popwreckoning

An all New York City bill went down at DC’s Red Palace Saturday night. The Postelles were in town to celebrate the release of their debut album on +1 Records on Tuesday. With them were their buddies Ambassadors and a band that surprisingly they had never run into back home, the Dig. I wasn’t about to miss a Postelles show; not counting this gig, I’ve seen them three times, and they never disappoint. Saturday’s show in Washington was as good of an excuse as any for the band to party with what lead singer/guitarist Daniel Balk counts as one of his favorite cities to play in.

Ambassadors was the only act of the night I’d never seen live before. I try not to overuse the word “eclectic” in any of my writing, but I don’t know how else to describe this band’s music. Their song “Bodybag” could have easily fit in Fleet Foxes’ repetoire. In another song, lead singer Sam Harris was using a bow on his bass guitar: unusual, no? Their closing number sounded more MGMT. Lead guitarist Noah Feldshuh had a Nord in front of him, which seemed strange considering Harris’s brother Casey is their dedicated keyboardist. They have some good songs, but I think trying to focus on one general genre would probably serve them well, so they would have a better chance at hawking their debut album (to be released sometime in 2011) around to labels.

Having seen the Dig open for two great British bands (Editors and the Joy Formidable) last year, I knew I was in for a treat. Personally, I feel that the Dig should have a larger profile on the American music scene, already having released a very good debut album last year (Electric Toys, review here). Their hard rock yet fun sound is the kick in the pants that American rock stations need. In addition to playing “Two Sisters in Love,” “You’re Already Gone,” and “Look Inside,” the band also played some new material that I hope will be released on a new EP or album sometime in the very near future.

Then 11:30 rolled around and it was time for the main event. The Postelles’ debut album has 12 songs, yet they only played 8 of them, which was a little disappointing to me, since I love the entirety of The Postelles. “Sleep on the Dance Floor” was peerless, as were “1, 2, 3 Stop” and “Hey Little Sister,” the latter with Balk asking the crowd to sing along at the end on the “hey little sister!” refrain. I don’t know how it’s possible, but the band sound tighter each time I hear them play, and it’s been great seeing their progression from support to headliner. I can’t wait to see where these guys go.

My only complaint: maybe the band is bored of playing the songs off the album, because they played what I considered two completely non sequitur cover songs. In the middle of the set, they played the late ’70s Wreckless Eric hit “(I’d Go the) Whole Wide World,” a song by an English singer/songwriter than I’m sure very few patrons present had even heard of. This was later followed by a cover of the Rivieras‘ “California Sun,” which is a fun summer song for sure, but I never put surf pop and the Postelles in the same sentence, so it seemed a little out of place. Still, it was a really enjoyable show, and it was obvious that the crowd was enjoying it as well. Loud, drunk girls shouted as to how hot bassist John Speyer’s vest and drummer Billy Cadden‘s v-neck t-shirt were. Is this the kind of reception the Beatles got in their early days?

Oddly, the sets grew shorter as the night progressed, with the Postelles only playing about 35 minutes, including the encore. I found out after the show that this had to do with a curfew (rats) but I was promised by Balk that they would return. Whenever the Postelles do, they will have a fanatical crowd waiting for them, no doubt about it.

The Postelles Set List
Stella
She She
Sleep on the Dance Floor
Looking Glass
Hey Little Sister
(I’d Go the) Whole Wide World (Wreckless Eric cover)
1, 2, 3 Stop
Running Red Lights
California Sun (the Rivieras cover)
Can’t Stand Still
White Night
//
Boy’s Best Friend

Tour Dates
Jun 15-16 – NXNE / Toronto
Jun 17 – Schubas / Chicago
Jun 18 – Summer Soulstice Music Festival / Milwaukee
Jun 20 – Tractor Tavern / Seattle
Jun 23 – Popscene @ Rickshaw Stop / San Francisco
Jun 28 – Echo / Los Angeles
Jul 07 – T.T. the Bear’s / Cambridge, MA

The Postelles: website | myspace | interview with | @ Rock ‘n’ Roll Hotel | The Postelles Premiere First Promo Video, “White Night” | The Postelles Announce Fall North American Tour | @ Red Palace, February 2011 | The Postelles review
Ambassadors: myspace
The Dig: myspace | @ 9:30 Club | The Joy Formidable / The Dig Live Performances / Webchat on May 10 | Thrice announce 2nd leg of Summer tour w/Kevin Devine, Bad Veins & The Dig | Electric Toys review

