popwreckoning

Already larger than life across the pond (4 upcoming summer tour dates in England already sold out!), Jacksonville, Fl.’s Black Kids are blowing up in the United States, due in part to the wildly catchy single “I’m Not Going To Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance” (download). While many albums with that initial catchy single that spreads like wildfire fall flat, Black Kids’ Partie Traumatic keeps the high energy and dance jams coming.

Partie Traumatic kicks off the album in a huge way with sizzling keys and driving beats on “Hit The Heartbreaks.” Not only does it set the dance party vibe for the album, it establishes the band’s quirkiness by beginning the song with a knock knock joke for lyrics. Guitarist/vocalist Reggie Youngblood‘s unique voice is absolutely distinctive with its rich and slightly melancholic tone as he belts, “you’re hitting the heartbreaks hard: / You’re still gonna crash ’cause you’re still after me.”

Synth laden hooks, pulsing bass lines from Owen Holmes and wall of sound choruses atop Kevin Snow‘s infectious beats permeate Partie Traumatic from the disc’s electrifying title track straight through to smooth yet driving closer “Look At Me (When I Rock Witchoo).” The double backing vocals of Dawn Watley (keys) and Ali Youngblood (keys), reminiscent of Canada’s Creature, on “Listen To Your Body Tonight” are absolutely delicious before the ladies create a bridge rife with warped keys and hand claps. Reggie sings, “hello, this is your body / I want to feel a body on me,” betraying a penchant for sexually charged, self-conscious lyrics.

“Hurricane Jane,” Black Kids’ second UK single from Partie Traumatic, starts out a bit more subdued than the previous tracks, but features awesome bass lines and wonderfully warped keys drawing influences from the likes of Hall & Oates, the Bee Gees and most of the soundtrack to Saturday Night Fever. The dance party that is Partie Traumatic only intensifies with “I’ve Underestimated My Charm (Again).” A snare heavy beat with a driving tambourine dares you not to get up and dance as Ali and Watley sing a chorus of onomatopoeias.

“I’m Not Going To Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance” is sure to be the ubiquitous dance jam of the summer. Its infectious anthem-like chorus of “DANCE! DANCE! DANCE! DANCE!” is this summer’s punchy answer to the winter’s gun shots on M.I.A.‘s “Paper Planes,” though infinitely less controversial. The track’s slick keys and group vocals pit it against the album’s other catchiest track “Love Me Already.” The pulsating percussion underlies a narrative Reggie sings about the fear of an unfaithful girlfriend and best friend with the most cuttingly poignant lyrics on the album, “why should she love you? / She knows you so well.”

With its lively melodies and vigorous beats, Partie Traumatic is set to be the party album of the summer. I can already feel the air cooling as the sun lowers on a Brooklyn rooftop while powerful beats and unabashed dance moves heat up.  Look for Black Kids’ Partie Traumatic out July 22, 2008 on Columbia Records.

Catch Black Kids live (dates below) as they tour Europe and hit many a summer festival before launching a headlining tour in the US come September.

Tracklisting:
01. Hit The Heartbreaks
02. Partie Traumatic
03. Listen To Your Body Tonight
04. Hurricane Jane
05. I’m Making Eyes At You
06. I’ve Underestimated My Charm (Again)
07. I’m Not Going To Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance (download)
08. Love Me Already
09. I Wanna Be Your Limousine
10. Look At Me (When I Rock Wichoo)

