Recap The Appleseed Cast at the Hi-Dive, Feb. 21

The Appleseed Cast has evolved over the years from a mid-‘90s emo act into a melodic post-rock band; these days, the Kansas-based outfit is more Mogwai than Mineral. The group's newer songs (which comprised much of Saturday night’s set at the Hi-Dive) are long, and most are nearly wordless, built upon repetitive riffs and hypnotic bass lines that slowly open up into expansive and epic compositions. It’s like a soundtrack to a gritty, post-apocalyptic film. Unfortunately, what has impact on The Appleseed Cast's records didn’t quite translate onto the stage last weekend. It just didn’t feel... huge enough. There was no chest-shaking kick drum, no teeth-rattling bass. The music seemed muted, the musicians disengaged. It was like someone had thrown up an invisible sound partition between the band and its fans. Sure, you could see them well enough up there—the members looked determined, even serious, and they executed their songs cleanly and professionally—but there was a disconnect. Aside from the occasional nod aimed generally outward from the stage, the Cast had almost no interaction with its visibly excited and fist-pumping fans. The crowd may as well have been staring at a digitally projected live performance of the band rather than the band itself. There were some sublime moments during the set, and choruses that really took flight, but it rarely felt personal. And with fewer lyrics to hold onto, to ground the music with, many of the songs seemed to just float away. Maybe a little bit more emo would've actually been a blessing.