I'm back. No, for real. I'm back and I plan to keep this blog updated like I used to. I used to update like a champ and then I let it all go to shit. No more. This blog was my baby and so shall it be once again. Anyway. . .
It's shaping up to be a pretty decent new year with a decent crop of interesting shows on the Houston horizon. Here are my top picks for February.
2/14 The Polyphonic Spree: say what you want about them; they're too happy, they're too weird, their garb reminds you of Raelians meet Harikrishna. But fuck, they're Trent Reznor's favorite live band! Someone told me this today and from YouTube videos I've seen, I can sort of believe this.
2/16 Los Campesinos!: peppy British indie-rock with a very big sound. They have a lot of albums out for a band of their age. One of the more memorable twee type acts these days.
2/18 This Will Destroy You: super-minimalist post-rock that makes you feel high without a speck of THC. It's drony, alienating, swirling post-rock from San Marcos Texas.
2/23 Reptar: I've already gushed over how much I liked these guys at ACL so I'll hold back a bit. This will be the band's second time at Fitz but their first time as a headlining act.
2/28 The Legendary Shack Shakers: a second wave psychobilly act who have toured with the likes of Rev Horton Heat.
Showing posts with label Reptar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reptar. Show all posts
Friday, January 27, 2012
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
The Road to ACL: Reptar / Empire of the Sun
While I sort of savaged Foster the People for being so predictably electronic in a time where electro is becoming increasingly passé, there are two electronic bands I'm really looking forward to seeing for the first time at ACL. The first of these is Reptar which avoids the same trap Foster is caught in by being decidedly more weird.
It's shallow to favor a band just for being stranger than its peers but Reptar manages to be weird by avoiding some of the cool-kid indie clichés I've bitched about for so long. There is actually some individuality in the vocals and a noticeable contempt for pop structure. Songs like "Phonetics" off their August EP "Oblangle Fizz Y'all" show a willingness to break with the safety of electro-pop and make momentary forays into normal rock.
Sometimes I get the impression that bands like Foster wouldn't have nearly the swagger without being bathed in a constant supply of flanging, phasing, and artificial harmonies. However, Reptar can also hold their own with the best of current indie, electro-pop bands, evidenced by tracks like "Blastoff". The song includes strange odd "Graceland" -like chants and constant changes in song structure that you'd never hear from amateurs.
The other band I'm very excited to see live for the first time is Empire of the Sun. They've been around since 2006 and blew up in 08 with the undeniably infectious "Walking on a Dream".
The duo combine lush electronic textures with jingling acoustic guitars and glam-like vocals that actually come down to a mid to low register occasionally, capturing all the aspects other glam-o-phile bands like The Smith Westerns or Portugal the Man. never seem to fully nail. It doesn't hurt that the band has a reputation for mind-blowing light shows and outrageous costumes.
It's shallow to favor a band just for being stranger than its peers but Reptar manages to be weird by avoiding some of the cool-kid indie clichés I've bitched about for so long. There is actually some individuality in the vocals and a noticeable contempt for pop structure. Songs like "Phonetics" off their August EP "Oblangle Fizz Y'all" show a willingness to break with the safety of electro-pop and make momentary forays into normal rock.
Sometimes I get the impression that bands like Foster wouldn't have nearly the swagger without being bathed in a constant supply of flanging, phasing, and artificial harmonies. However, Reptar can also hold their own with the best of current indie, electro-pop bands, evidenced by tracks like "Blastoff". The song includes strange odd "Graceland" -like chants and constant changes in song structure that you'd never hear from amateurs.
The other band I'm very excited to see live for the first time is Empire of the Sun. They've been around since 2006 and blew up in 08 with the undeniably infectious "Walking on a Dream".
The duo combine lush electronic textures with jingling acoustic guitars and glam-like vocals that actually come down to a mid to low register occasionally, capturing all the aspects other glam-o-phile bands like The Smith Westerns or Portugal the Man. never seem to fully nail. It doesn't hurt that the band has a reputation for mind-blowing light shows and outrageous costumes.
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