Groove Thief came from the state capital to rock Mill End's, but most had no idea who they were except for the loyal fans who followed them to the gig. But they were there to be exposed for all they're worth, and this is one band that delivers a very hard punch, yet backs it with a purely melodic sound to go with their ferocity. Their songs are full of everything it takes to rock the world, which is why it was worth it to catch this rare Portland performance. I was quite surprised by their arsenal of material and how they presented it, having no idea that bass player “Jarred Venti” also handles keyboard and mandolin duties. That alone was a treat, but not only does he do that, his bass playing is like that of a monster, with the Cry Baby effect being his main weapon accessory of choice. That proved to be a feature in their live act as well as on their current disc.

This band really know their stuff and then some, as Venti along with singer Blaine Vogt, guitarist Matthew Ryan and drummer Tim Sieroslawski bring a very pop rock structured sound to round out their alternative appeal and classic rock roots. This all makes for a sophisticated sound that maintains a smooth yet very sharp edge at the same time. The mandolin parts bring an almost folk element without going overboard in that department. Vogt also brought his guitar abilities with an acoustic showing of his own penned ballad, “The Wind,” which brings the show to a delightful peak.