I hate to be cliche (ok, maybe I do), but you know how there’s that Forrest Gump quote that says, “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get”? I kind of feel that way about shows at Kansas City’s Midland Theatre. Sometimes you get something that’s a bit nutty such as comedian Conan O’Brien. Sometimes you get something that’s sweet such as the State Ballet’s The Nutcracker. And other times, you get something that’s a box of mixed chocolates within itself. That’s what the recent Thrice tour was like: a box of mixed chocolates; and with each act on the bill, ‘you never knew what you were gonna get.’
First act of the night, The Dig, is what I like to imagine as one of those caramel-filled chocolates. Just like caramel, their music had a tendency to stick with you for a bit. They delivered catchy, rock tunes (I say rock because they are more rock live than they are power pop like their website says) that were just the right level of messy raucousness to help them stand out. Their last number turned into a big party as members of later acts came out with extra drum sticks and percussion instruments to add to the band’s already explosive sound.

Next, was indie pop duo Bad Veins and their reel-to-reel machine, Irene. In my musical box of chocolates, I picture these guys as one of those fruit-filled chocolates. Something that’s a bit sweeter than the other chocolates in the box, but in a vintage kind of way. Bad Veins has perhaps the happiest drummer you’ll ever see, which I surprisingly enjoyed despite the odd pairing of his happiness while singer Benjamin Davis belted his heartbroken lyrics through an old-fashioned telephone. This band is definitely doing something unique, but I’d like to see them refine it just a little bit more. At times they went for a more danceable kind of the Bravery type sound and other times they had more of a straight rock sound. I think the dance-ier side of them worked a bit better with the vocal style, especially when Davis sang through the telephone.

The third act, Kevin Devine, is your favorite piece of chocolate in the box. The one that no matter what other surprises you find in the assorted box, you know you can count on this reliable candy…for me that’s the peanut butter one. Kevin Devine began alone on the stage with just his guitar for back up. Later, he was joined by the Goddamn Band. I liked the solo start. It let people really experience the personality of Kevin. He began small, gently strumming and singing closely into the mic before hitting an emotional explosion that makes him hop back and yowl his choruses. It’s an interesting dynamic technique and one that works well for him. Like preceding acts, Devine was also joined by other acts on the roster for a tune. This comraderie between the bands helped provide some relief from the tension of some of Devine’s harsher lyrics.

Finally, there’s Thrice. In my metaphorical box of chocolates, they’re the chocolate you try out anyways, even though you’re not entirely sure you’ll like if from past experiences. They’re my coconut chocolate. Based off the crowd, there are plenty of fans of this particular flavor, but it was just not for me. I tried it, but I’d rather stick with my trusty old peanut butter flavor. Now don’t get me wrong; I respected the tour’s dear headliners with their impressive lights and passionate playing. There was some yelling, but not the kind that makes ears bleed. This just didn’t connect with me and it seemed a bit out out of place even with the diversity of the openers. Sorry Thrice fans, but c’est la vie. I can’t be expected to love everyone.

Okay, so I readily admit it. I don’t listen to a lot of American bands. I do, however, have a defense: if you turn on your car radio in Washington, DC, scroll up and down the dial all you want, but you won’t be able to find a good station that plays all “new” American rock ‘n’ roll. (There is a rock station in the area that I like, but the problem is they play a lot of Red Hot Chili Peppers and Nirvana, which is fine if you want to relive the ’90s but not if you want to discover new bands.) To seek out the next biggest American rock band, I’ve used one of two methods: either listen to the good mix of stuff played on BBC 6music (through which I found out about the Airborne Toxic Event, the Gaslight Anthem, and Titus Andronicus) or show up early to gigs as to check out opening bands.

The latter method applies to how I found out about New York band the Dig, who supported Editors in February at the 9:30 Club. I always feel bad for opening bands. Unless you happen to be lucky and are already famous before you’ve agreed to sign on to support a bigger band on their headlining tour, the venue is likely to be mostly empty when it comes time for you to play. This was true at the 9:30, but the Dig worked it like pros, and by the end of their set everyone around me was smiling, obviously converted into fans. Workhorses of the American rock world, this band has toured around the country a lot, and it showed in their pretty much seamless live performance. Live shows are one thing; but can the band deliver on record, on their debut Electric Toys? I would say yes, a resounding yes. One better: this debut effort was produced by Bryce Goggin, who has previously worked with Pavement (on their 1994 opus Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain) and Antony and the Johnsons. Intrigued?

