Not that Sean Croghan ever officially retired, but the community seemed to at least assume the local legend (Crackerbash/Jr. High godhead and mainstay through Portland’s indie renaissance) had entered the twilight of a sparkling career and would confine himself to those projects expected from aging icons—compilation appearances; autumnal solo work; a memoir, perhaps. Fronting metal band opening a video arcade bill…we didn’t see that coming.

Of course, Ground Kontrol makes as much sense as a venue as anything else these days, and there’s worse metaphors for Rapids’ appeal than a sea of hipsters casually mastering their fathers’ Pac-Man. Rapids started life ’round 1996 Iowa as Farmer’s Almanac. After a six year break—as founding members Steve Davis, Barry Anderson and Jerred Decker melted faces locally with Merrick Foundation (Davis, Anderson) and Slowhawk (Decker)—they reformed the band, changed names, brought in former Wadsworth bassist Jake Baker, and, for a Robert Pollard tribute night last November, asked old friend Sean to lend some vocals. Then, apparently, forgot to kick him out.

Rapids specialize in a straightforward, blue-collar, unabashedly Midwestern rawk—heavy but melodic; instrumental facility and lockstep interplay buttressing enlightened aggression. Every member of the band takes part in the songwriting, most of the recent set newly crafted since Croghan came on board, and both the group rapport and Forever 15 (and pissed) excitement bleeds through shattering riffage. Croghan, certainly, looks…a tad alien, to be sure, but not at all the elder statesman. Trading guttural, visceral, shriek-flecked vocal fusillades with proper singing and weirdnesses hinting at an internal larynx effects pedal, Croghan firmly seems born again. In the, y’know, infernal way.

Don’t know what a normal Thursday down at Ground Kontrol is like, but one has to think that Rapids played to a larger crowd than normal—and one industry-heavy: Everyone I spoke with fondly remembered following band Fruit Of The Legion Of Loom’s 2001 floppy-disk promo packs. Rapids are recording this month and hope to have vinyl out before they play Missoula’s Total Fest. Looks like we’ll have to wait a while longer for the memoir.

Links:
RapidSpace

Rapids play Twilight Café April 11, 2008
Photo by Elizabeth Armstrong