When watching a live performance, we often get a feel for the artist’s personality and intentions; it like we’ve gotten to know them a bit better by the end of the show, and we categorize them as ‘this’ or ‘that’ kind of person. But not AA Bondy–he keeps you guessing. Last night was the third time I’ve seen him play, and each time I’ve walked away scratching my head, still completely unsure as to the man behind such powerful music. His music can be described as dark but strangely hopeful folk rock, with special emphasis on the ‘rock’ label. But as far as AA Bondy himself? I haven’t an inkling, and I think that’s a good thing. While I have a very deep appreciation for a charistmatic frontperson, sometimes the person’s appeal is relied on to carry or even mask a lackluster performance. But with AA Bondy, it’s the exact opposite: his music already stands alone as an impressive creative effort. He seems completely uninterested in entertaining the crowd in the downtime between songs, but it’s not detrimental to his performance. The fact that he gives almost nothing away about himself when the music stops just emphasizes the feelings behind his soulfully sung declarations, and his lack of self-disclosure between songs only adds to his enigmatic mystique.

Though last night’s concert was atypically early for a headliner (10pm), AA Bondy had no problem packing the dancefloor at Spaceland. He began the set with a drummer and bassist who also played the pedal steel guitar and keyboard. He then performed solo with his guitar and harmonica before inviting the band back onstage for the last four or five songs. He mumbled a few words between songs, and I didn’t understand anything but a brief reference to the movie Tron. He seemed just as comfortable onstage alone as he did taking the reins when the band came back on. The trio had excellent chemistry, and the combination of a guitar, bass, and drums was just as interesting as the alternate combination of the guitar, steel pedal, and keyboard.

Using a wah pedal and reveling in his guitar’s distortion sets AA Bondy apart from other indie folk artists: he’s not afraid to put a hard edge to a beautiful melody for an incredible result. He played the harmonica like he sang, each note carefully chosen and expressed as carefully and prettily as if it were his last. AA Bondy is a phrasing genius with a honey-colored voice that is equal parts natural talent and hard work. While his words were often unintelligible, the feelings behind them were often crystal clear. It was obvious that everyone in the crowd was understanding or at least appreciative of these feelings, the audience participation strong throughout the show. The band kept the energy up and moving forward, despite the fact that many of the songs were ballads. On ‘Killed Myself When I Was Young’ there was a slew of whoops and cries that must have made the Southern songsmith feel right at home. Between songs, the band played a brief country two-step and the introduction to Pink Floyd‘s ‘Money’. AA Bondy sipped his drink that he insisted on paying for, spinning in a circle before raising his glass to the rest of the crowd for a bar-wide cheers.

AA Bondy‘s LP When the Devil’s Loose is available for purchase on iTunes. He is currently on a national tour scheduled through the middle of October–please visit his MySpace page for further details.