popwreckoning

“Are you ready to rock?” asked a jovial Barry Hyde of the Futureheads Friday night. Cheering ensued. He flashed an evil grin. “You’re in the right place, because we are too!” The Sunderland, England punk rock quartet played a blazing set of favorites old and new to a crowd raring to go at the Black Cat in Washington. Their latest album The Chaos was released in America this past Tuesday on Dovecote Records.

The first of two support acts, the Static Jacks, seemed perfectly matched to the punk sensibility of the headlining Sunderland rockers. This five-member New Jersey band is a band primed for success that you’ve probably never even heard of by name before. According to Wikipedia, tunes by this self-described garage-soul band have graced “The Hills” and “The City” and have been featured on stateside satellite radio. Despite sporting a haircut reminiscent of Lyle Lovett, singer Ian Devaney has the swagger and aura of coolness of Joey Ramone and the magnetism of the Horrors‘ Faris Badwan. I was standing in front of bassist Spencer Kimmins and guitarist Henry Kaye and nearly got hit in the head by wayward guitar necks; this didn’t put me off at the slightest, because this is what you should expect during a high energy punk set. You don’t expect the bass player to hit a suitcase with a stick like it was a drum either, but you go with it if the music is good. Despite their young age (all of them under 21, according to the Xs on their hands), they have a polished but aggressive sound. If they keep this up, expect big things from this band soon.

The Like, an all-girl group from Los Angeles, have previously toured with some heavy hitters – Muse, the Arctic Monkeys, and Razorlight, just to name a few. Given their sometimes punk, sometimes sunny pop sound, the comparison to the Go-Go’s is inevitable. There are also whiffs of the Beatles (check out the video for “He’s Not a Boy” below, which reminds me of the nightclub dance scenes in “A Hard Day’s Night”) and the Beach Boys with their harmonies. Oddly, their set sandwiched in between the Static Jacks and the Futureheads almost felt like a rest period because they couldn’t match the liveliness of the other two acts. I would have preferred if they stuck to punk (and showcase their technical chops) than with retro pop. Their next album produced by Mark Ronson, Release Me, will be released on June 15 on Downtown Records.

He’s Not A Boy from The Like on Vimeo.

Sunderland, nestled in the far reaches of Northeast England, has been criminally neglected by music pundits in the past, but mark my words, it won’t be for much longer. One of these days someday soon, America will come to its collective senses and realize the wealth of music there, from the likes of Field Music, Frankie and the Heartstrings, and Friday’s headliners the Futureheads. I should have known I was in for an amazing nights simply from a message lead singer/guitarist Barry Hyde sent me hours before the show, “we’re going to rock your socks off!”

The moment Hyde and his band stepped on the Black Cat stage, you could sense the electricity in the air. The driving count-in of “5-4-3-2-1!” of “The Chaos” was a superb way to begin a set that never let up in sheer intensity and fun. “Heartbeat Song” was prefaced by Hyde with, “imagine it’s the ’80s. You’re in a John Hughes film, and you’ve just fallen in love.” Wow. It’s the obvious earworm single of The Chaos, and was simply breathtaking live as a pop-punk masterpiece. I previously linked to the excellent promo video for the song on a tour announcement 2 months ago, but check out this “making of” video that shows you just how fun these guys are.

Their roadie had painstakingly taped down all the guitar cords onstage, and this was because guitarist Ross Millard, bassist Jaff Craig, and most often Hyde himself could be found roaming the stage while frenetically going at their instruments with gusto. By the second song in, all of them were covered in sweat. Having never seen this band before live, I was not expecting the very funny stage patter from Hyde and the interaction between him, Millard, and Craig. It made an already stellar gig even better, and I’d argue they rank up there with We Are Scientists for pure during-gig hilarity. Early on in the show, Hyde chided a drunk couple who had been chatting throughout the set, one of whom had thrown a empty glass at his feet. “You do know this is a gig, right?” The crowd cheered in response.

