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Max Satow’s Noshows is gaining increasing recognition as one of the most talented projects active in the NYC alternative music club scene. The band’s chances of leaving a lasting mark on the music of their times expanded in an exponential way with Satow’s recent decision to break away from his prior conception of Noshows as a solo act, a quasi-band vehicle for him to write for. His transformation of the Noshows project into a five-piece and the single “So Mysterious” clearly illustrates it’s a smart decision for Satow’s immediate artistic future.
Several influences come through in his music whether they are intential or not. The work of every musician and songwriter is shaped, in part, by what they listen to. This effect is more pronounced in some songwriter whereas others subsume their influences into their own style and move along early, the pupil soon becoming the teacher. Noshows, particularly Satow, seems to be accomplishing that. He’s working at a level far older songwriters would and will envy and reaches his stride early in his voyage.
You hear a distinctive connection between singer and song in his voice. Satow engages lyrics like few of his peers today. He isn’t putting himself through his paces bereft of any feeling, however, but rather measuring himself into the sing with the needed timing. The hip-hop portions of the vocal are handled with cool aplomb, but it’s a reserve with layers. He does a fantastic job infusing emotion, understated, into the track.
He also makes it fun. You can practically hear Satow syncing himself up with the song, its instruments, percussion, and groove. This is a performer for whom music is an intensely physical experience, as well as other levels, and he makes every attempt to embody that part of it in his composition. This can come off heavy-handed from lesser talents. Noshows, instead, makes it sound like a natural part of their makeup and it never calls attention to itself.
The vocals have that same lack of self-consciousness. There are no “look at me, look at me” qualities about the song, it comes off as a natural utterance and spontaneous in the moment, and the song’s message/story provides listeners with a situation that virtually anyone can relate to. If you can’t relate to it, it doesn’t ask listeners to make any big imaginative leaps. This isn’t a criticism, however, but instead a testament to Noshows’ commitment to performing relatable material.
It’s sonically and musically relatable as well. The band may be making a name for themselves playing smaller indie clubs at the moment, but they have both the skillset and presentation to reach wider audiences. This song is the first step in that direction and expects more to follow. They’ll accomplish that, however, on their own terms and without any of the pandering that inferior bands deem necessary. Noshows is one of the most stylish, modern, and soulful outfits I’ve heard emerging in recent years and deserve our full attention because something special may be brewing.
Jennifer Munoz
