Another chapter in D.C.’s venerable punk rock history was finalized at the Black Cat Saturday night, where The Most Secret Method put a cap on a seven-year career with their final performance. As farewell bashes go, it was a subdued affair, reveling in the kind of cerebral, angular noise-poetry that was the trio’s calling card.
The Method is splitting up so that it’s members can pursue other interests--- chiefly guitarist/singer Marc Nelson’s acting and bassist Johanna Claasen’s immersion in the jazz form---but their commitment to Saturday’s show was complete and it made for a bracing goodbye. Touching on key moments from their estimable recorded legacy, the band played with assurance and precision, especially drummer Ryan Nelson, whose patterns teemed with gutbucket drive. On a night when a little self-indulgence might be understandable, The Most Secret Method stayed true to their burrowing style, attacking the subtle crescendos of songs like “The Real Sex” and “Charlotte Corday and the Whales” with furrowed brows. They did allow for one bit of levity, turning the mike over to Baltimore/Washington punk fixture Jimmy Askew for a version of “Daggers”, which he delivered with studious affection.
Though the evening also saw a graceful set from The Gena Rowlands Band and the wiry spasms of the Black Eyes, it belonged rightfully to The Most Secret Method, whose swooping encore finish of “Louise Lake” into “Inch” provided a bracing finish for a band who will be missed and shouldn’t be forgotten.
Washington Post, 2002
