The Drums

The Drums, Surfer Blood, Wednesday, September 15, 2010, The Loft at Center Stage, Atlanta
by: Emily Hogan

The buzz band-of-the-week was definitely The Drums. The band’s highly anticipated – by me anyway – self-titled debut album was released the day before on Downtown Records. And they celebrated in style by doing an in-store show at Criminal Records, but we’re not here to talk about that. (For your information, it was awesome.)

I thought I was rushing to The Loft from school to catch Surfer Blood, but in a last minute (or maybe planned) switch, The Drums were set to play first and I made it just in time.

It’s safe to say that I’ll pretty much fall in love with any band that sounds like they belong on a John Hughes (RIP) movie soundtrack. And The Drums definitely qualify. They opened the show with “Best Friend” which is song about a friend that died, according to lead singer, Jonny Pierce. Pierce moves and dances around the stage in a robotic fashion staring out into the audience. And Pierce’s voice is reminiscent of Ian Curtis.

They sang and danced through songs from the album like “It Will All End in Tears”, “Book of Stories” and “Forever and Ever Amen.” Their post-punk, new wave sound got the crowd going. I think it’s safe to say that Atlanta loves The Drums. They ended their set with “Down By The Water”.

After a short intermission Surfer Blood took the stage next. These guys rank high on my top five bands you should see live and they did not disappoint. They aren’t too over the top in their on-stage antics; in fact, they really just play their music. And that’s all they need to do. Of course, John Paul Pitts’ dancing and stage jumps off the drums only added to the beach party vibe.

Surfer Blood released their debut, Astro Coast, earlier this year. And I’m sure the entire city of Atlanta could hear fans singing along to favorites like “Floating Vibes”, “Swim”, and “Take It Easy”. And even though they only played one Jabroni (Fast), they did not disappoint me with “Anchorage”. That’s the one song on the album I just can’t get enough of and seeing it live makes me appreciate it even more.

Like with The Drums, it’s easy to tell that Atlanta loves some fuzzy pop tunes by these West Palm Beach natives. Be sure to mark your calendars the next time they are in town because you do not want to miss it.

Editor’s Note: Emily Hogan is one of the foremost authorities in emerging music in Atlanta. You can follow her on Twitter @emilyhogan or via her Web site Wholly Roller.

The Drums

Two of the past year’s hottest bands are teaming up for a Fall 2010 North American Tour. The Drums and Surfer Blood have announced dates starting with a September 10 show in Philadelphia and ending at New York’s Webster Hall. The will play Atlanta on September 15.

Tour Dates
09-10 Philadelphia, PA – Making Time
09-11 Providence, RI – Jerky’s Live Music Hall
09-12 Washington, DC – The 9:30 Club
09-13 Chapel Hill, NC – Local 506
09-15 Atlanta, GA – Loft
09-17 Orlando, FL – Social
09-18 Miami, FL – Grand Central
09-19 Tampa, FL – Crowbar
09-20 Gainesville, FL – Common Ground Coffeehouse
09-21 Tallahassee, FL – Club Downunder
09-27 Phoenix, AZ – Clubhouse
09-28 Pomona, CA – Glass House
09-29 Los Angeles, CA – The Music Box
10-01 San Francisco, CA – The Independent
10-03 Portland, OR – Doug Fir
10-04 Seattle, WA – Neumos
10-05 Vancouver, British Columbia – Biltmore
10-07 Boise, ID – Neurolux
10-08 Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge
10-10 Denver, CO – Bluebird
10-13 Minneapolis, MN – The Varsity Theater
10-14 Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall
10-22 New York, NY – Webster Hall

The Sunday Sixteen features videos by Cassettes Won’t Listen, White Denim, Jay Reatard, Blank Dogs, Thieves Like Us, Bloc Party, Urban Dance Squad, Living Colour, TV on the Radio, 120 days, Best Coast, Tiny Vipers, Electelane, Grizzly Bear, Shout Out Louds and Billy Joe Shaver.

Video of the Week

The Drums – “Let’s Go Surfing”

Sunday Sixteen

Cassettes Won’t Listen – “Paper Float”

White Denim – “Shake, Shake, Shake”

Jay Reatard – “It Ain’t Gonna Save Me”

Blank Dogs – “Setting Fire To Your House”

Thieves Like Us – “Drugs In My Body”

Bloc Party – “Banquet”

Urban Dance Squad – “Deeper Shade of Soul”

Living Colour – “Glamour Boys”

TV on the Radio – “DLZ”

120 Days – “C-Musik”

Electrelane – “To The East”

Grizzly Bear – “Knife”

Best Coast – “Sun Was High (So Was I)” (Live)

Tiny Vipers – “On This Side”

Shout Out Louds – “The Comeback” (Live)

Billy Joe Shaver – “I’m Gonna Live Forever” (Live)

The Anwering Machine

- The Answering Machine have released their “Obviously Cold” video. The UK band, comprised of Martin Colclough, Pat Fogarty, Gemma Evans and Ben Perry, completed their debut album Another City, Another Sorry on which Dave Eringa (Manic Street Preachers) produced.

“We’re still writing about drinking, sex and arguing but those things go so much deeper than surface level and it took us time to adjust to and understand that,” said Colclough. “We’ve had to redefine the boundaries of relationships, and master the act of survival which everyone our age is having to do. Ultimately we have written an album that we hope a generation and beyond will be able to identify with.”

- Longwave will play their final show of the year at Bowery Ballroom in New York on Saturday, November 14. The band is offering a free download on its site www.longwavetheband.com/bowery daily through Friday. Fans can also enter for the chance to win one of five guest list spots for the Saturday show.

- The Drums have announced details of their next single, “I Felt Stupid” out on November 23 in the UK.

- We Have Band and The xx were recently featured on ABC News “Amplified” http://www.abcnews.com/amplified

- Passion Pit to play Jimmy Kimmel Live on December 8 after performing on the mtvU Woodie Awards show December 4.

- RED Distribution has produced a benefit compilation for the non-profit organization Malaria No More. Indie Rocks! A Benefit Album For Malaria No More is comprised of 14 songs from artists including Juliette Lewis, The Walkmen and Youssou N’Dour, in addition to an exclusive unreleased live track from Third Eye Blind, and an exclusive cover track from Peter, Bjorn, & John. On November 17, 2009, the digital-only release will launch on Amie Street with a four week exclusivity period. The album will then be available to all participating digital service providers. RED and Amie Street will be donating 100% of the proceeds to Malaria No More.

Track Listing
1.) Peter Bjorn & John – Summer Breeze (Exclusive)
2.) Juliette Lewis – Fantasy Bar, from Terra Incognita
3.) Jeff The Brotherhood – Bone Jam, from Heavy Days
4.) The Grates – Two Kinds Of Right from Teeth Lost, Hearts Won
5.) Third Eye Blind – Bonfire (Exclusive, Live in NYC)
6.) Dirty Little Rabbits- Hello, from Simon
7.) Wild Light – Adult Nights, from Adult Nights
8.) The Walkmen – Four Provinces, from You & Me
9.) State Radio – Let It Go, from Calling All Crows
10.) Those Darlins – Wild One, from Those Darlins
11.) Great Lake Swimmers – Pulling On A Line, from Lost Channels
12.) Kate Miller Heidke – Politics in Space, from EP Kate Miller-Heidke
13.) Yonder Mountain String Band – Fingerprint, from The Show
14.) Youssou N’Dour – Fight Malaria

- 60 Watt Kid has released a for “Virtual Plastic Surgery”:

60 Watt Kid – Virtual Plastic Surgery from JOSH on Vimeo.