Tour Dates:
Jul 02 – The Rescue Rooms / Nottingham, Eng. [SOLD OUT]
Jul 03 – The Cockpit / Leeds, Eng. [SOLD OUT]
Jul 04 – O2 Wireless Festival / London, Eng.
Jul 05 – Barfly / Liverpool, Eng.
Jul 07 – iTunes Live Festival at KOKO / London, Eng. (w/ Foals)
Jul 10 - Concorde 2 / Brighton, Eng.[SOLD OUT]
Jul 11 – Lounge On The Farm Festival / Canterbury, Eng.
Jul 12 – Oxegen Festival / Naas, Ire.
Jul 13 – T in the Park Festival / Kinross-shire, Scot.
Jul 18 – Latitude Festival / Southwold, Eng.
Jul 19 – Camp Bestival / Dorset, Eng.
Jul 25 – Santo’s Party House / New York, NY
Jul 29 – El Rey Theatre / Los Angeles, Ca.
Aug 01 – Lollapalooza Festival / Chicago, Il.
Aug 14 – Frequency Festival / Salzburg, Aus.
Aug 15 – Highfield Festival / Erfurt-Hohenfelden, Ger.
Aug 16 – Pukkelpop Festival / Hasselt, Bel.
Aug 17 – Lowlands Festival / Biddinghuizen, Net.
Aug 20 – Carling Academy / Newcastle, Eng. [SOLD OUT]
Aug 21 – Thekla / Bristol, Eng.
Aug 23 – Reading Festival / Reading, Eng.
Aug 24 – Leeds Festival / Leeds, Eng.
Aug 25 – Last Days Of Summer Festival / Buckingham, Eng.
Aug 29 – Rock en Seine Festival / Paris, Fr.
Aug 31 - Jersey Live Festival / Jersey, Eng.
Sep 05 – Bestival / Isle of Wight, Eng.
Sep 19 – Freebird Live / Jacksonville, Fl.
Sep 20 – The Social / Orlando, Fl.
Sep 21 – Crowbar / Tampa, Fl.
Sep 23 – The Earl / Atlanta, Ga.
Sep 24 – 40 Watt Club / Athens, Ga.
Sep 25 – Cat’s Cradle / Carrboro, NC
Sep 26 – Ottobar / Baltimore, Md.
Sep 26 – Black Cat / Washington, DC
Sep 29 – First Unitarian Church / Philadelphia, Pa*
Oct 02 – Paradise / Boston, Ma.
Oct 04 – Cabaret Musee Juste Pour Rire / Montreal, Qc.
Oct 05 – The Mod Club / Toronto, On.
Oct 06 – Metro / Chicago, Il.
Oct 07 – 7th Street Entry / Minneapolis, Mn.
Oct 10 – Neumo’s / Seattle, Wa.
Oct 11 - Richards on Richards / Vancouver, BC
Oct 12 – Hawthorne Theater / Portland, Or.
Oct 13 – The Fillmore Auditorium / San Francisco, Ca.

Black Kids: website | myspace | download, watch “I’m Not Going To Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance” | watch “Hurricane Jane”
Columbia Records: website

Hercules & Love Affair is the experimental disco project of Andy Butler along with vocal help from Antony of Antony and the Johnsons, Kim Ann Foxman and Nomi. have been making waves for some time now, but today sees the official launch of their debut self-titled album in the United States.

Butler aims to prove (and absolutely succeeds) in proving that disco isn’t dead. Don’t think Saturday Night Fever or The BeeGees, though. Hercules & Love Affair blends joy and melancholy with poppy synth beats and a total dance vibe.

Both the album and the catchy, tambourine driven single “Blind” debuted in the UK at #1 and it seems as if Hercules & Love Affair are poised to take over the American charts as well. Hercules & Love Affair is sure to incite a dance party no matter where you listen or with whom. The beats, coupled with Antony’s unique vocals along with those of Foxman and Nomi, create dance jams to keep you shaking straight through the summer.

Be sure to pick up your copy of Hercules & Love Affair’s self-titled debut available now on Mute Records.

Tracklisting:
01. Time Will
02. Hercules Theme
03. You Belong
04. Athene
05. Blind
06. Iris
07. Easy
08. This Is My Move
09. Raise Me Up
10. True False/Fake Real

Hercules and Love Affair: website | myspace | stream album
Mute Records: website

Through their dizzying dance beats, upbeat electric tempos and sing-along gang vocals, Omaha’s Tilly and the Wall will have fans gasping, O! in excitement for the group’s third studio album.

