Secret Chiefs 3

Best known as one of the main creative forces in Mr. Bungle, guitarist Trey Spruance has long shown interest in a broad range of styles, including modern classical, obscure film scores, avant-garde jazz and death metal. With his outfit Secret Chiefs 3, Spruance dives into traditional Persian music but displays none of the postmodern irreverence that was so central to the Bungle aesthetic. SC3 came about from Spruance immersing himself in rigorous study of Persian philosophy almost 20 years ago, and he insists that the band’s music contains no hint of irony. Much like the Eastern European gypsy-folk-influenced band DeVotchKa, which also appears at this concert, SC3 could be mistaken as only dabbling in the exotic. Closer inspection of both bands, however, reveals their true intentions. Both remain loyal to their influences by not trying to re-create them and instead concocting hybrids that ultimately come across as more authentic.