During their cover of Kate Bush‘s “Hounds of Love,” Hyde involved the audience in a shouting contest, as Millard was unable to do his harmonies due to a sore throat, Hyde admitting he was scared to sing part of a song that he’d never done live before. Aww. (If you were wondering, my side singing along with Craig won the contest due to our enthusiasm in participating.) For the encore, Hyde indulged a devoted fan as the band played “Man Ray” from their 2004 self-titled debut album, saying to her, “after every single song we’ve played you shouted for this.” Just goes to show that persistence, in the presence of a obliging band, pays off. After such an energetic set, it was obvious that these chaps from Sunderland could have played on for hours and hours and the crowd would have eaten it all up. I can’t wait to see these guys again soon.

The Futureheads Set List
The Chaos
Meantime
Heartbeat Song
Decent Days and Nights
The Baron
Area
Struck Dumb
Sun Goes Down
Skip to the End
The Connector
I Can Do That
The Beginning of the Twist
Hounds of Love (Kate Bush cover)
Jupiter
//
This is the Life
Man Ray
Work is Never Done

Tour Dates
Jun 07 – Paradise / Boston
Jun 08 – Bowery Ballroom / New York City
Jun 10 – Mod Club / Toronto
Jun 11 – Magic Stick / Detroit
Jun 12 – Lincoln Hall / Chicago

The Futureheads: website | myspace | The Futureheads Ready for June North American Tour
The Static Jacks: website | myspace
The Like: website | myspace

Off With Their Heads? More like Off With Their Ears!

If you’re in the market for indistinguishable Brit rock to pad your collection, feel free to add Leeds’ own Kaiser Chiefs to the mix. Their third studio release is perfect for fist-pumping frat boys in Hoboken bars who want to prove they have some semblance of indie rock cred but are far too lazy to research something a little less generic and slightly under the radar. That would require thinking, but then again so does most subterranean music of the indie rock persuasion that is actually worth listening to.

Not to say that Kaiser Chiefs don’t deserve their success. Employment (2005) was a stellar debut that flirted with new wave and 70’s style punk, but since then it seems a desire for commercial success has made their sound mass produced for, well, mass appeal. And quite frankly, fuck marketability if it is at the expense of losing that certain something that put them on the musical map in the first place. Even the help of Mark Ronson, who has produced brilliant songs for the likes of Lily Allen, Amy Winehouse and Nikka Costa, did little wonder for this derivative music except give it a shiny, polished sound.

“Spanish Metal” is their “badass” intro. Upon first listen, the vocals excited me since they were reminiscent of Alice In Chains, particularly lead singer Layne Staley (may he rest). Alas, the excitement left as quickly as it came since all the song did was ultimately make me want to turn on Jar Of Flies, not so much continue with Off With Their Heads. With a catchy sing-a-long chorus and watered down Gallagher (see: Oasis) vocals, first single “Never Miss A Beat” is actually one of the more tolerable tracks. But if blatant un-originality and banal lyrics tire you out, this song will put you to sleep faster than Nyquil. Then there’s a whole mess of uninspired songs like “Can’t Say What I Mean” and “Good Days Bad Days,” boasting lyrics that are equal parts cliché and utterly annoying. And dare I say forgettable?

Oh, and then there’s the cardinal music sin: pilfering the winning style of other musicians yet pawning it off like it’s your own creation. It seems the aforementioned is a refuge for the current unimaginative state of Kaiser Chiefs. The punchy guitar that punctuates the intro of “Like It Too Much” is nothing but a Spoon “I Turn My Camera On” baseline knock-off, but not in a good way. And I’m not even a huge Spoon fan! To add insult to injury, “You Want History,” with its wailing guitars and big background vocals, is a melodic mélange of sounds from a whole mess of forgettable 80’s bands not even worth the lackadaisical mention.

