Lunch of Champions

Human Genome Projectile @ The Nomad World Pub 1-11-08

The Human Genome Projectile made their live debut on Friday night at The Nomad in Minneapolis. They played through an endearing set of songs written by lead singer Doug Gengler.

I have to admit that I wasn’t expecting their set to be all that moving. With little time to prepare and little live action, it could only get better from the show I was about to see. After all, this was their first live show.

Two songs in, the stranger sitting next to me turned and we said at the same time, “I actually really like this!” The songs were a mix of early Pavement, Jonathan Richman and the Velvet Underground. This was not boring music.

Doug’s singing was a bit reserved, but, his communication with younger brother Joe Gengler on guitar was exciting and wordless. Doug would give a very subtle look Joe’s way and like only a brother can, he responded. They were locked.

Aaron Gugel was the most animated of the bunch bouncing and enjoying the music like he knew what the Gengler brothers didn’t, that this could be really, really good someday. The guitars had moments of The Pixies, noodling and driving the songs to new platforms of cool.

Joe, nervous, took every chance not to look at the audience and focused everything he had to complimenting Doug’s melodic guitar work. They weren’t cool rock stars. They just wanted to play their well written gems and get the fuck out.

The drumming from Dave Wrzos was simple and humble. He only played what he had to. With some work and a bit more confidence, you should be seeing the Gengler brothers reading each other’s minds, playing more shows and bringing honest nerd rock back to its’ feet.

Cheers!