This past Monday night I had the privilege of seeing, in my eyes, one of the most talented and impressive bands that continues to push the frontiers of sonic soundscaping. Since the band’s inception in 2004 the Dub Trio has evolved stylistically from what they have, in at least one way coined, “a live dub experiment” to some of the heaviest, blisteringly fierce, low-end violent beauty these ears have ever had the pleasure of hearing.

The show last Monday was particularly enjoyable because they incorporated some of their older material into the set which gave the show even more of a dynamic and flow, from their later affinity towards thrashingly heavy towards their earlier sub dub roots. What makes this band so unique and exciting to watch in a live context is that not only are the members, DP Holmes – guitar, Stu Brooks – bass, and Joe Tomino – drums, masters of their respective instruments, but they have also mastered the ability to dub/manipulate their sounds in real time. They use tape echoes, samples, and delay pedals so smoothly and coherently that their live show sounds almost produced and mixed like an album made in a studio. – check out their 3rd album – Cool Out and Coexist – recorded live at Union Pool in Brooklyn in 2007 – a testament to the previous statement.

This writer truly feels that the music of Dub Trio, no matter how clearly rooted in styles and genres of the past, is very much ahead of it’s time, it is in no uncertain terms – music of the future. What each player brings to the band’s flavor and aesthetic are of equal significance. D.P. Holmes spends the night gracefully flowing between blistering riffs and kneeling to command the pedals and knobs of sonic wizardry – it is both astounding to watch and literally an aerobic work out. Stu Brooks meanwhile holds the low end down so hard and so low its as if your ear becomes your entire body – feeling is believing. Stu Brooks’ bass tone is both menacing and comforting, as warm as it is punchy, one wonders whether or not the band’s second album – New Heavy – was named after it. Then there’s the Jedi Joe Tomino – a man whose balance between technique and style is unparalleled. Tomino is the only drummer alive that while playing ferocious mixed measure mathy prog-y rock, can maintain that hip hop swagger and the swing of Grady Tate. Tomino can suck all the air out of a room with the close of his high hat much like a black hole sucks up time and space. And he does this much of the night with only three limbs, while his left hand navigates the dubscapes of all three band members.

The show on Monday night featured songs from all of their albums aside from the first – Exploring The Dangers Of… although they did slip in a dub rhythm reminiscent of that debut record that would likely make Sly and Robbie go pearl jammin’ in their pants all over Trenchtown. This band is pretty much unstoppable. Dub Trio is killing it!