Tilly’s third, but untitled album has adoringly been given the name of O by fans in honor of the group’s hometown and the cutout shape of the album artwork, which will feature several covers made by different artists. The idea for the artwork reflects a lot of what gives Tilly their uniqueness. Although the artwork on the covers change, there is still a commonality in the cutout shape of the O much like Tilly’s sound on this record shows some change from their previous releases, but at its root, the construction that makes them distinct is still there. The percussive tap, the build-up to a shouted chorus and the lyrics about love and nature are all still present in full force, but the group also takes a more experimental step with a darker, electronic and more brooding tone on songs.

The album opens much like the previous albums with an acoustic guitar and smooth female harmonies drifting over the guitar. “Tall Tall Grass,” however, is uncharacteristic of the band because it lacks the defining tap and urgent tempo found on many of their tracks. As charming as this opener is, it is easily forgettable the second the group’s single, “Pot Kettle Black” stomps in with a loud, sizzling hiss.

Following “Pot Kettle Black” is the brilliantly expressive “Cacophony” which has the best harmonies heard on the album in addition to a haunting melody. When they vocally descend in the line “I see the tear roll down your cheek” to mirror the movement of the tear, the genius of it is enough to make you want to cry with glee.

The Cure sounding “Falling Without Knowing” showcases the band’s new-found fascination with electronica and pairs it with soaring vocals. Ironically, the track that follows and shares its name with a Cure album doesn’t sound like anything from Robert Smith’s catalogue.

From the fun, twisted duet of “Jumbler” to the creeping darkness of “Dust Me Off” to the no-nonsense attitude of “Too Excited,” this new album covers a spectrum of emotions and styles proving that Conor Oberst isn’t the only musician worth knowing from Nebraska.

Released by Team Love on June 17, 2008.

Tracklisting:
1. Tall Tall Grass
2. Pot Kettle Black
3. Cacophony
4. I Found you
5. Jumbler
6. Chandelier
7. Dust Me Off
8. Falling Without Knowing
9. Blood Flowers
10. Poor Man’s Ice Cream
11. Too Excited

Tour Dates:
Jul 04 @ Richard on Richards/Vancouver, BC
Jul 05 @ Neumo’s/ Seattle, WA
Jul 08 @ Great American Music Hall/San Francisco, CA
Jul 10 @ Echoplex/Los Angeles, CA
Jul 11 @ Modified/Phoenix, AZ
Jul 13 @ Club Congress /Tucson, AZ
Jul 16 @ Granada/ Dallas, TX
Jul 17 @ Emo’s/Austin, TX
Jul 19 @ One Eyed Jack’s/New Orleans, LA
Jul 22 @ The Social/Orlando, FL
Jul 24 @ Variety Playhouse/Atlanta, GA
Jul 25 @ Cat’s Cradle/Carrboro, NC
Jul 26 @ Black Cat/Washington, DC
Jul 27 @ First Unitarian Church/Philadelphia, PA
Jul 29 @ Music Hall of Williamsburg/Brooklyn, NY
Jul 30 @ Bowery Ballroom/New York, NY
Jul 31 @ Paradise/Boston, MA
Aug 02 @ Mod Club/Toronto, Ont
Aug 03 @ Hartwood Acres/Pittsburgh, PA
Aug 06 @ Abbey Pub/Chicago, IL
Aug 07 @ Sokol Auditorium/Omaha, NE

Tilly and the Wall: website | myspace
Saddle Creek Records: website | myspace

* Written by Bethany

It is 2008, so I guess the reaction I got for this was to be expected, even if it would’ve made me the coolest kid I know in 1983. Thursday night I got to see the pop rock legends known as Duran Duran play at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia. When I told people about my attendance beforehand, the typical reaction was a confused look followed by giggling. I’m OK with that, though, because I get the last laugh: Duran Duran put on an incredible show.