Overall, this album misses the very beat they claim to “Never Miss.” These Leeds lads aren’t exactly covering new ground. Had they opted to cover familiar territory from a unique vantage point maybe they could have developed more worthwhile lyrics, but no dice. Plus, the music has been done before… and better. Sometimes cheap imitations work IF they are done well, as with the case of The Maccabees, who sound like Coldplay’s younger, lesser-known brother. The only difference here is at least their emulation is listenable, even if it isn’t particularly groundbreaking. Eh, it is what it is. And suffice it to say, I’ve seen fake Prada wallets sold by New York City street vendors with more style and originality than Kaiser Chiefs.

Off With Their Heads will be released on October 28th through Universal Records.

Tracklisting:
01. Spanish Metal
02. Never Miss a Beat
03. Like It Too Much
04. You Want History
05. Can’t Say What I Mean
06. Good Days Bad Days
07. Tomato in the Rain
08. Half the Truth
09. Always Happens Like That
10. Addicted To Drugs
11. Remember You’re A Girl

Kaiser Chiefs: website | myspace

Adult beverage makers Smirnoff will unite Duran Duran and producer Mark Ronson for a live show, the invite-only Smirnoff Experience Paris, on July 2nd at La Cigale in Paris. Duran Duran will perform a live set with Ronson to showcase some specially reworked versions of the band’s classics, as well as tracks from Duran Duran’s latest offering, Red Carpet Massacre. Ronson will also be performing songs off his album Version with his Version Players and guest vocals from Simon LeBon.

Smirnoff Experience Paris is the third of four global Smirnoff Experience events, celebrating the brand’s heritage and originality. The global program features original music collaborations fused with unique and interactive entertainment showcased in four of the cities most relevant to the history of the brand: Moscow, Shanghai, Paris and New York City. To prepare for this unique, once in a lifetime show, the members of Duran Duran and Ronson have been in constant contact from the road, collaborating on new interpretations of the music.

Ronson says, “Duran Duran are one of my favorite bands, period….It’s an honour and a highlight of my musical career to get to perform with them…it’s going to be a special night in Paris.” Duran Duran’s bassist John Taylor is just as excited: “I can’t think of anyone working in music today that I would rather collaborate with…This is a very exciting gig for us, totally different to anything we have done before,” as is keyboardist Nick Rhodes: “I believe he will be one of the most influential voices of his generation – the story has only just begun. I am thrilled that we are working together. It’s going to be truly inspiring.”

Premier electronic French label Ed Banger will also add their own magic to the night, with other specially-created Duran Duran remixes being presented by a selection of their hottest artists and DJs. In addition, Smirnoff Experience resident DJ Tom Middleton will also return for a unique performance with Paris-based classical pianist Maxence Cyrin, who will blend interpretations of acid house melodies with ambient beats, taking guests on a trip through some of the sounds that have defined a whole musical generation.

Duran Duran Tour Dates:
May 06 – Dodge Theatre – Phoenix, AZ
May 08 – Valley View – San Diego, CA
May 09 – The Joint - Las Vegas, NV
May 10 – The Joint – Las Vegas, NV
May 12 – Wells Fargo Theatre – Denver, CO
May 14 – Rosemont Theatre - Chicago, IL
May 15 – Masonic Temple Theatre – Detroit, MI
May 16 – Summit City – Whitesburg, KY
May 17 – Chastain Park Amphitheater – Atlanta, GA
May 18 – UCF Arena – Orlando, FL
May 19 – Mizner Park Amphitheatre – Boca Raton, FL
May 21 – Koka Booth Amphitheatre – Raleigh, NC
May 22 – Mann Center for the Performing Arts – Philadelphia, PA
May 24 – Atlantis - Paradise Island (Bahamas)
May 27 – Merriweather Post Pavilion – Columbia, MD
May 28 – Agganis Arena – Boston, MA
May 30 – Central Park Summerstage – New York City, NY
May 31 – Central Park Summerstage – New York City, NY
Jul 02 – La Cigale – Paris

Duran Duran: website | myspace | Red Carpet Massacre on iTunes, Amazon | purchase tickets | listen to “Nite-Runner” from Red Carpet Massacre
Mark Ronson: website | myspace