendees had grown up in the ‘90s, listening to Smashing Pumpkins and Modest Mouse. So when the band began to play, nostalgia very apparently grew.

Favorites like “Interstate 8”, “Perfect Disguise” and “Dramamine” were included in the first set list, and lead singer Tristan Munchel’s resemblance to Isaac Brock was uncanny. Jonny Marr’s guitar riffs were reproduced perfectly, keeping the group’s audience enthusiastic and engaged.

Kate Burleson, UNCG graduate, lifeguard and backup singer, was invited on stage to harmonize in a select few songs. “I love the idea of bands playing their favorite bands,” she said. “I know Tristan well, and he’s been obsessed with Modest Mouse since high school.”

“Playing Modest Mouse is how I learned bass and guitar,” commented Munchel after his set. “When Black Santa first started playing together, we were just noodling with things, and we discovered the two bands we all loved were Modest Mouse and Built to Spill.”

After a brief intermission, The Bronzed Chorus and Friends walked on stage to cover Smashing Pumpkins at their best. Playing the majority of the Pumpkins debut album “Siamese Dream”, hits included “Cherub Rock” and “Today.”

The Bronzed Chorus is a local two-piece rock band in which Adam Joyce and Hunter Allan play drums, electric guitar and synth. Their powerful instrumental music was heard at Tate Street festival, and the band has played at venues like The Crown and The Green Bean.

Performing ‘90s rock, Bronzed Chorus and Friends sounded great, coupling the deep power and high pitch solo guitar that characterized Smashing Pumpkins.

“They’re spot-on,” said Arthur Boudman, Black Santa’s drummer. “That stuff sounds great!” From above, the crowd looked like a sea of bobbing heads, rocking steadily.

As a post-Halloween celebration, everybody seemed to enjoy themselves. Few people dressed up, though a dragon, wizard and several kitty cats could be seen wandering through the crowd. This event boasted fantastic, locally-cultivated music, good people and was a great time for everyone.