Sioux Falls

Originally posted May 22, 2014:

          The late 80's into the early 2000's saw a boom in DIY indie rock.  Bands like The Pixies, Modest Mouse, and Wilco were big players in the underground music scene, while some were more successful than others.  Many of the bands in that genre had developed more eclectic styles and created a time of experimentation in music, not dissimilar to the late 60's.  They pushed the boundaries of what popular music could really be and showed that there is always something more that can be done in music.  That's exactly what Sioux Falls is doing with their music.


          Sioux Falls comes from Portland, Oregon, though the 2 founding members are originally from Bozeman, Montana.  The band is made up of Isaac Eiger (Vocals/Guitar/Kazoo), Fred Nixon (Bass/Backing Vocals), and Benjamin Scott (Drums).  The band began with Isaac Eiger and Fred Nixon after meeting in high school around 2009.  After moving to Portland, they auditioned numerous drummers before finding Benjamin Scott, whom they've been with for 8 months now.  They've released 3 EPs (Odds 'n' Ends, Big Krackel, and Lights Off For Danger).  Their most recent release, Lights Off For Danger (the only release with the current drummer), is very reminiscent of 90's indie music and, while not for everyone, an incredibly engaging EP for lovers of the style.

Sioux Fall's debut album

           The second song on Lights Off For Danger is Where Is Nebraska?.   The song opens with a repeating guitar riff that is immediately followed by Isaac Eiger’s peculiar (that’s a good thing) voice.  It’s difficult to describe his voice, but the comparison that immediately comes to mind is Isaac Brock of Modest Mouse.  He is somehow able to mesmerize the listener and, also, put so much expression into his voice.  The song is backed by a strong steady drumbeat that keeps everything in time.  A major aspect of this song is the bass guitar.  Fred Nixon is constantly playing some riff or chord progression, and, in some places, a series of deep, emotion evoking picked notes.  After about a minute, the song embarks on a long, prog-rock-esque instrumental.  While the drum and bass stay constant grounding factors, the guitar plays numerous solos ranging from simple chords to highly experimental lick combinations.

          The next track on the EP is Empty Shows.  Unlike Where Is Nebraska?, it is a shorter, more striped down song, though its is not without its charm.  In fact, the song is purely vocals and guitar until after the first verse.  After that verse, the drum enters and makes particular use of the cymbals, while also laying down a steady beat.  The bass also comes in, but stays relatively soft throughout the track.  The song possesses a certain somber feeling that is reinforced by the intense lyrics (even though they are sung in the opposite way).  All in all, this song is somewhat reminiscent of In The Aeroplane Over The Sea (Neutral Milk Hotel).

Sioux Falls live

          Another important aspect of the band’s draw is their clever lyrics.  Again, in true Modest Mouse form, they utilize complex metaphors and word play, as well as simpler lines to engage the listener and force them to not only pay attention to the instrumentation, but also the lyrics.  After listening to a track, you’ll be left trying to decipher meaning from the sometimes-curious lyrics, especially after hearing Empty Shows.

          Sioux Falls is a real throwback to the early days of the golden age of indie rock, yet they seem very well suited to the times.  Though their music might not be for everyone, the large audience that it does appeal to will not be disappointed.  Their music is both thought-provoking and engrossing, while still being a fairly easy listen.  You can check out their music at their Bandcamp page (http://siouxfalls.bandcamp.com/album/lights-off-for-danger).  Also, be sure to head over to their Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/siouxfallswick).

Thank you for visiting my blog and reading this review.  Please feel free to comment on this article about whatever you feel like (suggestions, what you think of the band, etc...).  If you would like to contact me for any reason, check out the 'Contact' tab above.  Have a nice day and rock on!