Openers Your Vegas got the crowd, mostly those d’un certain âge, pumped with their dreamlike rock sound and incredible energy, despite a fracture heel suffered by front man Coyle Girelli. Anticipation was high enough that in between sets, the audience screamed at the change of a light on stage, believing it a sign that Duran Duran was set to come out and begin their set. Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, Jon Taylor and Roger Taylor came on stage to an explosion of sound from the crowd. The beginning of the set featured the namesake of both the current tour and the band’s latest album, “Red Carpet Massacre” as well as notable hit “Hungry Like The Wolf.”

Throughout Duran Duran’s first set, the audience danced non-stop. Le Bon performed high kicks in the air like a champ and bassist Taylor constantly moved about the stage. The energy exhibited by Duran Duran was phenomenal, but the audience gave the band a run for their money. An hour-long dance fest ensued to the utmost pleasure of every single person in attendance; there was no better place to be and no better people to be with.

Before launching into “Save A Prayer,” Le Bon encouraged the audience to pull out and open their cell phones to see “that square of light” so that they could create their own stars within the Mann Center. The venue became its own miniature galaxy for the five and a half minutes of “Save A Prayer.” The remainder of the instrumental set rocked hard, keeping the audience 100% energized for the electronic set, complete with dual turntables with large lit up D’s, that followed. The beats were fierce and the crowd managed to keep moving to them, despite having had only a 3 minute rest in between sets.

Duran Duran’s 27 year history only plays in their favor. They’ve mastered an array of musical styles and tightly pull them all off during their live show. Le Bon, Rhodes, and the Taylors still possess the energy, intensity and enthusiasm they began their career with in 1980. The 22 date North American stint ends at the end of this month, with two shows at Central Park’s Summer Stage in New York City. The band will then head across the pond to Europe for a slew of dates in Europe.

If Duran Duran is headed your way, do not pass up the chance to see them live, especially if you like to dance. Relive the best of what the 80s had to offer, as well as amazing music from the 90s through today, with Duran Duran.

more@ flickr

Tour Dates:
May 24 – Atlantis/Paradise Island (Bahamas)
May 27 – Merriweather Post Pavilion/Columbia, Maryland
May 28 – Agganis Arena/Boston, Massachusetts
May 30 – Central Park Summerstage/New York City, New York
May 31 – Central Park Summerstage/New York City, New York
Jun 12 – Palais Nikaia/Nice
Jun 18 – Cirque Royal/Brussels
Jun 19 – Heineken Music Hall/Amsterdam
Jun 21 – Folkeparken/Hjørring, Nordjylland
Jun 22 – KB Hall/Copenhagen
Jul 03 – O2 Arena/London
Jul 05 – Liverpool Echo Arena/Liverpool
Jul 06 – Nottingham Arena/Nottingham
Jul 07 – NIA/Birmingham
Jul 10 – Super Bock Super Rock Festival/Lisbon
Jul 12 – Maag Music Hall/Zurich
Jul 13 – The Gasometer/Vienna
Jul 15 РEsedra РPalazzo T̬/Mantova
Jul 16 – Roma Rock Festival/Roma
Jul 18 - Pala de André/Ravenna
Jul 19 – Idr O Scalo/Milano
Jul 20 – Spiaggia Del Faro/Jesolo
Jul 22 - Arena Flegrea/Napoli
Jul 23 – Piazza Indipendenza/Reggio Calabria
Jul 26 – Luxol Parade Ground/Pembroke
Duran Duran: website | myspace

Earlier this week, We Are Scientists, now a pair instead of a trio, released their sophomore effort Brain Thrust Mastery. Despite spending much of 2007 drying out, losing weight, learning how to drive racecars and lecturing at UK universities, Keith Murray (guitar, vocals) and Chris Cain (bass, backing vocals) managed to find time to write the new album even without former drummer Michael Tapper, who retired from the group last fall. What they came up with is just as solid as We Are Scientist’s debut With Love & Squalor.

