Review: Solid blues-rock. But what's the group called, again?
Scott Rutherford
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The point of "chaos theory" is to gain understanding of the unpredictable, unordered or random. Much has been written about chaos theory, but precious little efforts have been made to apply "chaos theory" to unsigned local musicians.
Let's take a group of approximately seven local blues and rock musicians from the Boston area. "Chaos theory" would state that, if any number of musicians were selected in any combination, a blues band of some kind would be found.
This sort of theorizing is one unintended consequence of trying to make sense out of a group of Boston musicians known in various combinations as Little Wolf and the Mojos, the David James Motorcycle and/or Katie and Arina.
The common link between the three groups is guitarist Irina (known as "Arina") Yalkowski, an unassuming yet intense young, dark-haired woman who, in her best moments, can rip through blues riffs with a rapidity and intensity that would make Clapton order a stiff drink and vow to spend some more time practicing.
In the David James Motorcycle ensemble, Yalkowski's guitar is regrettably stifled by the rest of the band, an otherwise boy-rock combination that tries too hard to be "alternative" without actually getting there.
The Motorcycle's other members—brothers Dave and Nicky Kulund on lead vocals and drums, respectively, rounded out by a bassist who, valuing his anonymity, is known only as Jim—are well-rehearsed veterans of other local Boston rock bands, some of which have seen their fleeting moments of limited notoriety. The Motorcycle's sound is tight—it's clear that the four "riders" are well acquainted with each other and their material—yet the show simply fails to inspire (think of the Monkees with, perhaps, some Weezer thrown in, and you'll be fairly close). The Motorcycle's stage presence is polished, brash and with a touch of attitude. But unfortunately this would-be musical Harley-Davidson disappoints, sounding more like a Honda in need of a tune-up.
Take guitarist Arina and add Kate ("Katie") Frend, and you have Katie and Arina. The duo plays, it seems, almost anywhere—from busking at Harvard Square to playing for martini-swilling happy hour middle managers at the fairly swanky Les Zygomates.