Fortezza, Pons, Tahiti Syndrome @ TV Eye

by Kevin McGann | Jun 18, 2022 | Shows

Fortezza at TV Eye (photo by Kevin McGann)

Last week, Ridgewood’s TV Eye was host to a killer triple bill that most likely reverberated to the other four boroughs and beyond. Music that ranged from garage rock, punk, psych, experimental and jazz, and performances that were as wild as the sound.

First up was Tahiti Syndrome and from the first wail of the saxophone I was hooked. More bands lately, from Black Country New Road to Squid to Glashow’s Kaputt, are using sax and trumpet and really expanding the range of the broadly used post punk and psych rock labels. For me there was an element of Bowie’s final masterpiece, Blackstar, with a jazz rock feel thanks to Tahiti’s skilled players. Imagine my surprise to find out this was their first show!

Next up was Pons who never disappoint. They’re one of those 3-piece acts that’s leaving you wondering How the hell are only three people doing this?? It’s a rhythmic, percussive assault with a frenetic guitar and vocal style that creates a sound all their own. I’ve read that their influences range to Bowie to the Stooges to Suicide but there’s no denying that a Pons song sounds like no other. They put it all out there too in their performance and leave nothing on the stage (or on the floor where they sometimes end up).

Headlining the night was North Carolina’s Fortezza. And while this was my first time catching a show it won’t be my last. Like Tahiti and Pons, Fortezza also combines various styles of music to create a sound that they themselves describe as ‘garage punk to avant-garde jazz’. Performance-wise it was off the wall intense with Tristan Smith (guitar/vocals) bouncing off the stage, rolling on the floor and beating the hell out of his guitar. Rounding out the band is Maddie Kendrick on bass/vocals and Matty Garau on drums/vocals, and also like the Pons, it’s crazy to fathom how three people can create such a wall of sound.

Both Pons and Fortezza are currently out on separate tours and people should catch them wherever they can.