Like New Hampshire band Wild Light, the Dig features different members switching off for who sings lead. Bassist Emile Mosseri takes lead vocals on what I consider the more middle of the road radio-friendly tunes. “You’re Already Gone” tells the story about, from what I gather, the morning after but with a twist – the emotionally unavailable woman has split and the man is lamenting that she’s left so quickly. The result? A peculiar but wholly romantic tune (with lyrics like “I just want to hear you say good night again” and “all the city lights will light your skin“) with a wicked guitar groove. Tom Chaplin (Keane)-like vocals feature in “Carry Me Home,” just that electric guitars are the prominent instrument on this song, not keyboards. ” The drums by Jamie Alegre drive “Sick Sad Morning” along as Mosseri pleads, “why don’t you pick up the phone?” and later yelps in yearning.

In contrast, guitarist David Baldwin sings lead on “I Just Wanna Talk to You,” a tune with almost Southern swagger. Take that, Kings of Leon. “She’s Going to Kill That Boy” and “Two Sisters in Love” are equally searing, with rocking choruses. “He’s a Woman” has a psychedelic bent, with crashing drums and swirly guitars. These are the kind of songs you want to have along for a long car ride in the summer, windows rolled down, speakers blasting. The album cover of Electric Toys features a red velvet cupcake, cream cheese frosting, and a perfect maraschino cherry. I highly recommend taking a great big bite. Dig in.

Electric Toys will be released in America on June 8 on Megaforce Distribution.

Track Listing
01. Carry Me Home
02. Two Sisters in Love
03. You’re Already Gone
04. She’s Going to Kill That Boy
05. Penitentiary
06. Sick Sad Morning
07. He’s a Woman
08. Look Inside
09. For All Your Sins
10. Shadow
11. I Just Wanna Talk to You
12. Feel Like Somebody Else

The Dig: myspace | @ 9:30 Club | The Joy Formidable / The Dig Live Performances / Webchat on May 10 | Thrice announce 2nd leg of Summer tour w/Kevin Devine, Bad Veins & The Dig

Thrice has announced the second leg of their Summer headlining tour. 

The band recently canceled their co-headlining tour with Manchester Orchestra due to a family emergency, but they’re now ready to tour again. They’ll be going back on the road with Kevin Devine, Bad Veins and The Dig.

The tour starts June 3 in San Francisco, CA and goes until July 17 in Pomona, CA. Presale tickets for the second leg of the tour are available May 11 at 1 p.m. local time in each city. Tickets go on sale to the public on May 17.

Tour Dates:
Jun 3 – San Francisco, CA @ The Regency Ballroom *
Jun 4 – Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theater *
Jun 5 – Seattle, WA @ King Cat Theater *
Jun 7 – Edmonton, AB @ The Starlite Room *
Jun 8 – Calgary, AB @ MacEwan Hall Ballroom *
Jun 9 – Saskatoon, SAS @ Louis’ Pub
Jun 11 – St. Paul, MN @ Station 4 ^ #
Jun 12 – Chicago, IL @ House of Blues * ^ #
Jun 13 – Detroit, MI @ St. Andrews Hall * ^
Jun 15 – Toronto, ONT @ Phoenix Concert Theatre * ^ #
Jun 16 – Montreal, QC @ Le National* ^ #
Jun 17 – Boston, MA @ House of Blues* ^ #
Jun 18 – New Haven, CT @ Toad’s Place * ^ #
Jun 19 – Clifton Park, NY @ Northern Lights* ^ #
Jun 21 – Lancaster, PA @ Chameleon* ^ #
Jun 22 – Allentown, PA @ Crocodile Rock Café * ^ #
Jun 23 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Trocadero * ^ #
Jun 24 – New York, NY @ The Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza * ^ #
Jun 25 – Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom* ^ #
Jun 26 – Towson, MD @ The Recher Theatre * ^ #
Jun 28 – Norfolk, VA @ The NorVa * ^ #
Jun 29 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle * ^ #
Jun 30 – Charleston, SC @ The Music Farm * ^ #
Jul 1 – Lake Buena Vista, FL @ House of Blues * ^ #
Jul 2 – Fort Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution * ^ #
Jul 3 – St. Petersburg, FL @ State Theatre * ^ #
Jul 6 – Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live * ^ #
Jul 7 – Austin, TX @ Emo’s * ^ #
Jul 8 – Dallas, TX @ The Palladium * ^ #
Jul 9 – Tulsa, OK @ Cain’s Ballroom * ^ #
Jul 10 – Kansas City, MO @ Midland Theatre * ^ #
Jul 11 – Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre * ^ #
Jul 13 – Salt Lake City, UT @ In The Venue * ^ #
Jul 15 – Tempe, AZ @ The Marquee * ^ #
Jul 16 – San Diego, CA @ House of Blues * ^ #
Jul 17 – Pomona, CA @ Fox Theatre * ^ #
* Supported by Kevin Devine
^ Supported by Bad Veins
# Supported by The Dig

