Thee Parkside is quickly becoming one of my favorite places to check out a show with an unfamiliar lineup (and not just because I feel a little dirty paying any more than $4 for a Sierra Nevada). Last night's show was like a throwback to mid-nineties indie rock, and I mean that, at least this once, as a compliment.
Dead Feet started the night off with noisy rock that felt a bit old-fashioned (i.e. further back than the 90's) but in a good way, like a grittier version of The Witches. If I have one complaint, and it's a minor one, it's that there seemed to be a lack of enthusiasm with the vocals, maybe from either too much ritalin or too little prozac, or maybe the singer was just doing a robechet. That said, the laid back vocals work pretty well with style of music and they played a solid set - definitely worth checking out in the future.
The Poor Sons were another rock band with a vintage sound, but with somewhat surf-y leanings. These guys were rowdy and tight. Their too-brief set bristled with punkish energy. I don't know if this means anything, but between songs the singer would often throw out The Gorch trademark, "How's about it!" Maybe someday they'll cover Chain Fight Tonight?
At times, the only thing that keeps Apache Thunderbolt from being a Pavement cover band is the mere technicality that Pavement didn't actual write any of their songs. Still, if you want a high octane dose of the Slanted and Enchanted era kind of indie rock, this should be your go to band. That might sound like somewhat faint praise, but Apache Thunderbolt has enough energy and talent and put enough of their own spin on the material to keep from sounding derivative - like an homage rather than a ripoff or a trope rather than a cliche. Of all the Pavement-inspired bands, it's good to hear one that gets it right.
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Upcoming:
Wed. 9/8
Titus Andronicus and Free Energy at The Independent
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