Pattern Is Movement cheerfully coming to an end

After 13 years, Philadelphia's Pattern Is Movement may be on its way to a breakup - Saturday's show at Johnny Brenda's is the electronic indie-soul duo's last gig - but at this particular moment, drummer Chris Ward and his pal of 22-plus years, Andrew Thiboldeaux (heavenly crooner, creamy keyboardist, songwriter) are driving to Chicago together, Thiboldeaux driving, Ward on phone duty.

With the announced dissolution of the band in April (weirdly - the duo is truly at the top of its frenetic, funky game with 2014's eponymous album), you'd think this trip might be strained. But Ward and Thiboldeaux are using it as a sad/glad victory lap for their partnership, especially apt given Pattern Is Movement's mood-swinging vibe.

"No, it's not really odd, this drive," says Ward. "Sad, definitely; we're best friends who have been doing music together in some way, shape, or form since age 14."

Ward does all the talking ("I'm driving," Thiboldeaux mumbles), mistily recalling recent sessions for Philly's Weathervane nonprofit and the Daytrotter recording project.

"I definitely cried watching Andrew track his vocals," Ward says, "as these might be the last time seeing my best friend singing in a studio.

"During the Daytrotter session, we didn't even look at each other. They said, 'Cut,' we were done, and our take was certainly more somber and reflective than our usual sound. As sad as that is, it's bittersweet too. We're both excited about what comes next."

What came first was Pattern Is Movement's start as Philly's preeminent psychedelic math-rock quintet in 2001, with the albums The (im)possibility of Longing and Stowaway being released in 2004 and 2005, respectively. Ward remembers that with Wade Hampton, Daniel McClain, and Corey Duncan in the band, "load-outs were easier, touring was more vibrant, but there was democracy amongst us."

Ward is on good terms with the former Pattern Is Movement members - guitarist Duncan will stop by Saturday's show to share some licks. But it was when the other three members left Ward and Thiboldeaux to their own groovy devices after the group's 2005 album and tour that the duo came into its own, first during rehearsals where the singer whipped out D'Angelo and Beyoncé covers, then on subsequent albums such as their soul-sonic All Together breakout album of 2006.

Ask Ward whether getting rid of the soulless rock technocrats and stripping down to a duo made Pattern Is Movement funkier and he laughs in agreement. "Once it became just Andrew and me, we got to dealing with things that turned just us on. Our love of R&B became more concentrated."

Bringing in producer Scott Solter on the remix album Canonic: Scott Solter Plays Pattern Is Movement and All Together was big. Backing and opening for Annie Clark, now-famed as St. Vincent, was another game changer. "These things really opened us up, brought out the best in what we could be."

They took a long break after the acclaimed All Together, mostly for real-life stuff such as Ward's divorce, and the task of recording a version of their next album (2014's Pattern Is Movement) only to make it again because, Ward says, "that version wasn't sexy. We let the material simmer. The second version is slinkier, nuanced, more bass, more vocoder. Our tastes grew up."

Grew up so much, in fact, that they decided they couldn't go higher or do better and had said all they could as Pattern Is Movement. It didn't happen fast but when it did, their minds were set: Pattern Is Movement would end with a celebratory tour.

"We became really energized about the idea of breaking up, which is funny," Ward says. "I'm still friends with my ex-wife. There's no animus. She's the one who said losing Andrew as a bandmate must mean more than losing her as a wife. I knew him years before her and years after her. Andrew and Pattern Is Movement is my longest-ever monogamous relationship."

He says both will keep making music. Thiboldeaux will be writing melodies, and Ward - who books Johnny Brenda's - is lining up drum sessions at local producer Jeff Ziegler's Fishtown studio.

"To leave on a high note, I can live with this," says Ward, who is pretty sure he'll be eating pierogies in Kensington on Sunday morning while his Pattern Is Movement partner is at John's Roast Pork in South Philly.

So when is the Pattern Is Movement reunion tour? "Summer of 2017," Ward laughs. "I already booked the rooms."

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Pattern Is Movement

9 p.m. Saturday at Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave. Tickets: $12 to $15. Information: 215-739-9684 or www.johnnybrendas.com

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