Brain Thrust Mastery begins with lots of distortion and Murray’s and Cain’s vocals echo in very low and subdued. A steady and pounding beat elevates the song to the dance party jams that We Are Scientists have made into their M.O. Synth parts blast through songs like “Let’s See It” and “Lethal Enforcer.” The latter, as well as “Tonight” and “That’s What Counts,” draws inspiration from the rock and soul sounds of the legendary Hall & Oates. Upon my first listen of “Lethal Enforcer,” I can be quoted as saying, “Such a dance, 80s, Hall & Oates-influenced, synthy, wonderful joy of a song!” It would seem that off-the-record Jessica didn’t major in eloquence and articulation, but you’re dying to hear it now, right? Right.

Murray pounds out driving guitar riffs and sings with the voice of an English indie rocker while Cain’s bass lines incite an infectious dance groove beat. The pair know how to harmonize and layer their vocals quite well, exemplified on “Let’s See It” and “After Hours.” Murray again draws influence from the likes of Hall & Oates with his distinct vocal patterns on “That’s What Counts” and “Tonight.”

An unknown drummer, perhaps a drum machine, creates catchy as hell hooks as it pounds away on the snare and cymbals, often making the guitar and synth secondary in their effort. Brain Thrust Mastery‘s energy remains at high speed throughout most of the album, even when songs like “Lethal Enforcer” mellow out into slow, shoegaze-y grooves. “Spoken For” slows the disc down with its smooth melodies as it acts as Brain Thrust Mastery‘s ballad. There’s really nothing wrong with ballads, but putting one on a record whose style is completely different is bullshit. Ballads should exist to improve the silence, not to prove that a band can also “do” ballads.

“Spoken For” is out of place on Brain Thrust Mastery and slows the entire album down with ambient instrumentation until “Chick Lit” speeds up the tempo and “Dinosaurs” finally kicks things back into high gear. “Chick Lit” sounds almost forced and ironic in its execution, as if Murray and Cain have been hanging around too many hipsters since they’ve moved to the ultra hip borough of Brooklyn. “Dinosaurs,” my favorite track, is far more genuine with its pounding drum hooks and warped guitar chords.

Somewhat surprisingly, the lyrical content of Brain Thrust Mastery is far heavier than the music behind it. Murray sings about letting loved ones down and buckling under the weight “now that the pressure is on” in “Let’s See It,” sounding rather desperate for something. Self doubt arises in “Lethal Enforcer” in the lyrics, “I promise this is not a test / I just want you to be sure,” and the need to drying out shines through in “After Hours” as Murray claims, “no one has the guts to shut us out. / There’s always the hope that some place will be serving after hours,” and “time means nothing… / We’re all right where we’re supposed to be.”

“Altered Beast” is seemingly angry in its lyrical content — Murray sings, “I know you think you’re saying what I want to hear, / But I’m smart enough to recognize a bad idea,” — yet sounds indifferent due to the music’s slow and mellow nature. Anger would be far more convincing if the tune featured faster riffs or harder drums, yet the song merely drifts along. Far more convincing, though not angry, is closing track, “That’s What Counts,” a song seemingly about a one night stand. Jazzy synth and horns play under Murray’s silky falsetto, “we shouldn’t think about last night; / Nobody’s proud of what they’ve done. / Oh, let’s not argue about what’s right. / Let’s just agree that it was fun.”

On the whole, We Are Scientists have created a tight and dance pop album that consistently had me on my feet groovin’ around. You can pick up a copy of Brain Thrust Mastery in stores now.

