MPMF: The Heavens Roared, the Ground Roared Back

September 26, 2009
CityBeat Magazine
By Brian Baker - Taken from his review of Midpoint Music Fest

After a brief pitstop at the CAC to check out a technically glitchy set from johnnytwentythree, who still provided some fascinating Fripp/Eno/Tangerine Dream textural sound wavage, it was a short jaunt down to the Lodge Bar to soak in the rock steady vibe of our very own Pinstripes. Throw out all the standard Rock crit hoohah; the Cincinnati sextet takes the raw ingredients of Studio One Reggae, first-, second- and third-generation Ska and an absolute flawless sense of Soul, seeds it, stems it and rolls it into an enormous spliff that's nothing short of pure, unadulterated exhilaration. If you’re not having fun at a Pinstripes show, brothers and sisters, check for a toe tag. Your autopsy may already be in progress.

You can tell that the Pinstripes are having an absolute stratospheric blast every time they’re on stage together (and if you knew what they had to go through just to be in the same place at the same time with any regularity, you’d understand why) and they transfer that feeling of unrestrained joy to the audience with an almost casual effort. But make no mistake; the Pinstripes are working overtime to generate that joy, and the work shows through every bit as clearly as the play. The band knows its shit and executes it with tighter-than-a-Republican’s-ass marching band precision but with swing and swagger to spare. If the Pinstripes are playing, you want to be there.