Do you know the traditional Chinese instrument the pipa? It’s a beautiful pear-shaped, fretted, plucked string instrument; a type of lute.
Next question: Did you know that the pipa can rock?
I didn’t, not really, until I heard one of Rochester’s newest bands: Mountain River Traveler. They describe themselves as “supercharged Chinese folk music,” which you can hear in their debut release, “Dance,” a single that is part of a compilation called “The Avant Garde a Clue Companion.”
This instrumental track absolutely lives up to its name. The rhythms evoke Celtic step dances and a bit of Dropkick Murphys flair. While I’m at it, my other left-field comparison is to the dual lead-guitar sound of Thin Lizzy, only here, it’s the lockstep riffs of pipa and guitar.
Those riffs are based on the distinctive sound of the pentatonic (five-note) scale found in traditional Chinese music and in various forms in music from around the world — from traditional Native American music, Balinese gamelans and more.
Here in Rochester, Leah Ou (pipa) has earned a following playing indie music like The Decemberists alongside traditional and classical Chinese music and her own original compositions. She has collaborated with fiddlers, dancers and jazz and folk musicians.
Teaming up with guitarist Xuhao (Haishen, Ten Finger Manual) takes her into heavier territory, while he finds new directions for his explorations of his Chinese heritage through guitar-driven rock and metal. Randy Rowe, who is also part of Xuhao’s metal outfit Haishen, locks in with bassist/composer/producer Lochlan Boebel to hold down a rhythmically driving low end.
The creativity and the intensity of what they have just begun creating makes me excited to hear more. Catch them at the Lilac Festival this spring; they take the stage at 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 18.
Mona Seghatoleslami is music director, host and producer on WXXI Classical 91.5 FM.
This article appears in Dec 1-31, 2024.