Tracklisting:
01. Ghouls
02. Let’s See It
03. After Hours
04. Lethal Enforcer
05. Impatience
06. Tonight
07. Spoken For
08. Altered Beast
09. Chick Lit
10. Dinosaurs
11. That’s What Counts

Tour Dates:
May 17 – Manchester Academy 2/Manchester, England
June 23 – Kasbah/Coventry, England
June 24 – 53 Degres/Preston, England
June 25 – Met Uni/Leeds, England
July 15 – Somerset House/ London, England
July 22 – Ibiza Rocks/Ibiza

We Are Scientists: website | myspace | Brain Thrust Mastery

You can download Ponytail‘s new single, “Come Celebrate the Body Electric (It Came From An Angel)” from the band’s forthcoming album Ice Cream Spiritual on Baltimore imprint We Are Free (part of the Yeasayer family). The track is also available on iTunes.

If Canadian indie outfit Tokyo Police Club aimed to take over the world with their infectious and urgent dance rock, they could count on Philadelphia to be loyal followers. The First Unitarian Church was already packed with a line of people outside hoping to get in as I made my way in during opening act and fellow Canadians The Meligrove Band‘s set. It only managed to become full during Smoosh’s set and almost overbearing when Tokyo Police Club finally claimed the stage.

From the moment Smoosh played their last note until Josh Hook, Greg Alsop, Graham Wright and David Monks walked onto the stage, the Church was abuzz with energy and anticipation from the ten year old girls in front of me up against the stage to the twenty and thirty-somethings in the back. An elaborate display of lights lined the back wall and front edge of the stage and when those lights flashed on for the first time, the audience went crazy.

With few songs clocking in over 3 minutes, Tokyo Police Club was able to play most of their discography, delighting the fervent crowd. The first two songs saw the audience still fairly tame, but as “Box” from the “Nature of the Experiment” single, the crowd flew into a frenzy of dancing and moshing. The rest of the show saw the crowd in the same frantic manner, jumping around and pushing into one another, showing their love and enthusiasm for Tokyo Police Club. If “Box” saw the beginning of the crowd’s insanity, “Graves,” “Your English Is Good” and “Nature of the Experiment” all increased its intensity level as the band’s energy also soared on stage.

After playing “Tessellate” from the disc, Monks informed the audience that he was really impressed with Philadelphia because for as many shows as the band had played, the Philly crowd was the only one to get the hand claps down right. I didn’t think it was possible, but with the praise from Monks, the audience rocked out crazier and harder, straight through the end of set, the two minutes the band left the stage, and during the encore. Tokyo Police Club played a tight set with the most energy I’ve ever seen. They are definitely a band you need to see. Tokyo Police Club are playing tonight at the Magic Stick in Detroit and will be on tour through June (dates below).

more @ flickr

Tour Dates:
May 04 – Magic Stick/Detroit, Michigan
May 05 – Metro/Chicago, Illinois
May 06 – Varsity Theatre/Minneapolis, Minnesota
May 08 – Garrick’s Theatre/Winnipeg, Manitoba
May 09 – Louis’ Pub/Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
May 10/11 – The Warehouse/Calgary, Alberta
May 12 – The Starlite Room/Edmonton, Alberta
May 14 – The Habitat/Kelowna, British Columbia (SOLD OUT)
May 16 – Plaza Club/Vancouver, British Columbia
May 17 – Sugar Nightclub/Victoria, British Columbia
May 18 – Neumos/Seattle, Washington
May 19 – Hawthorne Theatre/Portland, Oregon
May 22 – Bluebird Theatre/Denver, Colorado
May 23 – Slowdown/Omaha, Nebraska
29 May – Barfly/Cambridge
30 May – Bodega/Nottingham
31 May – Cockpit/Leeds
01 Jun – Night & Day/Manchester
03 Jun – Barfly/Birmingham
05 Jun – Le Bontanique/Brussels
06 Jun – Rock Am Ring/Nurburgring
07 Jun – Rock Im Park/Zeppelinfeld
08 Jun – La Maroquinerie/Paris
10 Jun – King Tuts/Glasglow
11 Jun – Other Rooms/Newcastle
12 Jun – Academy/Oxford
13 Jun – Marquee/Hertford
16 Jun – Digital/Brighton
17 Jun – Thekla/Bristol
18 Jun – Scala/London

