How does one describe the music of Jinjer…hmm…well, at first glance a balanced mix of hardcore and heavy metal, but progressive as well when you consider all the musical influences and fascinating time signatures the band likes to blend into their songs. With impeccable musicianship and charismatic stage presence, it’s safe to say that whatever concoction they’ve come up with had me intrigued from start to finish when they played the Fillmore in San Francisco last night.
Jinger just recently started to enjoy a newfound popularity thanks in part to the fact that they’ve managed to make songs that usually appeal to a small devoted audience into more of the mainstream. They’ve done so thanks to a unit that is so tight you’d think they were one. With pulsating intelligent intricate drum beats and layers of hypnotic guitar melodies, infectious basslines come raging in to lay down a solid foundation for their singer Tatiana to chant over.
And where do you begin with Tati? From the first song on the setlist “Call Me a Symbol” to the encore of “Vortex,” it was hard to keep your eyes off her. How can someone who looks so sweet and angelic one minute transform into a raging hellion the next? The transformation is fascinating and the talent undeniable. A voice like this is just what the metal world needs right now to bring a little life to a genre that’s become a little too predictable as well as predominantly male.
The introduction of “Wallflower” into the mix off of Jinjer’s latest really showcased the versatility of the band, but hearing their heavy-hitter “Teacher, Teacher” live on a big stage really shook me. The sheer power of the group was overwhelming in its excitement and is sure to make them A-listers in the world of heavy rock music as they continue on their path towards world domination.
Jinjer is a band that’s been around for more than a decade, but just now getting the recognition they deserve. In a genre that can tend to get redundant, they bring a fresh new spin on it, one that’s sure to take them anywhere that they want to go.
Photos by Louis Raphael