Welsh trio the Joy Formidable and New York City’s the Dig are currently on tour together in America. These two great rock bands are offering special live sessions at 12 PM EDT on Monday on Livestream. You can watch the performances and take part in the live web chat here.

To get you psyched up for Monday, have a listen to “You’re Already Gone” by the Dig and a watch of the hand-drawn video to “Popinjay” by the Joy Formidable below. The Joy Formidable’s yet-to-be-named debut album will be released sometime this year, and the Dig’s debut album Electric Toys will be released in America on June 8 by Megaforce Distribution.

The Dig – You’re Already Gone

The Joy Formidable: website | myspace
The Dig: myspace | @ 9:30 Club

I always feel it’s a privilege to see a band on the last date of a tour. By then, all the bugs have been worked out of a band’s set and they’ve got everything down pat to every last detail, so what you see before you is a culmination of nights and nights of “rehearsal” (if you will) for their final parting bow. A sold-out crowd in Washington greeted Editors, kings of the dark indie rock genre in Britain and the Continent, when they appeared at the 9:30 Club Sunday night, the final date of a 2-week North American tour.

Two New York bands assumed supporting act duties for the night. The first band to play was the unsigned quartet the Dig. When I know little about an opening band, I keep an open mind but also accept the fact that their music might not float my boat. In the Dig’s case, I really liked what I heard and from what I could tell by the applause from people around me, they went over pretty well with the folks that claimed places near the front early. They play pretty much straight forward rock ‘n’ roll, switching off between two lead singers (Emile Mosseri [bassist] and David Baldwin [guitar]). Two of the highlights of their short set were “You’re Already Gone,” a song I can see having radio hit potential, and “Two Sisters in Love.”

I won’t name any names for fear of stoning, but despite the super stardom of some American rock bands here and abroad, I can’t name one that has fully captured my attention in some time. The Dig’s final song, “I Just Want to Talk to You,” is one down and dirty number that sounded like the love child between Aerosmith (raw vocals and guitar riffs) and Led Zeppelin (bluesy, jammy goodness). Wicked. Keep an eye on these guys. Their debut album Electric Toys will drop in America on April 27.

.“You’re Already Gone” by The Dig.

I’ve read some reviewer’ suggestions that Brooklyn trio the Antlers makes music that fits the shoegaze and/or dream pop genres, and I can see why. They released their latest album, Hospice, last year. And as the album title suggests, this is heavy stuff and deals with tough subjects, weightier than your average shoegaze or dream pop band certainly and overall, they’re a bit quirky. I mean, really, what rock band nowadays plays with potted plants attached to their synths? Big Antlers fans were definitely in attendance, cheering appreciatively whenever frontman/guitarist Peter Silberman spoke to the crowd or introduced a number such as “Two,” the song that received the loudest cheers.

Silberman’s voice has an ephemeral quality, which at times sounds perfect against the swirly synths and effects of their keyboardist Darby Cicci and at other times at odds with drummer Michael Lerner‘s pounding beats. Structurally, their songs remind me of those of Cymbals Eat Guitars as they feel like mini-operas, songs that have distinct parts led by either the vocals or synths. Their set ender, “Wake,” implores the listener “don’t let anyone tell you you deserve that.” If you like songs with deep lyrics light on the guitars and heavy on the synths, this is the band for you.

