After the show: A Place to forget about your ear drums

If it was Brooklyn based A Place To Bury Strangers intent to create an atmosphere of dark, ominous tones then, they got it right Saturday night at The Independent.

As I'd mentioned in my before the show interview, APTBS were the headlining act this time out at the after dark Treasure Island Fest show. But first things first, the openers. Caught some of All The Saints, which I'd personally not heard of, yet. This three piece outfit from Atlanta/Alabama (their Myspace is unclear about where they hail) were interesting, even if you couldn't really hear the lead singer that well. Without their drummer, who was going so hard he was practically drenched in sweat after wards, and their light show, they might of lost me. There seemed to be a hint of tension a-brewing between them, the drummer kept getting up after each song and you saw some intense, split second conversations between the bassist and drummer. But you have to have respect for a band who has a song called 'Regal Regalia'. Setting the stage for APTBS next was, These Are Powers. Another threesome, I think there might be a theme here, are also from Brooklyn and Chicago respectively. It's neat to see what comprises a band nowadays, it no longer has to be guitarist, bassist, singer, drummer anymore, musicians are getting more creative with their sound. These Are Powers boast a familiar face, Pat Noecker former bassist of Liars, mans the bass once more but slightly different. Apparently he altered the fret positions on his bass creating a whole new musical scale that left you wondering, where that sound was coming from and what exactly is he playing. Lead singer Anna Barie brought the energy and pumped up the crowd, she was reminiscent of Alison Mosshart , a la The Kill or even Peaches, from her dance moves to her stage presence you were not looking around or spacing out, she commanded your full attention. But the coolest part about them was again, the drummer. Semi electronic drum pad with an acoustic snare drum, there sound was edgy and dancey but had definite hints of punk rock anarchy.

Like true rockstars A Place To Bury Stranger went on around midnight, because everyone knows you've hit big time when you can go on midnight. They were hardly playing their sad song by themselves, from first cord to last riff, they built a good connection with the crowd and steadily gathered momentum as the show carried on. Mixing it up with songs off their EP's and their newest release, Exploding Head, the mood was palatable for much entertainment to be had. Ackermann was right, not shy about using feedback or scaring people away by being 'too dark', they weren't playing a show for anyone else but themselves which made it feel more heartfelt and real. The greatest compliment a band can receive is when you walk away saying "wow, they sound just like their CD" and that was the impression you left The Independent with. You can fake the hype and mask it with high profile producers, but being a band since 2006 and having the street cred of putting on the loudest, most ear shattering shows, it sounds like the only hype they have to live up to is their own.

They were more polished than the first time I saw them without losing their raw appeal that sucks you in. Even with ear plugs in, I can still hear the ringing in my ears. Job well done.