San Diego (96.72%) instrumental band Sleeping People came back to The Casbah for the first time in over a year and a half.  This was the second show they have played since that long gap of time.  They began with a song I was not familiar with but enjoyed.  Every song has such great energy and tight musical precision.  The next one was an old one and every past Sleeping People song is an oldy but goody.

The next had guitarist Joileah Maddock asking for the second time for more of the other band members in her monitor.  The song was one of their darker tunes until it shifted gears and Rob Crow (of Pinback and many more bands) came on to add some vocals.  Bass player Kenseth Thibideau mentioned before the next song how they were a little nervous playing at The Casbah since it had been so long. He asked Maddock if she was still nervous and she said no with a smile.  He then went on to say how he was watching the show wishing he was playing with the bands when he realized that he actually was playing tonight. 

The following song was confusingly explained that they had all played it together for the first time just before the show.  The basic information out of that was that they might mess up.  They did have a problem, but it was a long pause in the song blamed on a tuning issue where guitarist Kasey Boekholt, after checking his instrument, announced it was not his guitar out of tune.  Without much resolve they continued though I had not noticed anything wrong before or after the pause.  Thibideau said after that they would now stick to ones they know. 

There was another mistake in the next song which was not a new one.  Maddock seemed to be having problems, but seeing her amazing guitar work it is hard to criticize her for not being perfect.  She asked for more of the others in her monitor which may have been the issue, but was not sure if the sound guy was still around.  The next one had a long vibrating ending and then went mellow and minimalist in a spooky kind of way.  Mallets and cymbal scratching with the end of a drumstick were used.  They ended with one of my favorites that starts a bit chaotic.  Once over I was glad I had caught them, mistakes or not.  There is not a lot of bands like them and especially that take their style to such a high quality level.  I hope there will be no more disappearances that last over a year.