The Antlers Set List:
Kettering
Sylvia
Bear
Two
Wake

It’s been over two2 years since Editors last visited Washington, and having talked to fans down at the front, I was not alone in never having seen the band before. Last year I made a pact with one of my best friends that if I saw Editors (one of her favorite bands) in 2010, she would have to see Friendly Fires (one of my favorite bands). To be honest, I really didn’t need much persuading, with Editors’ latest album In This Light and On This Evening drawing on synths and electronic drum beats to great effect and as a result being a major departure from the band’s previous blockbuster albums 2005′s The Back Room and 2007′s An End Has a Start.

Fans from back in the day as well as newer ones will enjoy their current live set, a fine selection of tracks from all three of the band’s albums. It was cool to watch lead guitarist Chris Urbanowicz and bassist Russell Leetch switch effortlessly between their usual axes to play synths when needed on the latest tracks, and it just goes to show that Editors aren’t afraid to try something new.

“You Don’t Know Love,” one of my favorite tracks off the new album, was amazing live, the emotion just oozing out of frontman Tom Smith. I’ve never really cared for his deep voice, but wow, I quickly became mesmerized by the man, crooning into his microphone all night and going from playing guitar, piano, and keyboards. Long-time Editors fans went crazy for tracks “The Racing Rats,” “Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors,” and “Munich,” Urbanowicz and Leetch’s guitars and Ed Lay‘s drums driving the songs. “Munich” in particular had the crowd pumping their fists in the air, everyone shouting with Smith on the chorus of “people are fragile things / you should know by now / be careful what you put them through / people are fragile things / you should know by now / you’ll speak when you’re spoken to.”

“Bricks and Mortar” was the surprising highlight of the night for me. Ever since I got the new album, I’ve wondered who played what synths-wise on which songs, but I got my answer Sunday night watching Smith and Urbanowicz furiously tap their synths side by side – totally awesome. They recently played on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and you can watch their performance below.

Editors Set List:
In This Light and On This Evening
Lights
An End Has a Start
You Don’t Know Love
Bullets
The Boxer
The Big Exit
Blood
Eat Raw Meat = Blood Drool
The Racing Rats
Escape the Nest
Like Treasure
Bones
Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors
Bricks and Mortar
//
Munich
Papillon
Fingers in the Factories

Editors: website | myspace| In This Light and On This Evening review | Editors Announce February North American Tour Dates
The Dig: myspace
The Antlers: website | myspace | The Antlers to Tour with Editors

New York City’s The Dig are leaving the Big Apple for the City of Brotherly Love to play at The Khyber on February 26th. Before hitting Philly, the fellas will be touring up and down the East Coast, starting in Washington DC on February 16th and culminating in Athens, Georgia on March 16th.

The Dig has built a steady following through consistent touring since their 2007 acclaimed debut EP, Good Luck and Games, two month-long residencies at Piano’s in NYC, and multiple performances on Fox’s “Fearless Music”.

To get a taste of The Dig for yourself before they hit your city, you can download the band’s new demo (tracklist below) from their website.

download “She’s Going To Kill That Boy”

Tracklisting:
01. She’s Gonna Kill That Boy
02. Penitentiary
03. He’s A Woman

Tour Dates:
Feb 16 – Black Cat / Washington DC
Feb 17 – Talking Head Club / Baltimore
Feb 18 – Pianos / New York City (FREE show!)
Feb 20 – Radio Bean / Burlington, Vt.
Feb 21 – Iron Horse / Northampton, Ma.
Feb 22 – T.T. The Bears / Cambridge, Ma.
Feb 24 – Bowery Ballroom / New York City
Feb 26 – The Khyber / Philadelphia
Feb 28 – Thunderbird Cafe / Pittsburgh
Mar 03 – Double Door / Chicago
Mar 05 – Phoenix Hill / Louisville
Mar 06 – Sam’s Saloon / Indianapolis
Mar 07 – Rumba Cafe / Columbus
Mar 11 – Preservation Pub / Knoxville
Mar 12 – The Garage / Asheville, NC
Mar 13 – Elliot’s Review / Winston-Salem
Mar 14 – The Mansion / Chapel Hill
Mar 16 – Go Bar / Athens, Ga.

The Dig: website | myspace

Photo: Bernard Dechant