by Nathan Cardiff

Kansas City duo Slow Motion Commotion sure sound like they are having a good time, but listen to their lyrics and take notice: they tell it like is without sugarcoating a damn thing. “Life’s a bitch and so am I” they sing on the first track “Ballad of Antonio (Pt 1),” swearing like sailors the whole time and getting you ready for the fist-fight Nice Things Don’t Happen To Assholes Like Us will be. The twosome play the guitars with a violence and fury to match the gritty lyrics. I’ll venture to say that the track “Kansas” won’t appear in any state tourism ads; the anti-ballad about escaping the heart of America is a blunt portrait orfbig dreams and heartbreaking reality over a hypnotizing banjo and piercing harmonica. The chorus is screamed and will tear you in two with the rough power in the vocals.

Slow Motion Commotion can be goofy/funny (“Fighter Pilot”) and tender (“Hospital Song”) and vicious (the “Ballad of Antonio” trilogy), but above all they are sincere. Not matter the subject matter, the band enthusiastically and genuinely shares their story through speedy folk tracks that will only slow down if the guitars break. But with this much energy, don’t bet against that hyperbole. Nice Things… doesn’t try to cheer you up or make your day better with glowing songs about the beauty of life; it shakes you and screams in your face to get a clue and stare truth in the eyes. But the songs are just that damn good that they can simultaneously charge you up and still pay attention to a somber message.

Favorite Tracks: “Ballad of Antonio (1, 2, & 3)” & “Hospital Song”

by Nathan Cardiff

Editor’s note: You can catch Slow Motion Commotion at the Riot Room on Monday, January 6th, with The Drunken Cuddle and The King Devilles.