The Modern Madcaps had their Bullfinch reunion last week and unleashed surprises upon surprises. Two new (that is to say additional) members, on keyboards and violin! An entire album of new songs! And to top it off, a small label deal, with national distribution!

Kollege has been good to the band’s designer friend Harvey who clinched the Madcaps a contract when he began interning for an indie management company as a graphic designer.

But enough commerce—what are the new songs like? The violin is taking on the mournful wails that Tommy Smeth’s guitar used to specialize in, leaving Tommy free to pick up a bass. Former bassist Audrey L. now sings half the songs, while former sole vocalist Moe Tierre concentrates more on electronica tricks.

So new out-of-towner keyboardist Trina Mars (whom Tommy enlisted from HIS college, in a whole other city strangely for drummer Katnip, Trina’s full first name is Katrina) does what exactly? Accents, you could say. Auras, more accurately. Overarching angelic-choir chords. She also produced all the new tracks, and likes to take part in shows so she can collect live samples.

When we ran into Katnip just a kouple of days before this show, he was kharakteristikally klosed-mouthed. Drummer, you know? We just didn’t think much of it. Meanwhile, instead of losing another promising high school band to higher education, we’ve gained a much improved one.

Scary night in clubland; Don’t Lose Your Soul at the Bullfinch: Horse-
Courser, The Ostler and Vanholt & Duchess… At Hamilton’s: Swollen with Cunning, The Wittenbergs and Prologue (thus named, they say, because in 12 years together they’ve never been handed a headlining gig)… Cardinal of Lorraine at Dollaire’s, with Old Man…