Tokyo Police Club: website | myspace | Elephant Shell review

You know you just can’t get her out of your head: Kylie Minogue is releasing a new album (her first in four years!) titled X on April 1, 2008 via Astralwerks/Capitol Records and PopWreck(oning) is giving away the first CD single “2 Hearts” and a bunch of other fun stuff including stickers, postcards and a poster (see below for details!).

You can stream both the album version and the MIMS version of new single “All I See” or, even better, starting today and going through Thursday, you can stream X in its entirety at Kylie’s MySpace page here.

The album has already been released internationally, and now the US can finally find out what the rest of the world’s been buzzing about. Worldwide, the album is receiving critical acclaim worldwide for its “radiant collection of euphoric, occasionally dreamlike electro-pop,” says British music bible Q. Minogue also remains true to her infectious dancefloor roots with tracks such as “2 Hearts,” “Wow,” “All I See” and “In My Arms.” Over the course of her 20 year career, Minoque has sold over 40 million albums and created an amazing 46 hit singles. X has already won Minogue a BRIT Award for Best International Female Solo Artist.

Of the album, Minogue says, “This album is much more a celebration than anything I’ve done before, with some room for reflection as well…To finish was a great relief and an inspiration in that I knew, ‘This is what I do and this is what I love doing.’”

**To win a Kylie Minogue prize pack, email Jessica at jessica [at] popwreckoning [dot] com — a winner will randomly be selected one week from today!!** This contest is now over.

US track-listing: 2 Hearts, Like A Drug, In My Arms, Speakerphone, Sensitized, Heart Beat Rock, The One, No More Rain, All I See, Stars, Wow, Nu-di-ty, Cosmic, bonus All I See ft/MIMS

Kylie Minogue: website | myspace

To preface, let me just say that I’ve never met a dance party I didn’t like, so when the opportunity to see Headlights live, touring their latest release, presented itself, I was stoked. And while I hate to use stock photos for a concert review (instead, check out the video for “Cherry Tulips” below) I was happy to dance my way through Headlights’ set rather than worry about getting a good shot off — taking notes was enough of a challenge while shakin’ it on Johnny Brenda’s balcony.

The trio, which is actually a five-some for the duration of the tour, started off a high energy set with a sound check that was as fun to watch from above as it seemed to be for the band, whom were joking amongst themselves and with the venue’s sound guy. The balcony was crowded, with audience members hanging over the edge in anticipation as Erin, Tristan, Brett, Nick, and John prepared for their set. Tristan kicked off a high-energy set with a long instrumental introduction to “Get Your Head Around It.”

While I’ve seen it take an audience half a set to really get into a band, the crowd at Johnny Brenda’s were all bouncing along, if not outright dancing, to Headlights by “Centuries” off of 2005′s The Enemy EP. It was at this point that I thought to myself that while Johnny Brenda’s is a great place, Headlights more than deserves to sell out venues five times its size. The energy coming from the five on stage more than proved it’s only a matter of time before that happens. From my perch on the balcony, I was mesmerized by Erin’s fingers gliding meticulously yet feverishly across the keyboards while Brett’s drumming just really blew me away and Tristan made playing the guitar look way too easy.

The entire set, from start to finish, was simply amazing. Make it your business to check out Headlights as they tour from now through the beginning of April (see dates below). Undoubtedly one of the top shows of 2008.

Setlist: Get Your Head Around It;Market Girl; Centuries; Towers; School Boys; So Much For The Afternoon; Some Racing, Some Stopping; Catch Them All; Cherry Tulips; Owl Eyes

Tour Dates: